Peter McDougall - Reef Smart Guides Florida : Scuba Dive. Snorkel. Surf.

Copyright 2019 Reef Smart Inc.

www.reefsmartguides.com

Published by Mango Publishing Group, a division of Mango Media Inc.

Series concept and writer: Ian Popple

Art concept and illustrations: Otto Wagner

Writer: Peter McDougall

3D models: Emil Stezar

Editing: Peter McDougall, Kris Garland

Front cover photo Rostislav Ageev/Shutterstock, Warren Metcalf/Shutterstock

Back cover photo patuletail/Shutterstock

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Reef Smart Guides Florida: Palm Beach: Scuba Dive. Snorkel. Surf.

ISBN: (print) 978-1-64250-240-4, (ebook) 978-1-64250-241-1

Printed in the United States of America

Acknowledgments

Reef Smart is indebted to numerous individuals and organizations who contributed their advice, knowledge, artwork and support in the production of this guide. We would particularly like to thank Discover The Palm Beaches, whose financial support helped make this project possible. We would also like to thank Jena McNeal, with Palm Beach Countys Department of Environmental Resources Management, for helping get the project off the ground. Thanks also to Shana and Dean Phelan at Pura Vida Divers, Adam Birdwell at Starfish Scuba and Gerry Carroll at Jupiter Dive Center for their help visiting the dive and snorkel sites featured in this guide, for sharing their knowledge of these sites and for their feedback. Thanks to Zach Nolan and Andrea Whitaker for the use of their photographs. Thanks also to Pavan Arilton at Dixie Divers and Bradley Williams for help with the joint Broward/Palm Beach sites. Additional support provided by Rick Netzel and the Palm Beach Lakes Best Western, the Waterstone Resort & Marina Boca Raton by Hilton, and the Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort and Spa.

Financial support provided by:

About Reef Smart:

Reef Smart creates detailed guides of the marine environment, particularly coral reefs and shipwrecks, for recreational divers, snorkelers and surfers. Our products are available as printed guidebooks, waterproof cards, wall posters, dive briefing charts, beach signage and 3D interactive maps, which can be used on websites and as apps. Reef Smart also provides additional services to resorts that are dedicated to offering an environmentally aware experience for their guests; these include marine biology training for dive professionals and resort staff, implementation of coral reef monitoring and restoration programs, and the development of sustainable use practices that reduce the impact of operations on the natural environment.

www.reefsmartguides.com

Objective

The main objective of this guide is to provide a resource for people, particularly divers, snorkelers and surfers, who are interested in exploring the marine environment of Palm Beach County. This guide is designed to be used alongside Reef Smart handheld waterproof cards, which can be taken into the water. This guide will be most useful for watersports enthusiasts but also includes information that any visitor to southeast Florida will find useful.

Mapping

We have attempted to catalog the regions dive and snorkel sites as well as its beaches and surfing spots. However, only what we consider to be the top dive and snorkel sites in Palm Beach have been featured in more detail using Reef Smarts unique 3D-mapping technology. These maps provide useful information such as depths, currents, waves, suggested routes, potential hazards, unique structures and species information, which cannot be found in other guides. The maps in this guidebook are listed from north to south.

Disclaimer

Reef Smart guides are for recreational use only they are not navigational charts and should not be used as such. We have attempted to provide accurate and up-to-date information for each site, as well as activities to enjoy in the surrounding areas. However, businesses close and new ones open, prices are adjusted and change is inevitable in the marine environment. The information contained in this guide is accurate only at the time of publication. The size and location of structures may vary. Depths and distances are approximated in both metric and imperial units, and the suggested route is optional. Reef Smart assumes no responsibility for inaccuracies and omissions, and assumes no liability for the use of these maps. If you do identify information that should be updated, please let us know at .

Information boxes

Additional information for the featured sites is provided in the form of special information boxes, which appear throughout the book:

DID YOU KNOW?

Interesting facts about the site or the surrounding area.

SAFETY TIP

Advice that aims to improve safety.

ECO TIP

Information that will help limit damage to the ecosystem or improve environmental awareness.

RELAX & RECHARGE

Information on where refreshments can be purchased, or where to unwind on land.

SCIENTIFIC INSIGHT

Information of a scientific nature that can help you understand what you see and experience.

Map icons

ECO TIP

We hope this guide enhances your in-water experience. Share your passion for exploring the marine environment with others, because our oceans, and particularly coral reefs, need all the likes they can get. Coral reefs, as well as mangrove and seagrass ecosystems, are under serious pressure from a multitude of threats that include coastal development, pollution, over-fishing and global climate change. Some estimates put over half the worlds remaining coral reefs at significant risk of being lost in the next 25 years; raising awareness can help protect them.

Species identification

The species listed for each location were chosen to represent the most unique or common organisms found at each site, as determined from personal observations, discussions with divers and snorkelers who have experienced these sites,

and from scientific studies conducted in these

areas. Many of the species described in this publication are mobile or cryptic (or both), and so may not always be found where indicated. However, we have attempted to place key species on each map in the locations where they are most commonly found.