In June 2019, 633 divers descended upon the Deerfield Beach Pier, setting a new world record. The event generated a lot of attention. We are Florida divers and environmentalists and we, like many others, shared the news when it was released on Facebook. We wanted to do something more. We wanted to go and see it for ourselves, so we could uncover the real story. Why is Deerfield Beach in need of such a massive cleanup? Who could organize such a large number of divers? What’s the diving like at Deerfield Beach Beach? What’s next?
Finding a good diving partner
Ashley, a good friend of ours, has recently learnt to scuba-dive. You must read her post about learning to scuba dive (The Most Terrifying + Humbling Experience of My life) to understand how big an achievement this was for Ashley. It would be an understatement to say that she has overcome her fears. We were honored when she chose us to be her diving partners.
We decided to dive at Blue Heron Bridge because we wanted to go at our own speed and spend plenty of time at the bottom to practice skills. The tides were not in our favor that day and the BHB dive window was around dinner. We had to get out of that water as soon as possible. I thought that we should go to Deerfield Beach and get more information about the World Record dive. It’s 600 feet away, so there’s not much more swimming to do than at the Bridge. What could possibly go wrong? These words are right up there with the phrases “hey, watch this” or “hold my beer.”
2. Dixie Divers has a Dive community
Dixie Divers was responsible for the world record clean-up, so we contacted them to rent our gear. Customers were also testing the gear and asking questions.
The training facilities at Dixie Divers really impressed me. The facility has two classrooms and a pool. They offer not only reasonably priced dive lessons but also gear and instruction packages. Divers who are certified through dive shops are the lifeblood and future of the scuba sport. Every year, they certify more than 1,000 new divers. Dixie Divers ranks among the top 10 dive shops in the USA, and the top 20 worldwide.
3. Deerfield Beach is not polluted by divers
Dixie Divers proudly displayed the information about their record-breaking dive. The Guinness Book certificate and photos of the dive were displayed. There were more than just 633 divers. Teams on the pier were hauling baskets of garbage and there was an army of logistics support.
The nature of the trash was something that I was very interested in. This trash was not debris left by divers. This trash was accumulated over a year’s beach use. Monofilament fishing line, in particular, was left behind. The fishing line can be a deathtrap for marine animals and turtles. Recently, we returned from a turtle weekend in south Florida where this carnage was witnessed first-hand. We met a turtle who had lost a limb due to fishing line five miles away, at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. South Florida beaches is one of two mega-hatcheries in the world for Loggerhead Turtles. Therefore, removing deadly fishing line from these beaches is essential.
4. How to dive Deerfield Beach Pier
How do we dive off the Deerfield Beach Pier? This is my first question to the shop. You don’t. The beach lifeguards won’t let you swim in the water if they are there. This implies a legal obligation to ensure your safety, which the city’s attorneys refuse to accept. Second, the area is unsafe because of the fishing and the line that has been thrown away.
5. What is the best place to shore dive in Deerfield Beach, Florida?
The pier and the beach guarded were therefore off-limits. You can access the beach and reef north and south from the pier. The reef is shallower and more extensive south of the pier. Turtle Reef is located north of the pier.
Turtle Reef beach is accessible from the bus stop on A1A and Osceola Dr. The area is known as the Boca / Deerfield Line Dive Site because it’s located right next to the Welcome To Boca Raton sign. Drop your gear at the South Inlet Park or near the pier. The reef is about half the length of a pier away. You can swim out to it. This is the plan that was on the Dixie Divers Beach Dive Page. Unfortunately, we used information from another website, so there was an “opportunity” for more adventure.
6. Diving requires practice, teamwork and attitude
We reached the beach, but it was a bit south of the place we had planned to go and much souther than the actual reef. Our first step in our team building exercise (regarding The Sufferfest) involved a walk across the sand while wearing full diving gear. Wear flip-flops and if necessary, buckle them in your BCD. The sand on my bare feet was scorching hot (literally I got a few new blisters). We began our swim out once we reached the target area. It was relatively easy to get out, but a slight current from the south kept us from moving northward. It didn’t help to drop down and navigate underwater. We swam in the right direction but it felt like we were on a treadmill. We were in the exact same position every time we surfaced. On the surface, we regrouped and discussed our options. We decided that going out any further was a bad plan, so we retreated as far as we could until we were in chest-deep waters.
This option was great. We kept passing SUPs, and snorkelers helped us direct ourselves to the reef. This time we found it. We didn’t have as much time to explore the area as we had hoped because we used a lot of air during our approach. We had many opportunities to practice descending and underwater communication. We also got plenty of time to solve problems. Ashley was significantly less anxious after the dive. She said that she will never again be anxious about doing a boat dive. We were still friends even after we had hauled the diving gear back to beach access. We looked forward to spending the evening with each other.
7. Local dive shops are needed around the world
When we returned to Dixie Divers, we felt more informed. Pavan, the owner of the shop, spoke briefly with us about diving in Deerfield Beach as well as his plans for the store. It’s not surprising that the shop isn’t just focused on the cleanup. In the past, the shop set a record for the biggest underwater chain. He worked with the City to install a fish camera at Deerfield Beach Pier, so that divers could evaluate conditions before coming to the beach. He was very excited when he talked about the new fish habit that he will be putting south of Deerfield Beach Pier.
Pavan was charming and engaging. The shop was crowded and we could have talked to him all day. He said, “Go make some money.” I corrected him that it was first about service. The rest will come if he serves his customers and answers their questions. Local dive shops can be an invaluable resource. They are the first line of support for recreational scuba.
8. What can you do in Deerfield Beach if you are on a boat?
We enjoyed our boat dive and would love to do it again. Dixie Divers operates their dive boat, Lady Go Diver. It is located about a half mile from the shop. She departs from the Boca Ratan Inlet, and visits many North Fort Lauderdale diving sites, including the Okinawa and Lady Luck.
The M/V Castor is one of the best boats to dive with for the goliath aggregation. Caster is the place to be in early autumn when large numbers of these giant fish congregate. It’s an ideal habitat because of its depth, right on the Gulf Stream. Jenn earned her advanced certification to dive this exact site.
9. Everyone can make a positive difference
Although our dive was a great success in overcoming fear and improving skills, we did not see enough turtles. Our day was not over. We went to Fort Lauderdale Beach for our active Florida getaway. We also took part in a Turtle Trek organized by Sea Turtle Oversight Protection. The 501c3 is dedicated to rescuing baby sea turtles. Throughout the summer, 150 volunteers watch over hatching turtles. They also rescue those that are confused by light pollution. They have saved more than 250,000 sea turtles since they began eight years ago.
Our turtle trek was a lucky one. We watched 76 turtles hatch from a nest. Unfortunately, only 2 turtles made it to sea without any assistance. STOP saved the lives of 74 other hatchlings that would have otherwise died. They work with local governments to find long-term solutions for marine life, just like Dixie Divers. But, this time, they’re creating and enforcing beach lighting ordinances. We saw individuals who were motivated organizing groups all day long to make a change.
We saw a large hermit crab on the wrong side the seawall as we returned to our car. I was not going to let this opportunity pass me by. I picked him up and carried him to the ocean in my flip-flops. It felt like the whole day had been completed as he ran into the waves. Although it may not seem much, I realized that everyone joining together can be a powerful force.