Visit Florida - Worth the Drive 2008 - (Page 71) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> South 71 that lies in 90 feet of water. Holes cut in her bulkhead allow trained wreck divers to penetrate her hull. Hungry? On Miami Beach, it’s worth the wait for lunch at Joe’s Stone Crab (305-673-0365, www.joesstonecrab.com), open seasonally from mid-October to May. Then head back to the water and explore the Half Moon. Over the past 100 years, it has transformed from a racing yacht to a floating saloon (during Prohibition) to what is now the state’s seventh Underwater Archaeological Preserve. Resting in just 10 feet of water in Biscayne National Park (305-230-7275, www.nps.gov/bisc), about 45 minutes south of Miami in Homestead, it’s ideal for novice divers and snorkelers. Just remember that collecting underwater artifacts is illegal. A reef off Key Biscayne More adventurous divers like to hear how area counties have been cleaning and intentionally sinking everything from freighters to liberty ships over the last 20 years to serve as artificial reefs. Hotspots include the Mercedes I wreck, the infamous 199-foot freighter that ran aground in 1985, and the Princess Ann ferry, a 350-foot car carrier now resting in 95 feet of water. Day 2: Miami Beach Chic South Beach has a side you can only see if you’re ready to take a dive. Since 1981, Miami has used old vessels, bridge pilings and even Army tanks to build one of the finest artificial reef systems in the world. Stretching 45 miles from north to south, it’s geared toward intermediate and advanced divers, but there are objects within reach of snorkelers, especially when seas are calm. Experienced divers will enjoy exploring the DEMA Trader, a 165-foot freighter seized by U.S. Customs, that now lies in 80 feet of water about three miles southeast of Key Biscayne. Another good wreck dive is the Sheri-Lynn, a 235-foot Dutch-built freighter, COAST. Life moves pretty fast. Every now and then, it’s nice to kick it down a couple of gears and just enjoy the ride. fla-keys.com ~ 1-800-FLA-KEYS http://www.joesstonecrab.com http://www.nps.gov/bisc http://fla-keys.com http://fla-keys.com
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