Scuba diving in Sarasota
Sarasota located on the West of Florida Coast offers
some outstanding dives. It's warm, clear water makes it an
ideal spot for underwater exploration. Sarasota offers a
diversity of wrecks, natural and artificial diving sites.
Sarasota dive sites are rich with huge population of fish and all
kinds of
underwater creatures. Goliath groupers by the
dozens, eagle rays and macro are seen in its dive sites.
Always dive according to your level of training.
Never enter the water without checking with
Sarasota 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 23°C and 29°C.
(74° F and 85° F)
Average Water surface temperature: From 22° C to 28°
C (72°F to84°F)
Visibility often averaging: Visibility is 20-50 feet
(6 to 15 meters), but can extend up to over 100 feet (30
meters)
Coldest time: January
Warmest time: July
Possible to dive all year round.
Sarasota's dive sites depth vary from shallow to deep
which suits all levels of expertise.
A large variety of fish
occupy Sarasota dive sites including amberjack, grouper,
hogfish and jewfish as well as large lobster and Turtles.
Pink, orange and yellow sponges, colorful corals, and a
variety of beautiful algae grow on Sarasota ledges. The area
is famous for its artificial reefs which attract many kinds
of sea life. These reefs are formed from concrete culverts
and rubble, barges and boxcars. The reefs enhance scuba
diving in the area and help the growth of underwater life.
Some of Sarasota dive sites.
M-4 is an artificial reef. The reef was deployed in
1998; it is at a depth of 43 feet (13 meters). Coral grows
on the reef balls. The site is home to a wide variety of sea
life like grouper, lizard fish, snapper, spanish mackerel,
barracuda, and large jewfish.
M-10 is a great artificial dive site at a depth of 70
feet (21 meters). It is a barge that was sunk by Florida
artificial reef program in 1900. Now it is a great dive site
and home to many kinds of under water creatures including
jewfish and amberjack.
M-17 is another artificial reef. It is 10 miles west
of the Venice Inlet. Hard corals grow on this reef. Also you
can see many underwater species on this reef like tunicates,
oculina and tropical fish including blue and grey angels. It
is home to jewfish, grouper and snapper as well as
amberjack, hogfish and filefish.
Bay Ronto is a 400 foot (121 meters) British
freighter. The ship sank in 1919 under German submarine's
torpedo fire. It now lies in 100 feet (30 meters) of water.
It is a great spot for diving. The wreck is easy to
penetrate and its cracks are home to snapper, barracuda,
schools of amberjack and jewfish. |
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