DayGlo-colored reefs, underwater wrecks, and close encounters with sea creatures. Here are some of our all-time favorite scuba spots and the marinas we use while we're there.
Famed as a lively Mexican port, Cozumel sits on the second-largest barrier reef in the world, which, as a result of being constantly swept by a strong current, offers excellent visibility and ideal conditions for drift diving.
The reef south of the island is part of the Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park, where private vessels can only enter with special permission and must be accompanied by a local dive master. Alternately, you can charter a professional tour operator such as Pelagic Ventures Dive Shop. Sites here fall into three categories: vertical walls like Santa Rosa, with gorgonian and plate coral, enormous sponges, and a superb assortment of reef and pelagic species; pinnacles like Punta Sur and Palancar Horseshoe, for statuesque structures, wide coral shelves, and maze-like tunnels; and, closer to shore, coral gardens that sport a rich abundance of fish life, including the purple-patterned Cozumel splendid toadfish, which is endemic to the reefs surrounding the island.
About an hour's drive north of Cozumel, just off the coast from Cancun, is the Puerto Isla Mujeres Resort and Yacht Club, a full service marina with 64 slips for yachts up to 80 feet and 10 slips for mega-yachts up to 175 feet. The marina offers resort amenities such as swimming pools and spa services, as well as a fueling dock and a shipyard with a 150-ton travel lift.
No list of cruise-and-dive destinations would be complete without the idyllic British Virgin Islands. Protected waters, line-of-site navigation, and countless anchorages make getting around quick and easy, and more than 100 dive sites with amazingly diverse bottom topography offer something for everyone: stunning coral gardens, canyons, caverns, tunnels, and grottos, plus wrecks teaming with underwater life. The RMS Rhone, which sank off Salt Island in 1867, is home to a giant green moray and several octopuses; it's considered good luck if you spot them on your dive. Undersea boulders at the world-famous Baths on Virgin Gorda create a gorgeous jumble of overhangs and ledges for parrotfish, wrasse, and lobster.
To the west, Great Dog Island features rich reefs and structures:The Chimney has a tall archway covered in multicolored sponges and cup corals, while Coral Gardens sports a low, lush reef and a wide range of fishlook for the occasional nurse shark or turtleas well as the remains of a small commuter plane that has become a focal point for a number of barracuda.
Tortola's Village Cay Marina, with 106 slips for yachts up to 185 feet, has been expanded and updated over the past 30-plus years, but it still retains its casual Caribbean vibe. Guests can expect the amenities of a full service marinawater, fuel, electrical, cable TV, Wi-Fi, laundryalong with provisioning services and all the pleasures of the adjacent hotel, which has a swimming pool, restaurant, and boutiques.
The well-known Bitter End Yacht Club, located on the North Sound of Virgin Gorda, has 70 moorings as well as docks that can accommodate a wide range of vessels from catamarans to mega yachts. For visiting boaters there are lots of activities and a lively waterfront with watersports, restaurants, and shops. This is an ideal place from which to explore BVI's diving - each morning fully equipped dive boats leave from the Bitter End docks (including two tank dives).They also offer PADI Resort Course for those who are beginners.
The best-known island of theTurks and Caicos has a long coral reef on its north shore, part of the protected Princess Alexandra National Marine Park. Grace Bay, which sits within the park, is famous for its stunning beach, but underwater there are equally as alluring attractions. The sandy slopes of the ocean floor lead to walls and large stacks of coral such as the Graceland site, plus spur-andgroove formations like Aquarium, loaded with schools of reef fish, turtles, and sharks. At Hole in the Wall, the island's most celebrated undersea attraction, divers can fin down a vertical fissure from about 55 feet to 100 feet before emerging into deep water. Pine Cay, a small island northeast of Provo, provides good visibility and submerged seamounts that rise to within 50 feet of the surface. This area's Football Field site, with its coral coverage, draws schools of juvenile barracuda, Bermuda chub, and groupers.
Set midway on the north shore, only 20 minutes from Grace Bay and its unspoiled dive sites, Turtle Cove Marina houses 110 slips plus restaurants and hotels. The excellent Provo Turtle Divers outfit is located at the marina. For the ultimate in convenience, visitors can book a trip with Provo Turtle Divers, which is located right at the marina.
