Jupiter is home to the northernmost region of the Florida Reef Tract, the third largest living barrier reef in the world! Known for its limestone base with fascinating bottom-dwelling creatures, clubbed finger and groove-brained coral, and large deep-water fish, the Palm Beach County stretch is truly remarkable. Florida is home to an underwater world of wonder, so take the plunge to receive your scuba certification!
Jupiter is an ideal place to learn to dive, finish your training, or refresh your skills. Dive sites are a short boat ride away and the water is always warm and clear. Below are a few scuba companies in Jupiter that will provide you with the tools and knowledge for a lifetime of fun:
Scuba Works
The PADI Open Water Diver course is the most popular class at Scuba Works. It allows students to learn through the course book, classroom sessions, and pool instruction. After being introduced to the adventurous diving lifestyle, beginners will complete open water dives with a PADI instructor at Blue Heron Bridge to receive their certification. These shore dives are held at a premier location to complete the course and spot exotic critters, including seahorses and nudibranchs. Included in the certification class price, Scuba Works offers a voucher for a 2-tank boat trip to use once you are certified. Call (561) 575-3483 to reserve your spot – classes fill up fast!
Jupiter Dive Center
Scuba diving is your passport to explore a new world, view marine life in their natural habitat, swim over pristine reefs, and explore a new world. The beginner ‘Learn to Dive’ class begins with at-home coursework, classroom instruction, and “confined water” training in a pool to learn basic skills. From there, classes move to the ocean, where students can demonstrate their skills and complete four open water dives. Upon successful completion, participants will be certified as an Open Water Diver. This basic scuba diving certification is offered every two weeks. Book now by calling (561) 745-7807.
Completing your certification opens up a whole new realm of possibilities! There are so many offshore diving sites in the Palm Beaches, but if you need suggestions on where to start, here are a few:
Blue Heron Bridge is renowned for its snorkeling, but it has been boasted as one of the top dive sites in the world for its shore dives. The artificial reef trail attracts squids, octopi, lobsters, eels, turtles, starfish, and schools of colorful fish. This site has a depth of 25 feet yet remains an incredible destination to spot a variety of sea creatures.
Captain Kurls is another site nestled 65-70 feet deep and offers an array of topography and exploration. The ledge breaks off into three tiers where you can follow hogfish, discover cul-de-sacs, or track hawksbill sea turtles and nurse sharks, depending on which ledge you explore.
One of the most under-appreciated dive sites in Jupiter is Loggerhead Reef, resting 60 feet below the shore. As the name indicates, you are almost guaranteed to see turtles, as well as goliath groupers, eels, and a few resident nurse sharks. Take advantage of the many cul-de-sacs located along the Eastern stretch of the reef. Loggerhead will not disappoint!
One of Jupiter’s best-kept secrets is Gary’s dive site, where up to two dozen lemon sharks linger during the winter months. The bottom depths vary between 78 feet and 98 feet, with smaller ledges that are teeming with fish, lobsters, and other creatures. You can also spot nurse sharks resting underneath the ledges and turtles swimming throughout the region.
Jupiter’s Area 51 is home to underwater aliens: sharks, spotted rays, giant loggerhead turtles, soft corals, and the famous goliath groupers. With so many crevices for exploration, there is always something new to see at this site.
Once you have discovered these sites, there are plenty more; there is never a shortage of adventure. It is no wonder destination divers from all over the world come to Jupiter for its manta rays, invertebrates, hard and soft corals, and yes, even great white sharks!
Are you ready to get certified? For more information on the South Florida lifestyle and the finest homes in the Palm Beaches, contact a Tauber Real Estate Services specialist at (561) 626-4633.