Dive trips are planned to log bottom time and to explore new underwater territory but even the most hard core diver will spend a lot more time out of the water than in it. That’s why planning for the surface intervals can be just as important as planning the dive. It’s great to see something awesome underwater but it’s even better to share the story later with your dive buddies while enjoying a cool drink and a good meal. It takes more than blue water and colorful fish to make a perfect dive destination.
An area that has beautiful water, great dive sites, and professional SCUBA businesses along with lodging, restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and transportation really is an ideal SCUBA diving destination. The Cayman Islands, one of the most 
famous dive destinations in the world, offers all this plus unlimited shore diving at most of the resorts there. The boat dives to wrecks and reefs, along with the great shore diving, has a unique appeal and has undoubtedly contributed to the Cayman Island’s success in becoming popular with traveling divers. It’s a wonderful destination but it involves the expense of international air travel.
Here in the Sunshine State SCUBA divers can experience the Cayman Islands concept without a passport in the beautiful beachside town of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea. With vibrant near shore coral reefs in swimming distance from the beach this unique area has become known as The Shore Diving Capital of South Florida but the attraction doesn’t stop at the shoreline. Located in northern Broward County, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea is in the center of bustling South Florida with world class diving all along the coast. Major airports and cruise ports are just a short drive away and the town is convenient to all the excellent dining, shopping, and entertainment the area is famous for. CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON THE LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA-SHORE DIVE
Lauderdale-By-The-Sea is an ideal base for a SCUBA diving visitor. This quaint beachside resort town offers a wide range of accommodations and the downtown area with restaurants, shopping, and an ocean pier is in walking distance of the resorts. There is parking and beach access along the half mile strip of oceanfront and divers in full gear can be seen walking from cars, resorts, or Deep Blue Divers dive shop located only a block from the beach. There is an impressive assortment of dive charter boats close by, offering trips to the famous South Florida wrecks and reefs. The area has dive sites that will please everyone from the Open Water Diver to advanced technical divers. The Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Snorkel Trail shore dive just south of the pier replicates an early wooden shipwreck site and area dive boats offer trips to the Hydro Atlantic technical diving wreck and everything in between. This combination of deep diving, wreck 
diving, and reef diving, along with unlimited shore diving is something that is found in very few places in the world. The Lauderdale-By-The-Sea area has it all!
Getting to Lauderdale-By-The-Sea is an easy trip by plane, car, or boat. Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Port Everglades Cruise Ship terminal are just 14 ½ miles away. By car take exit 32 off Interstate 95 and travel 3 ½ miles east on Commercial Boulevard. The town is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway to the west.
Many major diving and non-diving destinations are within a day’s drive. Key Largo is only 97 miles away and if you want to visit Mickey Mouse it’s just a three hour drive to Disney World. The Blue Heron Bridge is about an hour away and world famous South Beach Miami is 45 minutes away. Florida’s east coast is a paradise for divers and there are dozens of charter boats within an hour’s drive of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea ready to take divers to the wrecks and reefs that line the coast.