This island paradise borders the third-largest barrier reef in the world, and it is also home to the Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg, a 522-foot vessel that's been sunk and turned into an artificial reef. More than 100 species of fish (including parrotfish, yellow and blue tangs, barracuda, snapper, mackerel and hogfish) have taken up residency in the submerged ship, which sits upright approximately seven miles off Key West in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
At Ten-Fathom Ledge, dramatic caves and overhangs provide refuge for grouper and lobster while pelagic inhabitants parade in the blue water. One of the area's most popular offshore reef destinations, Sand Key, is an islet marked by a large iron lighthouse and 10 miles of coral at varying depths.There are many great docking options in the Key West area, such as Conch Harbor Marina, conveniently located in the historic seaport that is also known as the Bight. The marina has an on-site dive charter and a swimming pool, and plenty of restaurants and bars within walking distance. Oceanside Marina, about five miles from downtown Key West on Stock Island, can accommodate yachts up to 120 feet and has amenities such as a tackle shop, laundry, on-site restaurant, and repair services. The property has the look and feel of an old-school fish camp and is the closest Key West port to the Atlantic, where most of the reef sites are located.
Ringed by reefs at three depths (shallow, medium, and deep) Grand Bahama invites bubble-blowers of all experience levels to jump in and explore. Shallow sites (10 feet to 15 feet) like Rainbow Reef andTreasure Reef feature the most color and marine life due to their thin depths, with schools of striped grunts and silversides glittering among fields of elkhorn and brain corals. Medium sites (40 feet to 60 feet) consist mostly of scattered coral heads on sand flats, though SPID City boasts a twin engine aircraft nestled on the bottom, and Ben's Blue Hole has a horseshoe-shaped ledge with jacks, schoolmasters, and porkfish. The deepest sites (60 feet to 100 feet) are solid reef with tongue-and-groove formations. Theo's Wreck, a 228-foot cement hauler, hides a giant green moray plus a few spotted eels, and Littlehale's Lair conceals two small caves created by coral growing over the surge channels; you can swim through the westernmost one in the company of white, blue, and French grunts.
Freeport's Grand Bahama Yacht Club at Lucayan Marina Village is a gorgeous, deep-water marina surrounded by classic European architecture and lush tropical landscaping. Its 150 slips can accommodate vessels up to 175 feet, and amenities include high-speed fuel pumps and top-notch shower and laundry facilities. Guests have access to a deluxe pool, fitness center and restaurant.
The marina is also a Bahamas Port of Entry with 24-hour customs and immigration services.
From the Gulf to the Atlantic and every bay in between, boaters and their families have plenty to look forward to on the Florida coasts this fall. Start the season with a couple of pints at Oktoberfest and spooks at a haunted ghost tour, throw in a boating event or two, and round it out with a lighted boat parade.
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St. Augustine
Daily/weekly
Learn about the haunted history in the oldest city in the United States through the lens of the undead. Get tickets for haunted pub crawls, trolly tours and walking tours. You’ll get in the Halloween spirit and learn the stories behind St. Augustine’s most spirited locations from professional storytellers with just the right amount of spook. Kids are welcome on trolly and walking tours, and pets are allowed on walking tours! Check out Ghost Tours of St. Augustine or Ghosts & Gravestones.
Where to Dock: Camachee Cove Yacht Harbor
Jacksonville Beach, Tampa
October 7-9
Kick off the fall season with Oktoberfest on the Atlantic or Gulf Coast with Beaches Oktoberfest and Oktoberfest Tampa. With Tampa’s event ranking in the top five in the country and Jacksonville Beach’s being the largest in the state, you’re sure to find the brew for you! beachesoktoberfest.com
Where to Dock: Fort George Island Marina (Jacksonville), Westshore Yacht Club (Tampa)
Apollo Beach
October 20-23
Just across the Bay from Tampa and St. Pete, Apollo Beach is teeming with wildlife on land and on the water. At this four-day festival, you’ll find a free expo with nature organizations and artwork, daily field and boat trips to sites not accessible to the public, and expert wildlife and conservation seminars. Nature aficionados won’t want to miss this opportunity at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Suncoast Youth Conservation Center.
Where to Dock: Apollo Beach Marina
West Palm Beach
October 22
Has your dog always wanted to be an (un)professional racer? Now is Fido’s time to shine! Register your pup for a day full of zoomies, Doggie Costume Contest, and plenty of BBQ and entertainment for the whole family. Proceeds benefit Furry Friends Adoption, Clinic & Ranch.
