We finally had the chance to dive the famous Blue Heron Bridge dive site and we know now why it has been voted the best shore dive in the United States! Also, snorkelers can enjoy the easy access Phil Foster Park Snorkel Trail.
Just inside the Lake Worth Inlet, and under the Blue Heron Bridge is the Phil Foster Park. Here you will find a nice beach, a fishing area, a boat dock, and many perfect spots for snorkeling and diving. Parking is free; there are showers to rinse gear, bathrooms, and a whole bunch of tables to help with setup. The entry to the beach is under the bridge, so as a bonus you get lots of shade. A good setup when you’re putting on black wetsuits in the summer heat!
Divers can enter beside the beach, but it’s also ok to wade/swim across but stay on the surface until you reach the end of the swimming buoys after which you can descend (it’s only about 15 ft here). Do bring a dive buoy, it’s the law in Florida and you can be fined without one.
Navigating the Blue Heron Bridge dive site
The key to navigating this dive site is the tides and matching that with the opening hours of the park. With depth ranging from only 5 ft to a max of 20 ft and so much to see, you can easily spend an hour or more underwater enjoying this beautiful site. It’s very important to match your dive with the tides, the best time to dive is 30 to 60 minutes before high slack tide and to finish 30 to 60 minutes after. At this time, visibility is at its best (up to 100 ft) and current negligible.
Before and after these times however, there can be a lot of water movement. We went in an hour before high tide, and when navigating the old (small) bridge, had a strong pull that was trying to drag us out into the boat area… not good. A few minor scrapes trying to pull our way back to the sides and over some rocks got us out of trouble but don’t get caught off guard here, and a pair of gloves could save your fingers. Bringing a dive knife in case of fishing line entanglement is also a good idea, and again a dive buoy is mandatory per dive team.
Life on the Reef
The site is a dream for divers in terms of wildlife, often spotted are seahorses, octopuses, rays, and frogfish. We saw a lot of arrow crabs, lobsters among other things. We also saw some jellyfish and we’re told these are more plentiful in the summer months so a full wetsuit or rash guard is recommended even in the warm water.
See our Life on the Reef Gallery
There has been a lot of discussion on the forums about poachers coming to capture some of these creatures for their aquariums or for resale. Definitely not allowed, and please leave the fragile sea life alone for all to enjoy. Leave only bubbles and take nothing but pictures!
Conclusion
We will definitely be back to this dive site, and we’re lucky to have a friend that lives close by who gave us a guided tour of some of her favorite spots (thanks Dawn!).
Our tanks are already at the shop being refilled and we’re ready to try again. Perhaps a few more times and we’ll try this at night too. Local dive shops (Pura Vida Divers and Force-E Scuba) also organize night dives when the tide is right.
Not sure what to do with your car key when shore diving, see our post: DRYFOB, A Waterproof Car Key Fob Container That Really Works!
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2 replies on “Blue Heron Bridge, a World-Renowned Shore Dive Site”
Beautiful
Thank you!