Dreaming Sea Divers is located in West Palm Beach, Florida; one of the best diving locations in the world. Renowned for its diverse marine life, variety of reef depths, and close proximity to the Gulf Stream, West Palm Beach has a little bit of everything. Our Florida SCUBA diving lessons are your ticket to beautiful scenery, remarkable aquatic life, and an unmatched location. See why you should book an experience with Dreaming Sea Divers!
SCUBA diving FL has a bounty of wrecks and reefs! There’s Breakers Reef, a two-mile long stretch of coral reef that's home to Caribbean tropical marine life, green morays, spiny lobster and fish from the Pelagic zone. Next is The Corridor, known as a collection of “shipreefs” for hosting many wrecks that you can dive to on a single tank. Mere minutes from the Palm Beach Inlet, you can find the 185-foot Greek luxury liner Mizpah in 90 feet of water, the retired PC1170, a 165-foot patrol boat sitting off of its bow and a path of rubble leading to the Amaryllis: a massive 441-foot freighter that slammed into Singer Island in ‘65.
When you come our way for West Palm Beach SCUBA diving lessons, you'll be amazed at the scenery in our clear blue waters. The shallowest depths we dive to in the reefs are 40 feet on top and 60 feet in the sand. Our deeper reefs start at 65 feet and drop to 90 feet in the sand. Many of our reefs have a double ledge system advantage where we can weave back and forth to save us bottom time and explore the view. This includes several wrecks starting at 65 feet down that have been intentionally sunk to attract marine life and promote coral growth. Some of these wrecks are even accessible to enter and look around inside!
May through August are the best months to observe leatherback, green, and loggerhead turtles nesting on the beaches and swimming back to the reefs. We see plenty of hawksbill turtles as well, though they don’t mate and nest here in Palm Beach. On our “Wreck Treks,” we are often joined by schools of Goliath grouper fish, and sometimes we see several species of sharks which can be photographed safely from a distance. Between August and September, it's possible to see over 30 giant groupers that congregate here to mate.
The dive sites we visit are populated with many species of moray eels, angelfish, butterfly fish, grunts, and snappers. Occupying our reefs are loggerhead, Kemp’s Ridley, hawksbill, and green turtles, octopus and squid, and anemones that house tiny shrimp. If we’re lucky, the manta rays, whale sharks and great white sharks may make a special appearance!
Our reefs are full of game fish and crustaceans, if you want to dine after your dive! Palm Beach hosts crabs, lobsters, clams, scallops, hogfish, snapper, grouper and cobia. Lobster hunting season is early August through the end of March, if you want to catch dinner eight months out of the year! Spotting the spikey lionfish is probably the coolest, though not so much for our reefs. This species is invasive and harms the reefs - but you could help by catching them to eat, if they suit your palette.
Blue Heron Bridge at Phil Foster Park is a world famous dive site, right here in Palm Beach. Divers have come here for decades to observe and photograph rare marine life that are hard to find elsewhere. These include batfish, frogfish, seahorses, manatees, sea robins and flying gurnards, bumblebee shrimp, spotted eagle rays, yellow spotted stingrays and pipefish. In addition, you can enjoy many types of blennies, tropical fish, and eels. What more could you ask for? Something else great: the deepest spot here is 23 feet, which means we do not have to be concerned about decompression limits. Keep in mind though, we are limited here by a daily two-hour window based around Slack High Tide (the weakest currents) and air consumption. We'll go over all of that during your South Florida SCUBA diving certification.
Jupiter
Jupiter is referred to as a small drinking town with a fishing problem. There is a famous lighthouse that’s worth climbing and plenty of fun shops and wonderful restaurants, some right on the water. The Square Grouper restaurant is the site where Jimmy Buffet recorded the music video for “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” with Alan Jackson. The diving is slight deeper and the currents are normally a little stronger than Palm Beach, but the reefs are filled with tons of life. There are also some exciting wrecks and good hunting spots in Jupiter as well.
Fort Lauderdale
Known as the “Venice of America,” Fort Lauderdale residents are passionate about the water and watersports. There is an artificial reef program that has sent dozens of wrecks to the seafloor, along with three retired oil platforms known as the Tenneco Towers. While these are cool to explore, you may find that several grunts, snappers, sponges and sometimes bull sharks are attracted to these as well!