Where to Dock: Palm Harbor Marina
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Clearwater
October 14-16
No matter your music taste, you’re sure to find something to jam out to at this three-day festival, from smooth jazz and blues to funk and zydeco. You’ll find plenty of vendors at the festival, and Tampa’s Ybor City neighborhood offers old-school charm and Latin American eateries. St. Petersburg offers hip breweries, coffee shops and more.
Where to Dock: Clearwater Beach Municipal Marina
Sarasota
October 22
Join in a celebration of life at the Water Lantern Festival this fall. Start the day with food trucks, music and family- friendly fun, and end by releasing your personalized lantern on the water at sunset.
Where to Dock: Marina Jack
Fort Lauderdale
October 26-30
The largest in-water boat show in the world offers viewings and demos of everything from superyachts to kayaks and fishing gear. Stop by the Superyacht Village to sip a cocktail on one of the most luxurious boats in the world, the Convention Center for watersport and innovative boating gear demos, and take the family to a kid-friendly fishing seminar.
Where to Dock: 17th Street Yacht Basin, Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, Pier 66 Hotel & Marina
Naples
October 28-30
Join the Old Naples Waterfront Association in the historic center to kick off stone crab season! Eat stone crab to your heart’s content in a prime harvesting location of the tasty crustacean and enjoy plenty of entertainment, from live music to local galleries and craft vendors. floridarambler.com/florida-festivals/ florida-seafood-festivals-calendar
Where to Dock: Naples Bay Resort & Marina
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Apalachicola
November 4-5
Cruise to the charming Apalachicola, tucked away among expansive wildlife reserves and just a bay away from the Gulf. Along with some of the best oysters and seafood you can eat, the whole family will enjoy a parade, carnival, Blessing of the Fleet, hours of live music every day, and competitions such as the oyster shucking contest and blue crab races.
Where to Dock: Apalachicola Marina
Fernandina Beach
November 5
Celebrate the annual return of the North Atlantic right whale to the coasts of Florida and Georgia to give birth and nurse their young in historic Fernandina Beach. Learn about threats and conservation efforts for these gentle giants, participate in a beach clean-up, and enjoy family fun at educational exhibits, athletic events, and food and craft vendors.
Where to Dock: Oasis Marinas at Fernandina Beach
Key West
November 6-13
Cruise to Key West for three days of epic racing and a full week of family-friendly fun. Don’t miss the World’s Fastest Boat Parade on the first Sunday, or any three of the races throughout the week: the Truman Waterfront Cup, Southernmost Continental Champion, and Championship. Use downtime to explore the Race Village at Truman Waterfront and try out local pubs, shops and restaurants.
Where to Dock: Conch Harbor Marina
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Sarasota
November 11-14
Visit Siesta Key Beach to watch sculptors from around the world turn piles of white sand into sculpted masterpieces. Professional competitors have 24 hours to build their pieces, and visitors have the chance to participate in amateur sand-sculpting competitions and see the masters at work.
Where to Dock: Safe Harbor Siesta Key
Sarasota
November 19-20
Art connoisseurs and amateurs alike will love this boutique art competition and festival in the scenic cultural center of Sarasota. Masters of different media—ceramics, jewelry, graphic art, painting, and more—will put the best of their work on display for patrons to browse and buy to their hearts’ content.
Where to Dock: Marina Jack
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St. Augustine
November 19-January 31
Ready to get in the holiday spirit? Cruise back to St. Augustine as early as before Thanksgiving for a dazzling display of more than 3 million lights in the historic district. Gaze in awe at the twinkly lights and find photo ops at the Bridge of Lions and the Christmas tree at the center of Plaza de la Constitución. Enjoy the sounds of the All Star Orchestra on the first night and stroll to businesses open later than usual.
Where to Dock: St. Augustine Municipal Marina
Miami Beach
December 1-3
Since the 1970s, this annual art extravaganza brings works of contemporary and modern pieces by renowed and emerging artists from around the world to showcase in Miami. Held at the Miami Beach Convention Center, for three days the public can gaze upon unique masterpieces presented by leading galleries from five continents.
Where to Dock: Sunset Harbour Yacht Club
Key Largo, FL
December 1-4
This annual four-day event showcases classic antique yachts, automobiles and aircraft to celebrate those who restore vintage collections. Experience a full schedule of events kicking off with a welcome party and dinner buffet on Thursday, then a weekend packed with drive-bys, shows, dinners, cocktail receptions, a costume party and more.
Where to Dock: Ocean Reef Club
With so many spectacular lighted boat parades on the coasts of Florida, we couldn’t choose just one! Dock at any of these coastal towns on the first three Saturdays of December to ring in the season on the festive Florida waterfronts.
