Scuba diving in Port Orange
Port Orange located in Volusia County; is one of the
best diving destinations in the area. Port Orange is famous
for manatees; you will have a good chance to watch these
gentle giants while they spend the winter in its calm and
warm water. To increase the numbers of tourists and diving
fans, the county deployed about 13 artificial reefs. The
cavern system of the springs in the area is special and a
good place to observe
underwater life.
Always dive according to your level of training.
Never enter the water without checking with
Port Orange dive
centers for safety, additional information, level required
for each dive site and without being accompanied by a
professional.
All the information provided is purely informative for our
readers and shouldn't be used as is to plan your immersion.
Average annual temperature: Between 21°C and 28°C
(71° F and 83° F)
Average Water surface temperature: 22°C (72° F)
Visibility often averaging: Visibility is 10 feet (3
meters)
Coldest time: January
Warmest time: July
Possible to dive all year round.
Port Orange diving offers a great experience for both
beginner and advanced divers. The wide variety of
Port
Orange dive sites with the deep and shallow sites as well as
natural and artificial reefs provides something for
everyone. Volusia County does its best to help the growth of
underwater life in this area. By deploying about 13
artificial reefs, not to mention the natural reefs, it
creates a good habitat to different kinds of
fish and other
marine life.
Some of Port Orange dive sites.
USS Mindanao was sunk in 1980. It is the oldest
artificial reef site in the area. The ship is at a depth of
85 feet (25 meters) of water. Another two tugs were deployed
near the wreck Alexandra McAllister and Thomas H. This reef
is home to schools of bait fish, tomtate grunts and mangrove
snapper as well as amberjack, barracuda and spadefish.
Semarca the 76 feet (23 meters) steel ship was sunk
in 1994 along with many concrete culverts to be an
artificial reef. This site is popular for its wide variety
of sea life.
Blue Spring is home to manatee. It migrates to this
area in the winter months around November and staying
through March. The spring is famous for its caves and
caverns. Its caves can reach 120 feet (36 meters) deep. This
spot is great for cave diving, but try to get there early
because the park limits the number of divers per day.
Argoil is a steel barge, deployed in 1994. This
artificial reef consists of concrete culverts. There were 2
dozens of reef balls deployed near the site, which make a
great home to abundant sea life including large seabass.
USN Intruder aircraft is a deep site. The 135 feet
(41 meters) ship is upright and intact. This site is more
suitable for advanced divers.
Maxine D is a 165 feet (50 meters) ship. It was
deployed in 1994. The ship is upright and intact. Soft
corals and many kinds of fish inhabit the site. |
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