Force-E Scuba Centers - Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Dive Site - Force-E Scuba Centers

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Shore Dive

Datura Ave Portal Shore Dive

South Florida provides an ideal shore dive experience for all.

Location: Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
Depth Range: 8-20'
Skill Level: Open Water Diver, Freediver or Snorkeler 

From anywhere in the town of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, you can enter the water, swim out about 100 yards and be on a reef. Many people like entering the water at Datura Ave Portal or Hibiscus Ave, which are south of Commercial Boulevard. To the north of Commercial Boulevard, El Prado Park is another easy access point with more parking for divers to gear up at. Note, all parking in this town is metered, so make sure to pay the meter or download the PayByPhone App. 

Datura Ave, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea

Datura Ave Portal Parking & Entrance.

South Florida Scuba Diving Shop

Hibiscus Ave Parking & Entrance.

El Prado Park, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea

El Prado Park Entrance, parking across the street.



Current image of the SS Copenhagen

Lots of underwater adventures off the beach-spearfishing & lobster harvesting are permitted in these areas with divers having current FWC licenses.



Map of Datura Ave Portal-South of the Pier

Datura Ave Map

If you enter at the Datura Ave Portal, you can check out the artificial “Shipwreck Trail.” by swimming out just past the buoys (that mark the swimming areas), then drop down and continue east. There you’ll find a replica of what would be left from a shipwreck in the early 1800's. All artifacts are within a 100' x 20' area. A set of two concrete replica cannons is on the North side and three on the South side of the site. Further east takes you to the “potholes” which have lots of juvenile fish species. Swimming further out to the east takes you to the “second reef” where it’s approximately 12-15 feet deep. Some of the reef features like hard corals can be 3-4 feet tall here.

To dive these sites, contact Force-E Pompano Beach or Force-E Fort Lauderdale for more information.

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