Daytona Beach Christmas Boat Parade
December 3
Palm Coast Yacht Club Holiday Boat Parade
December 3
The Seminole Hard Rock Winter Boat Parade
December 10
St. Augustine Regatta of Lights
December 10
Naples Bay Christmas Boat Parade
December 10
Northwest Cape Coral 2nd Annual Boat Parade
December 17
The Caribbean is well known for its clear blue tropical waters. But as rich as it is in beauty, the islands have an even greater wealth of his- tory. Luckily, museums are located across the region to share the stories and significant events that can provide glimpses of what maritime life was like throughout the years. Their exhibits, relics and archives will have you looking at the region in a whole new light.
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You can find this treasure trove of artifacts in the Atlantic Ocean 650 miles east of North Carolina, the nearest land mass to this collection of islands. The museum shows how maritime events shaped the history, people and culture of Bermuda. It is located at the historic Royal Naval Dockyard within Bermuda’s largest fort. Exhibits cover 500 years of the country’s history from how the German U-505 submarine was captured by the U.S. Navy and concealed in Bermuda to how sailing races from North America to Bermuda have influenced the development of ocean-worthy boats and blue water sailing. Be sure to experience the museum’s unique spaces by strolling through the two-story boat loft to catching a dolphin show at the Keep Pond Terrace to taking in the expansive ocean views at the flagpole.
Where to Dock: Kings Wharf or Heritage Wharf
Turks and Caicos National Museum opened in 1991 to store artifacts found in the excavation of the Molasses Reef shipwreck, an unknown Spanish ship that sunk in 1515 on the Caicos Bank. The museum spans two locations: the Guinep House on Grand Turk Island, believed to be more than 180 years old and named after the large guinep tree on its property, and the Village at Grace Bay on Providenciales, where visitors can tour the Heritage House, an historically correct rendition of a typical 1800s Caicos dwelling. In addition to showcasing shipwreck artifacts, visitors also learn about the evolution of The Grand Turk Lighthouse as well as the rise and fall of the island’s salt industry. On Museum Day, the first Saturday in November, visitors can tour the exhibits for free, and in May, the Village at Grace Bay holds a “Back in the Day” event with activities reflecting historical life on the island.
Where to Dock: Blue Haven Resort & Marina
If you like to take in history outdoors, these exhibitions are for you. The trail consists of 36 stops across all three islands (Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands) and is best traveled via car. Each stop is marked by a road sign that shares a notable historic event or contribution related to the maritime industry. Learn how turtling shaped the islands’ early economy, how ships were cleaned and repaired before boat lifts by a process called “careening”, and hear stories of notable shipwrecks. If you prefer to learn Cayman Island history in one place, you can check out the Cayman Islands National Museum, housed in Cayman’s oldest surviving public building, which has a series of permanent and rotating exhibits.
Where to Dock: The Barcadere Marina
Completed 500 years after Christopher Columbus arrived on the island of La Hispaniola, the Faro a Colon (aka The Columbus Lighthouse) is one of the Dominican Republic’s most popular attractions. Constructed in the shape of a Latin cross spanning the width of two soccer fields, the lighthouse was created to recognize the first “encounter between two worlds.” It includes a mausoleum that houses Christopher Columbus’ remains as well as a museum displaying original and replica artifacts from the time of Columbus’ voyage. The lighthouse also has a library containing documents and maps displaying some of the earliest drawings of the Americas.
Where to Dock: Marina Zarpar
The Antigua Naval Dockyard, now named Nelson’s Dockyard, was built in the mid-1700s to serve as a strategic post and support the Royal Navy battle against the French and protect trade routes in the region. The dockyard officially closed in 1889 and reopened in 1961 as an historic site. In addition to exploring the dockyard, take advantage of the park’s 12 miles of hiking trails, two forts, and tours such as the “Rum in the Ruins” where you can listen to stories of the dockyard while sipping on a cocktail. If traveling by boat, get the best view of the gorgeous English Harbour and snag a slip at nearby Nelson’s Dockyard Marina, the only continuously working Georgian Era dockyard in the world.
Where to Dock: Nelson’s Dockyard Marina
Opened in 2020, the Bequia Heritage Museum includes the Boat Museum and Annexe that display and educate visitors about the boatbuilding and whaling industries as well as artifacts dating back to the period of the island’s European settlement. Vessels on display at the museum include a traditional Amerindian dug-out canoe and the decommissioned boat, Rescue, that was originally used for whaling.
