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Southwest: From trash to underwater treasures
The barrier islands of Southwest Florida provide a unique aquatic experience not found in other
parts of the state. What the area lacks in hard coral is made up for by an aggressive artificial reef program, using everything from sunken barges and dismantled bridges to construction items and even powerline poles.
These man-made materials attract large fish and diverse marine life, including the mammoth
jewfish (weighing up to several hundred pounds each), big nurse sharks, 15- to 20-pound grouper and sea turtles. In addition to the artificial reefs, natural limestone ledges provide a haven for underwater invertebrates and marine plants.
Some of the more popular area sites include Edison Reef, the 240 Ledges and Belton Johnson
Reef.
When the Edison Bridge was dismantled, 25,000 tons of concrete and other materials were
dropped in about 40 feet of water. The stacks created 10-15 foot high piles with swim-throughs and overhangs, as well as one of the largest artificial reefs in Florida. Today, the site is so encrusted by coral that, in places, it's easy to mistake it for a natural reef. Large numbers of grouper, snapper, king mackerel, cobia and other game fish can be found here. Occasionally you may even spot manta rays or sharks.
Take a 240-degree heading from the Sanibel lighthouse, and you'll find yourself in a mile-square
cluster of ledges with depths ranging from 55 to 70 feet. At 240 Ledges, named for its location, you'll find tall undercut ledges that are home to schools of red snapper, grouper, tropicals and jewfish. Visibility at the site, which is approximately 16 miles from shore, is best at high tide. (Visibility ranges from 20 to 70 feet depending on weather and conditions.)
Also off the coast of Sanibel, Belton Johnson Reef (named for a legendary fishing guide), is one
of the newer reefs in the area. A yellow and white marker shows the location of the reef, which is constructed of concrete culverts. Loggerhead sea turtles, redfish, and such tropicals as gobies, damsels, and butterfly fish are common to this site.
You may also want to dive one of Lee County's newest artificial reefs. The Pegasus, a100-foot-
long tug that sits upright in 85 feet of water was put in place mid-1999. Today, the site attracts fish life along with divers eager to explore her the decks, superstructure and compartments. |
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Another interesting dive location, the Power Pole Reef, is an underwater junkyard turned
paradise. Here, divers will see a 65-foot boat, cement mixer, and, as you might expect, power poles in 45 feet of water. (The site is off the coast of Charlotte and Lee Counties.)
One notable wreck in Southwest Florida is the Baja California, sunk by a German U-boat in
1942. Found 55 miles south of the Sanibel lighthouse, the Baja is over 250 feet long and lies in 110 feet of water. Divers have uncovered numerous artifacts in the wreck along with varied sealife, including grouper, cubera snapper and giant amberjack.
And finally, about 30 miles west/southwest of Boca Grande, the "Crack" (also known as the
Captiva Blue Hole) is one of the few wall dives on the Gulf Coast. The blue hole, at 85 feet at the rim, bottoms out at over 180 feet. Numerous jewfish, octopus, reef tropicals, snapper and encrusting coral make this a "must" dive.
Although most of the diving in this region is in over 40 feet of water, snorkelers shouldn't feel
left out. Popular snorkeling destinations include Big Carlos Pass on the south end of Estero Island, the waters around Gasparilla Island, and three large limestone ledge areas off Cayo Costa Island. For optimal visibility, snorkelers should arrive one hour before high tide to begin their adventure - the tides bring clearer waters closer to shore. Water temperatures range from the upper 80s in the summer to the low 60s in the winter.
Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau: <http://www.leeislandcoast.com/>
Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce <http://www.sanibel-
captiva.org/outdoor-activities/scuba.html>
Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands <http://www.pureflorida.com/home.html>
Dive site coordinates: <http://www.lee-county.com/naturalresources/artreef.htm>
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