Florida: Sharks vs Divemasters
February 25th – March 3rd, 2026
I can’t even blame alcohol on this one. I was promised big sharks, and after our disappointing shark adventure last year I still chose to believe that we could see some. With recent sightings of great whites, hammer heads and sawtooths I lied to myself into thinking I would get to see at least one of them. So, another plan was loosely thrown together, a budget airline ticket was booked, and next thing I knew I was back in Florida enjoying the warm sunshine and away from the cold and snow.
DeLeon Springs
20’ for 22 minutes and 28’ for 26 minutes
Currently restricted to only instructional dives this small freshwater spring is shaped lake a giant bowl with the boil right in the center. It’s roughly 500’ across and drops down to 22’ at the boil. The boil discharges roughly 100 million gallons of water per day and keeps the water clear. There isn’t much in terms of aquatic life in the spring but there are painted turtles that live and bounce around the site ignoring divers for getting in their way.
Alexander Springs
21’ for 35 minutes
A large natural basin in the middle of Ocala National Forest. Most of the site is shallow, ranging from 2’-5’ with a small cavern that drops down to 20’ in the center. There are several species of fish including tilapia, crevalle jacks, and large gars.
An easy dive site good to try out new gear or to practice skills. The sink is easily explored in 20 minutes and can be crowded if there are any other divers in the area. We were lucky and managed to see the alligator at the end of the dive along with several diving swimming Anhinga or snake head birds. Apparently, there are invasive eels living in the tall grasses next to the boil.
Ron’s Reef Elevator ShaftMidreef
60’ for 55 minutes 61’ for 59 minutes 83’ for 41 minutes
Like most of Florida’s reefs these three are limestone reefs with a ledge running along it. Typically carried out as a drift dive, and depending on the currents can be relatively relaxing or fast paced flow. There are several outcroppings where nurse sharks, turtles and rest and hide from the currents as the divers drift on by. Some areas of Elevator Shaft contain swim throughs and small caved over hangs that provide additional shelter. Depending on the season goliath groupers can be seen and heard thumping along the reef, large gentle giants that tend to ignore most divers.
Salty Divers operate from a small half covered 30’ boat called Salty Too. Operated by Captain Roger Haddix and Anne Bunjes since March of 2019. They offer a variety of dives but the most interesting is the three-tank shark feeding dives. After a briefing on the dive, a how to redirect curious sharks, and making sure everyone is outfitted in dark hoods and gloves the boat leaves the dock and adventure is underway! Often seeing a variety of sharks including Tigers, Bulls, Lemons, Dusky, Silky, and on rare occasions hammerheads and sawtooth.
Shark Dives
82’ for 43 minutes and 81’ for 44 minutes
The shark dives are carried out on the South Florida dive site called the Wreck Trek. Generally, the boat will drop up current of the wreck ESSO Bonaire, divers will drift along with some sharks already in the area before making your way to the bow of the wreck. The deck sits at approximately 75’ so advanced and nitrox certifications are required. While divers sit on the deck the dive guides begin hand feeding the sharks on the ocean floor. After spending some time on the deck, the guide will call divers into the water column to begin the ascent and safety stop while sharks swim about sniffing for more food from the dive guides.
The ESSO Bonaire was originally a 147’ long oil tanker that was seized by the Coast Guard on March 19th, 1989 and was discovered to have 50,000 pounds of marijuana inside the hull. It was later purchased by the Palm Beach County and sunk as an artificial reef. After some issues sinking the wreck, it was rammed by a tug Resolve Eagle causing it to sink in approximately 90’. It is now covered in corals and a large green moray eel lives in an exhaust pipe near the bow of the ship.
Loggerhead Reef
71’ for 47 minutes
Located near the wreck trek another typical Florida limestone drift dive. Loggerhead and other sea turtles are commonly seen along the ledges of the reef. Lionfish, angelfish, and other populate the site and are commonly seen swimming along the corals and sponges.
