West Palm Beach and the surrounding areas have arguably the best reef diving in the United States. A short drive north to Jupiter or south to Boynton Beach also provides fantastic diving. West Palm has a plethora of quality dive operators in the area. On my latest trip, we used Walkers Dive Charters out of Riviera Beach Marina. Walkers has been in business for over 20 years and offers a top-notch boat and crew. We were fortunate to have flat seas and excellent visibility during our three-day dive trip. Because this trip was at the beginning of July, we were diving right in the middle of sea turtle nesting season. This is an excellent time to get up close and personal with loggerhead, green, and even leatherback turtles. The female turtles spend their nights laying eggs on the beach and their days resting on the reefs. This provides a fantastic opportunity to get extremely close and photograph them.

On our trip, I was happy to see no coral bleaching and an incredibly diverse array of marine life. While spotting more than 10 turtles on many dives, we were also pleased to see an abundance of trumpetfish, pufferfish, lemon sharks, moray eels, scorpionfish, spadefish, sea anemones, and much more. One of my favorite sightings was a group of resident goliath grouper that easily weighed more than 600 pounds each. The shipwrecks of West Palm and Jupiter are also home to the largest goliath grouper aggregation in the world. From late August through early October, it is common to see 20 to 30 groupers at a time as they prepare to spawn.

Another advantage of the area—and of Walkers Dive Charters—is blackwater diving. For those unfamiliar with it, these dives take place over extremely deep water where divers remain close to a lighted downline. The lights, positioned adjacent to the Gulf Stream, attract pelagic life that is rarely seen anywhere else.

While I agree you might not get the same water visibility in West Palm as you will in Cozumel or Bonaire, you will experience something that neither destination can provide—a large population of sharks. South Florida is home to one of the largest shark populations in the world. Baited shark dives are available in both Jupiter and West Palm. These dives typically take place on local wrecks with a trained shark handler. The handler brings down a crate of fish and hand-feeds the sharks, allowing these normally timid animals to come close enough for excellent viewing and photography.

While many people disagree with feeding sharks, I believe it has been beneficial in demonstrating that sharks have no interest in harming humans. When conducted correctly, these dives are extremely safe. After more than 25 years of shark diving in the area, no divers have died or suffered major injuries. It is a humbling experience to come face to face with these apex predators only to realize they mean you no harm. It is a life-changing dive that challenges many of the misconceptions people have held about sharks throughout their lives.

In the Jupiter area, I can highly recommend Salty Divers. They operate an extremely safe and professional boat and consistently provide an outstanding three-tank dive day. Most dives begin at depths of 70 to 80 feet, allowing the sharks to pick up the scent of the chum and gather around the site. Over the course of the dive, the shark handler gradually ascends, making the final 30 minutes of the dive approximately 20 feet deep. This provides tremendous lighting for photographers and videographers. It is common practice to redirect sharks that get too close with a gentle swipe downward on the nose. During my shark dives in the area, I have been fortunate enough to encounter nurse, lemon, silky, sandbar, bull, and even a 13-foot tiger shark. The experience remains my all-time favorite type of diving and is something I believe every diver should experience.

Although I typically prefer diving from a boat, I cannot visit West Palm without taking a dive at one of the top shore dives in the world. Located at Phil Foster Park, Blue Heron Bridge is a world-renowned dive site famous for its incredible macro life. The bridge is surrounded by both natural and man-made structures that attract an astonishing variety of marine life. With an average depth of only about 15 feet, it is an easy dive that is perfect for beginners.

Some of the most common sightings include seahorses, frogfish, octopuses, nudibranchs, batfish, moray eels, stargazers, sea turtles, and spotted eagle rays. Because the bridge is located in the Intracoastal Waterway, all diving must be planned around the tide charts. High tide brings in clear ocean water, making it best to begin your dive 30 minutes to one hour before high tide. Be aware that parking fills quickly, so it is advisable to arrive several hours before high tide. Divers must also display a diver-down flag or other approved warning device while diving.

While many visitors come specifically to dive Blue Heron Bridge, I have always found it to be an excellent backup whenever the seas are too rough for reef diving. Either way, you are guaranteed to encounter an incredible variety of marine life.