Florida's Diving Festivals

By Greg Johnston
Published: October 5, 2007
Last Updated On: May 2, 2011

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Boating

Diving

Fort Lauderdale

West Palm Beach

Miami

Palm Beach

Big Pine Key

Festival

Florida's diving festivals cover everything from underwater photography, to boating, to below-the-sea musical performances (no, really).

It could be said that a trip to any of Florida's hundreds of dive sites would be cause for celebration, but there are a few organized festivities throughout the year that you might consider planning your next dive trip around.

January is when FOTOfusion kicks off, which would be of interest to any aspiring underwater photographer who is eager to better his photographic skills. Produced by the Palm Beach Photographic Centre, it is a five-day event for the serious photographer interested in capturing better images. The program includes field trips, seminars and panel discussions on everything from new digital cameras to black & white photo tips.

Next to owning a good comfortable pair of flippers is a good dependable dive boat. Each February, more than 2,000 of the world's leading marine industry manufacturers display the newest powerboats, engines and accessories at the Miami International Boat Show.

Wall-to-wall boats and accessories pack more than a million square feet at the convention center. It is a five-day celebration that attracts dive enthusiasts to check out the latest in dive boats, runabouts, sportfishing boats and inflatables.

The last weekend of April or first weekend in May typically brings SunFest, Florida's largest music and art festival held annually on the waterfront in downtown West Palm Beach. It is also the time of year that brings the large sea turtles to begin nesting along the beaches. Divers can enjoy the experience of swimming alongside loggerheads, Kemp's Ridley, and other species of turtles that come from as far away as 2,000 miles to nest on the Florida shore.

The festival, which takes place at the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary just six miles south of Big Pine Key, treats divers and snorkelers to underwater performers such as Tuna Turner and Britney Spearfish.

Perhaps the most coveted celebration of any Florida diver is the day mini lobster season begins. The 48 hours of lobster madness begins the last Wednesday and Thursday of July. Beginning at midnight, divers are allowed six lobsters per day and must be a minimum size larger than the three inch carapace.
Don't forget your lobster equipment! You'll need gloves, a tickle stick or lobster loop, and a lobster gauge for measuring in the water is required at all times. Regular lobster season begins the first week of August and runs through the end of March.

The month of July is also time to celebrate the ocean when The Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival kicks off. For more than 25 years, this one-day festival in early July has been host to the oxygen-challenged performers that play unplugged. The festival, which takes place at the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary just six miles south of Big Pine Key, treats divers and snorkelers to underwater performers such as Tuna Turner and Britney Spearfish. With mock instruments belting out simulated tunes from Titanic's theme to Jimmy Buffet's Fins, the event is also meant to help preserve the fragile coral reefs.

The music is interrupted occasionally by diver-awareness announcements from the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary officials offering tips on how to enjoy the reef without destroying it. But that's as solemn as it gets. After the music ends, everyone heads back to shore for a conch chowder cook-off.