Discover Scuba Diving in Singer Island, Jupiter, Florida with Pura Vida Divers
The last time that I went scuba diving was in Costa Rica way back 2015, so you can only imagine how excited I was to dive into the blue of Singer Island. Unfortunately, Jonathan wasn’t feeling so well that morning, so instead of diving with me, he decided to just take photos of me getting into the water!
Located at the oceanfront part of city of Riviera Beach, many consider Singer Island to house some of the best beaches in Florida with more seven miles of immaculate beaches littered with sophisticated hotels, resorts, shopping, and restaurants. This amazing peninsula, named after the famous Palm Beach developer Paris Singer, offers countless other fun and exciting activities besides scuba diving and snorkeling like biking, hiking, kayaking, and canoeing. Supporting a warm and sunny weather year round, it guarantees its visitors and residents an experience and atmosphere like no other.
Pura Vida Divers did a great job with walking me through all the necessary phases and preparations for a successful scuba diving experience. Beginners who would want to attempt scuba diving would be in great hands because the Pura Vida Divers crew will explain and demonstrate in great detail everything you need to know from learning the purpose of each gear to the essential diving hand signals.
Scuba diving is a kind of diving which requires the diver to wear special gear to stay underwater and admire the unique and rich aquatic life from the depths of the ocean. The word scuba itself came from the equipment name SCUBA which means Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. Some other SCUBA equipment includes a tank, fins, a compass, a mask, pressure gauges, and a watch. You can also buy a special scuba diving camera to film your adventure, you can find and read the review on ScubaOtter.com.
We dove down the Blue Heron Bridge, also known as Phil Foster Park, in Singer Island. The Blue Heron Bridge was 2013’s Best Dive Site in the World, according to PADI’s Sports Diver magazine, and I witnessed why it was hailed best. Thanks to the private guide from Pura Vida Divers & Pura Vida Surf, I was able to fully appreciate and maximize the experience!
The Blue Heron Bridge offers an incredibly diverse marine life to tourists! The first things I saw underwater were sea cows or mother-baby manatees! There were a lot of fish, sea horse and starfish! The whole experience made me feel like a kid again—all giddy and fascinated by sea creatures!
The bridge is also open regardless of weather conditions—this is a unique feature since scuba diving activities tend to be canceled during adverse climate conditions. The Blue Heron Bridge is still accessible for underwater activities despite bad weather conditions because it is located in the protected Lake Worth Lagoon.
Recently, snorkeling was also made available to tourists and guests in the bridge. The Phil Foster Park Artificial Reef and Snorkel Trail, which opened last August 2012, is 800 feet long and is covered in an artificial reef. Since 2012, the snorkel trail has been attracting marine life and tourists alike.
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Tips when diving the Blue Heron Bridge
There are two dive sites separated by the beach: the smaller bridge on the southeastern side of Phil Foster Park, and the larger bridge on the southwestern part. While diving the bridge is easy, there are still some reminders from Pura Vida Divers.
- The tidal flow is pretty strong at any time. The best time to enter the water is half an hour before the high slack tide. This is when the Atlantic Ocean water is at its clearest.
- You will be required to carry a dive flag, so always do so. Divers who don’t are ticketed by authorities.
- Stay clear of the boat channel parallel with the shore. Also, don’t swim under the center of the large bridge.
- Don’t dive in the designated fishing areas!
- The park is open from sunrise to sunset. Night dives are only for Pura Vida Divers. Should you want to schedule a night dive, let the Pura Vida Divers know!
For more tips and answers to questions you might be thinking, check out their FAQs.
The Blue Heron Bridge Night Dive Experience
The park requires a special pass or permit for tourists or guests to be able to stay after dark. This is why if you’re planning to go on a night dive, you should coordinate with Pura Vida Divers.
This is open for solo divers, or group divers. Plus, you can request a private guide! Remember to always bring your legal dive flag, and complete equipment—a primary, backup, and tank light.
The dive lasts for roughly an hour, but if you want to stay longer, you can bring your own dive flag.
For more information, or if you’re already thinking about scheduling your night dive, visit their night dive schedule.
The Blue Heron Bridge Dive Specialty Course
In case you’re in it for the maximum experience and learning, Pura Vida Divers, together with PADI, offers an exclusive course on diving! Learning to professionally dive in a breathtaking dive site? Can’t see why you won’t count yourself in!
The Black Water Drift Diving
Diving is so fun and adrenaline-inducing, so I won’t be surprised if you’re looking for other diving activities. Fortunately, you don’t have to search too far. Pura Vida Divers also offers Back Water Diving or Black Water Drift. It’s as exciting as the Blue Heron Bridge dive, except that this dive is out in the open ocean!
Black Water drift dives allow you to see sea creatures you have never seen before! Some even dub the creatures they see as “alien-like”.
Some things to remember when diving
Here are some of our personal advice when going diving! It’s all fun, but remember to always be safe and knowledgeable!
- If you don’t understand something, especially about the equipment, or diving rules—ask! You can ask authorities or private guides. It’s important to know what you’re getting into and to avoid possible run-ins with local laws.
- Try different diving sites! Maximize your stay by exploring the ocean and reefs! There’s always more left to see.
- Bring an underwater camera! Take stills of the wonderful sea creatures you’ll see. You may come across some “alien-like”, weird-looking animals—take photos! You don’t know when you’ll see them again!
Note: This trip wouldn’t have been possible without the help and support of Visit Palm Beaches and Pura Vida Divers for our itinerary in Palm Beaches and to Visit Florida, the official tourism office of Florida in Tallahassee, and especially Ms. Summer Gilhousen, who arranged the whole trip and coordinated with all the local tourism boards, private companies for our sponsored hotel stays, tours and car rental (all opinions and text are all mine) Thank you!
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