Miami
While best known for its pop culture and beach life, Miami is also a secret diving hub with wrecks that can be visited on a single tank. Go-to sites include the Miss Patricia (a 65-foot steel tug), two M60 tanks, the 110-foot Billy’s Barge, Ben’s Antennae Reef and the Miss Karline, a 100-foot ship lodged in the sand near the Patricia. But, the best is for last: The Spirit Of Miami, a retired Boeing 727 that made its final landing off Key Biscayne!
To prepare you for all dive sites in South Florida we may visit, you should know that water temperatures range from the mid 70s in winter to the mid 80s in summer and visibility is generally in the sub-100-foot range.
Dreaming Sea Divers will ensure that your dive trip in South Florida is easy, comfortable, and the experience of a lifetime! Become a certified diver through our private SCUBA courses and then embark on a private guided underwater tour with instructor John starting at the Blue Heron Bridge, or on one of the many comfortable dive boats! Get in touch with Dreaming Sea Divers today to plan and embark on your unique South Florida diving adventure!
Special note: Interested in becoming a Dive Professional? Check out John's upcoming Instructor Development Courses going on from October 16th - 24th 2022. SPACE IS LIMITED, SIGN UP TODAY!
Ready to become a Divemaster? It’s a serious question and will often lead to other inquiries about the industry or its courses. In this blog, we’ll dive into a couple of common questions about what to expect.
As a Divemaster, you are responsible for organizing and leading recreational dives and supervising as a dive guide. You can also teach dive courses and complete scuba reviews.
Another opportunity as a Divemaster is that you are now qualified for the responsibility of overseeing scuba diving operations for salvages or work at a resort.
The Divemaster SCUBA diving lessons are typically very flexible and depending on one’s schedule, can be achieved in three weeks or up to six months. We have trained experts who will be able to provide one-on-one support during the lessons. Expect to learn more about theoretical concepts in the course ranging from the physics of diving to decompression theory and first aid.
When it comes to diving equipment, you want the best tools for the job. Must-haves like a snorkel, mask and dive computers should be at the top of your list. Some other diving equipment you may need to become a divemaster include:
The conditions when trying to achieve a SCUBA certification are some of the most challenging you’ll face. This is because divemasters want to help you flourish in any kind of water, so you can do the same to help your students.
Training typically occurs in a pool or in a confined area of water such as a very calm beach.
Make sure you know how to perform tasks like setting up gear, entering or exiting the water, basic underwater navigation techniques, safety and buoyancy control in any kind of water conditions.
In order to become a divemaster, you need to be 18 years or older, have at least forty (40) dives logged and successfully completed, a signed medical statement from your doctor within the past year before the course, and SCUBA certifications in Rescue Diver and Emergency First Responder courses.
Get ready to be tested on treading water for 15 minutes straight, swimming a distance of 400 meters and snorkeling for 800, and then tow a tired diver for 100 meters. Lastly, make sure you and a buddy know how to do a complete gear swap before obtaining your SCUBA diving certification.
Learning about theoretical dive situations and information will be a breeze if you’re motivated to participate and pass the test as well.
Time management, organization, good communication and patience are very important when it comes to becoming a good Divemaster. Overall, if you strive to be a role model as a dive professional then you will certainly inspire students and help them make progress.
The founder and Divemaster of Dreaming Sea Divers, John Phillips, has been passionate about SCUBA diving since he first took his Open Water Course in 2014. His experience also includes working on dive boats, fill stations and retail stores, so he’s learned a lot and is ready to assist others with fulfilling their dreams of working in the diving industry. John also is excited to meet many serious divers and turn their hobby into an enriching, fulfilling career. After all, who wouldn’t want a career that blends their passions with the ability to teach and earn an income from it all?
Dreaming Sea Divers can help you achieve your diving goals for any lifestyle, so click here to learn more about our programs.
Are you interested in learning to dive but don’t know where to start? While there are a variety of certification agencies for new divers to try, most schools teach the same standardized skill when learning to dive.
