With Florida Shark Diving, a boat trip into the warm Gulf Stream off Jupiter becomes an up-close shark experience. Excursions are designed for small groups and give beginners, families, freedivers and underwater photographers plenty of room to enjoy the animals at close range.
A shark adventure in the Gulf Stream
Depending on personal preference, guests can watch the sharks from a floating surface cage, freedive with snorkeling equipment or simply enjoy the action from the boat. No scuba certification is required for cage diving, making this special wildlife experience accessible to guests with no previous diving experience.
Shark encounters are possible throughout the year in the nutrient-rich waters off Palm Beach County. Potential visitors include tiger, great and scalloped hammerhead, bull, dusky, silky, sandbar, Caribbean reef and blacktip sharks, with occasional shortfin makos. Seasonal lemon-shark gatherings add another highlight from January through March.
At the shark grounds, the crew lets the boat drift and uses chum and bait lines to bring the animals closer. This creates rewarding viewing and photography opportunities while the team guides the experience. The species that appear depend on the season, water temperature, weather, current and visibility.
Small groups and a relaxed schedule
Regular tours last about three hours and are offered in the morning or afternoon. The ride to the shark grounds takes around 30 minutes, and with no more than six guests the atmosphere stays personal with plenty of time on the water. Divers and boat-only observers can join the same trip.
The 34-foot Crusader dive boats Trident and Odin are used for the excursions. Seating, shade, swim platforms and ladders help make the trip comfortable. The cage gives two guests at a time an unobstructed panoramic view; masks, snorkels and fins are provided, and wetsuits are available when needed.
