Located just off Fort Lauderdale Beach, Hog Heaven is a dive site that includes a 180-foot barge that was intentionally sunk in September 1986 as part of the Florida Artificial Reef Program. Thirty plus years of growth is well evident on the wreck and it’s literally covered in coral and full of life!
While there are plenty of areas where experienced wreck divers can penetrate, it is obvious that the years have corroded away a lot of the structure. The remains look fragile and potentially dangerous to those not properly trained. There’s also lots of sharp metal frames at odd angles, so all divers should be careful.
In addition to the wreck, this dive site also has some other scenery: We actually saw a Christmas tree propped up next to the wreck, nice touch!
After the dive, I heard there was also supposed to be the remains of the Pacific Reef Lighthouse which was brought and sunk on the site. Not sure how we missed a lighthouse, but it’s a good reason to come back and dive the Hog Heaven wreck again!
Drift dive on “The Caves” reef
Our second dive was to The Caves, which is a beautiful shallow reef to dive, just offshore from Fort Lauderdale Beach. The reef is perfect for newbies and the prolific sea life makes this site great for underwater photography.
A super friendly grouper (even if he looked grumpy!) came to check me out and tried to kiss my camera lens.
Aside from the grouper, we saw a huge hogfish, lots of porcupinefish and flamingo tongues, and some lobsters. Just as we were about to end the dive, we spotted this purplemouth moray eel peeking out of its hole.
We went out to the Hog Heaven wreck and The Caves reef with the American Dream crew and they were great as always.
For more information on scuba diving in South Florida check out our South Florida Dive Sites list.
One reply on “Diving the Hog Heaven Wreck in Fort Lauderdale”
Glad to see marine life in those area. Soon I will try to do diving lessons.