Keep in mind, the similar approach used by these diving agencies may cause you to consider other factors. You may discover it is more important to focus on how comfortable you feel with your diving instructor. After that you may decide to compare other factors including price and location.
SDI was started in 1998 out of its sister company TDI. The only SCUBA certification that requires students to be taught with modern dive computers, there’s an emphasis on practical skills learned in the pool and open water.
Dreaming Sea Divers own John Phillips is a Course Director for SDI. Key points about SDI:
PADI is another diving certification agency that emphasizes the theory and practical skills of diving. Founded in 1966, PADI presently maintains over 6,000 diving schools around the world. Their extensive reach has allowed them to license over 60 percent of recreational divers with a PADI certification. PADI also gives you the option of beginning your educational experience online with courses that offer flexibility for future divers needing to grasp the basics.
4 E Philosophy
Project AWARE
Compared to other dive agencies, this organization stands out because of their environmental efforts using their non-profit organization Project AWARE. PADI works hard to organize beach cleanups, promote plastic awareness campaigns, and participate in shark protection through their marine conservation efforts. PADI believes conservation efforts are crucial to the future of diving.
NAUI was established in 1959 and currently holds the title of the oldest diving agency around. A non-profit diving organization, NAUI focuses on recreational and technical training for those learning to dive. This organization is recognized for its innovative approach when training divers and is the second-biggest agency based on the number of certifications delivered to the diving community.
Fun Fact: NAUI has trained and educated divers working for big names like Disney World Resort, the United States Navy Seal Teams and NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Huston, Texas.
SSI was established in the 1970s and uses professional dive centers and resorts to attract future divers. This diving school is a retail-based organization, so they mostly attract tourists interested in freediving, snorkeling, swimming or scuba diving. SSI has 30 service centers that use uncompromising standards and focused methodology when teaching you how to dive.
Scuba Diving Diamond
This organization promotes the scuba diving diamond focused on four main points. These include:
There isn’t necessarily an agency that offers a “better” approach when certifying new divers. Diving organizations have more similarities than differences and follow the same global standards. Each diving agency teaches the core skills necessary to learn to dive.
Furthermore, all students receive the same certification capabilities around the world. The likeness of each agency means new divers should focus on the experience provided by their dive instructors. Who you learn to dive from is one of the most important factors to consider. Your diving instructor is the captain of your adventure. His energy can affect your experience, especially if the class size is too big or the instructor does not meet your needs. John Phillips offers a diving experience that puts safety first – so you can focus on enjoying exploring the wonders of the ocean.
Dreaming Sea Divers gives you a chance to do something different this Valentine's Day. Connect on a deeper level by learning to dive with your significant other. Explore the mysticism of the underwater world and find a new hobby for you both to take up this New Year.
There are many benefits to hiring a private dive guide and our mission is to make your day of diving a magical experience! Book your next adventure with us here.
You’ve probably heard that 71 percent of the earth is covered in water. Did you know that the ocean holds about 96 percent of it? SCUBA diving has grown in popularity and accessibility since many people can readily explore the ocean all around the world. Whether you are on vacation or live near the sea, this fun, non-competitive underwater sport is ready to take you on an adventure.
Some people may not know there are a variety of SCUBA diving courses available to them. You can either learn to dive from or maximize the day by diving from a boat, sometimes reaching harder to get to spots.
Here we go over the pros and cons of both SCUBA diving types so that you can choose the right venture for your first time:
This list is a great way for you to decide what kind of diving is best for you after certification or perhaps during your courses. The pros and cons of shore diving in comparison to boat diving are ultimately relative to the individual experiencing the adventure. No matter what you’re looking for, Dreaming Sea Divers makes sure you have fun learning the fundamentals while exploring safely.
With most classes that we offer, Dreaming Sea Divers includes some shore diving and some boat diving so you get to learn for yourself which you like better and you can see first hand the pros and cons.
We created Dreaming Sea Drivers to make sure you become a confident SCUBA diver. We offer a series of courses tailored to supplement your diving knowledge. Whether you are visiting West Palm Beach or a local to Florida, allow us to give you private SCUBA diving lessons or a private guide from shore or boat. Our goal is to give you an exciting and relaxing experience you'll never forget.
Contact us today to book your next SCUBA diving classes!