What a Wreck
Howwouldyou like togo
diving ina school?No, not a
school of fish, but the
materials salvaged froma
school building tohelp create
newnear-shoreman-made
reefs. They’re complex
habitats, attracting snapper,
delicious triggerfishand
shrimp—one off Flagler
Avenue inNewSmyrnaBeach
andone off the SunglowPier
inDaytonaBeachShores.
These andother reefs, natural
and artificial,makeDaytona
Beachone of the best places to
dive inFlorida,withplentyof
caves, caverns and culverts to
explore. It’s possible todive all
year round. Average surface
temperature is 70degrees,
visibility between 30 and 60
feet. It’s coldest in
January, warmest in July.
Or stay closer to the surface
with your mask and snorkel.
Keith Sterner, owner
and dive instructor at Sea
Dog Divers in New Smyrna
Beach runs dive charters to
wrecks, reefs, limestone
ledges and outcroppings
with soft coral growth.
“Spearfishing is popular,
too: for cobia, flounder,
grouper, snapper in season
and lionfish. People are
shooting and eating them.”
A good thing, since
lionfish are an invasive
species and are delicious.
The most popular dives
are to the wrecks, he said.
“And if you’re looking for
lobster, we have some of
the biggest lobster in the
state.” But you have to
work for them, he said, at
about 80 feet and 20 miles
or more offshore.
—Eleanore Osborne
Adventure Yacht Harbor
3948 S. Peninsula Drive,
Wilbur-by-the-Sea
(386) 756-2180
AdventureYachtHarbor.com
Fishing and sailing charters.
Also includes a bait shop
and restaurant. Offers 150
slips, overnight docking, fuel
and pump-out service.
Daytona Beach Pier
1200 Main St., Daytona Beach
This historic landmark is
home to Joe’s Crab Shack
and other eateries. The pier
is open for fishing daily.
Halifax Harbor Marina
450 Basin St., Daytona Beach
(800) 343-2899 • (386) 671-3600
HalifaxHarborMarina.com
This 550-slip marina has six
boat ramps, as well as a fuel
dock, fish cleaning station
and pump-out facility.
Designated a Clean Marina.
Inlet Harbor Restaurant,
Marina & Gift Shop
133 Inlet Harbor Road,
Ponce Inlet
(386) 767-5590
InletHarbor.com
This facility is a designated
Clean Marina and features a
marine store, gift shop,
fishing pier, bait and tackle
shop and a restaurant.
Loggerhead Club & Marina
721 Ballough Road,
Daytona Beach
(386) 523-3100
LoggerheadClubAndMarina.
com
Located near the popular
Caribbean Jack’s
restaurant, this facility
offers public access for 85
slips, with annual, seasonal,
monthly and transient rates.
Sunglow Fishing Pier
3701 S. Atlantic Ave.,
Daytona Beach Shores
(386) 788-4035
SunglowPier.com
Enjoy some fishing and a
meal over the Atlantic Ocean
at the pier’s popular Crabby
Joe’s Restaurant.
MARINAS AND PIERS
40 |
The
Original
American Beach