Where to Dock: Bequia Marina
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Located in a mansion built in 1729 on the Waaigat inlet, the Curaçao Maritime Museum shares with visitors the story and events that influenced Curaçao’s involvement in the maritime industry. Learn how trade ebbed and flowed in and out of Curaçao’s ports, reflective of the events happening around the world to the arrival of the first cruise ship in 1901 from New York, sparking the cruise tourism industry until the 1970s when air travel took over as the primary way for tourists to visit the island. Visitors can explore the museum at their own pace or take a guided tour.
Where to Dock: Seru Boca Marina
With a decent internet connection, you can visit the Grand Bahama Museum from the comforts of your remote anchorage or mooring. Bahamian history and culture are explored through digital exhibits ranging from the islands’ natural landscapes and the history of the port authority to the role the Bahamas played during the Golden Age of Piracy. Learn about the first recorded piece of mail sent from the Bahamas in 1761 and the evolution of mailboats. Or savor a dark and stormy while reading about the Bahamas’ role in the rum-running industry during U.S. Prohibition. The Grand Bahama Museum was originally housed at The Garden of the Groves but was unfortunately destroyed by weather and time. To reach a wider audience and share Bahamian history and culture, the museum decided to move to a digital platform.
Where to Dock: Grand Bahama Yacht Club or Flamingo Bay Hotel & Marina
WHICH OF THESE RENOWNED SEAFOOD TOWNS WILL HOOK YOU?
Beaufort lies on an inlet leading south to the Atlantic and is considered part of North Carolina’s “Inner Banks” and the Crystal Coast. The Crystal Coast spans 85 miles of stunning coastline in southern North Carolina, including 56 miles of protected beach of the Cape Lookout National Seashore.
Located on historic Amelia Island, Fernandina Beach is the northernmost city on Florida’s Atlantic Coast. Visitors will find easy access to Jacksonville, the mouth of the St. Mary’s River, and coastal destinations in southern Georgia such as Cumberland Island.
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Established in 1709, Beaufort was originally known as Fishtown, having been a fishing village and port of safety since the late 1600s. In addition to fishing, Beaufort was a hub for whaling, lumber, shipbuilding and farming. The earliest settlers made their mark by building Bahamian and West Indian-style homes, and the Plan of Beaufort Towne can still be seen in a 12-block historic district.
First settled in 1562, this town on historic Amelia Island went through many transformations under eight flags before it became what it is today. After the Civil War, Fernandina Beach became a bustling seaport and popular destination, called “The Queen of Summer Resorts” by many Northerners. Today’s visitors find themselves surrounded by the town’s lovely relics of the past — an historic district, Civil War port and the first cross-state railroad remain.
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Beaufort has a thriving scene for anglers. Cast your line off a dock downtown, book a charter or head north to Cedar Island Wildlife Refuge to catch flounder, trout and redfish. Boat tours and private charters are a popular way to experience the stunning views and wildlife of the Crystal Coast. See porpoises, dolphins and wild horses on the beach. Better yet, book with Cruisin’ Tikis Beaufort to imbibe while you observe. Dock at Beaufort Docks.
Pier fishing is huge on Amelia Island, and anglers should head to the George Crady Bridge, which spans one mile of Nassau Sound. Snag a variety of fish in the area, including redfish, whiting, seatrout, tarpon and flounder. Boaters can start aquatic excursions in either the Atlantic Ocean to the east or Amelia River to the west. Go on a solo adventure, or join a tour or charter by boat, kayak or watersport with the likes of Amelia River Tours, Amelia Adventures & Kayak or Riptide Watersports. Dock at Fernandina Harbor Marina.
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History buffs will feel right at home in Beaufort. Visit the Beaufort Historic Site to learn the town’s story through nine preserved historic homes in the middle of town. Three different maritime museums, including the North Carolina Maritime Museum, and the Bonehenge Whale Center offer marine merriment for the whole family. And for a taste of Crystal Coast wildlife, head over to the Rachel Carson Reserve where wild horses and countless birds, reptiles and aquatic mammals roam free.
Fernandina Beach is known for its easy living. Amelia Island Welcome Center is a great place to revisit Fernandina’s history and plan your day. Make your way to Centre Street on the water to browse eclectic shops and bustling art galleries, taste wild-caught shrimp at a bistro, or grab a pint at the Palace Saloon, Florida’s oldest tavern. If you’re in town on a Friday, you might stumble upon Sounds on Centre, a local concert series.
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