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Your Guide to the Top Dive Sites in West Palm Beach

Whether you're a seasoned wreck diver or just getting your fins wet, West Palm Beach is home to some of Florida’s most exciting dive sites. From vibrant coral reefs to historic shipwrecks, this guide showcases the local favorites we visit regularly at Black Flag Charters. Handpicked by our experienced crew, each site offers something unique  so you can plan your next underwater adventure with confidence.

  • Breaker’s Reef

Depth: 42–60 ft
What to Expect:
Breaker’s Reef is one of the most iconic reef systems off West Palm Beach, stretching for miles just offshore of the historic Breakers Hotel. This expansive system offers a variety of terrain, including undercuts, channels, and patch reefs perfect for a smooth drift dive. The site is home to vibrant hard and soft corals that support a healthy mix of reef fish like angelfish, parrotfish, and damselfish. Sea turtles are frequently seen gliding along the edge or resting in the sandy pockets. It’s a favorite among local divers for its size, diversity, and consistent marine life.

The next few dive sites featured below are individual sections of the larger Breaker’s Reef system, each offering something distinct to discover along this majestic stretch of reef.

  • The Trench

Depth: 45–60 ft
What to Expect:

This narrow, ledge-lined corridor lives up to its name, cutting sharply through the reef and offering divers a dramatic underwater landscape to explore. The structure attracts a variety of marine life, including sea turtles, moray eels, and nurse sharks. In addition reef fish like angelfish and parrotfish call this reef home. With its bold topography and reliable sightings, The Trench is a go-to spot for both recreational divers and underwater photographers.

  • Elevator Shaft

Depth: 45–57 ft
What to Expect:
Located along Breaker’s Reef, Elevator Shaft features a relatively straight and well defined ledge, offering an easy to follow structure for exploration. Divers can expect to encounter moray eels, spiny lobsters, and groupers along with sea turtles.

  • 4th Window

Depth: 45–60 ft
What to Expect:
With a beautiful ledge and fingers this section of the reef offers undercuts and varied terrain that drift divers love. As you approach the northern stretch of Breaker’s, the reef wraps northwest, guiding you to turtle mound. Green and spotted moray eels are often seen, in addition to reef fish and sea turtles. With its variety of terrain and steady activity, 4th Window is a solid choice for divers of all levels.

  • Turtle Mound

Depth: 40–60 ft
What to Expect:
This compact section of reef sits just inshore of Breaker’s  and features a pair of coral mounds. Rising to about 42 feet and dropping to 60 feet in the sand.
Despite its size, Turtle Mound is full of life. Don't forget your camera as you can expect to encounter sea turtles.

  • Flower Garden

Depth: 40–55 ft
What to Expect:
Flower Garden is a densely populated coral site, featuring a wide mix of soft and hard coral. The site is well known for consistent marine activity, and it’s a common spot for large schools of reef fish, spiny lobster, and sea turtles.

Thanks to its open layout and abundance of marine life, it’s an ideal spot for underwater photographers.

  • Teardrop

Depth: 40–55 ft
What to Expect:
Teardrop features a steep inshore wall and a defined ledge structure that provides plenty of surfaces for coral growth and marine activity. The area supports a healthy mix of hard and soft corals, along with sponges that attract schools of reef fish such as grunts, wrasse, and snapper. Divers often encounter moray eels, sea turtles, and the occasional nurse shark. Sheltered spots along the wall are common hiding places for spiny lobster and other invertebrates.

As the dive progresses, the reef continues north and transitions Ron’s Rock .

  • Ron's Rock

Depth: 40–55 ft
What to Expect:
Ron’s Rock features a heavily eroded section of ledge, offering pockets, grooves, and sharp relief along the seafloor. These natural features create excellent habitat for marine life and easy areas for divers to explore.

You’ll commonly see barracuda, groupers, and sea turtles in the area, along with schools of reef fish weaving through the coral structures. Ron’s Rock is a natural continuation from Teardrop just to the south.

  • Paul's Reef

Depth: 45–60 ft
What to Expect:
Paul’s Reef is a diver favorite for its scattered coral heads, deep undercuts, and distinct finger-like ridges that extend from the main ledge. The reef naturally curves inshore as you make your way north, offering opportunities for easy jumps between sections and making it a great site for exploration.

Common marine life includes angelfish, rays, moray eels, and spiny lobster, often tucked beneath ledges or moving between coral outcrops. The site is also known for frequent sea turtle sightings and makes for a, scenic drift dive with plenty to see along the way.

  • Bath & Tennis

Depth: 40–55 ft
What to Expect:
This reef takes its name from the inshore Bath & Tennis Club nearby, this site features a low-profile ledge system with scattered coral heads and gentle inshore curves. Its gradual structure makes it a great choice for a laid-back drift dive, offering easy navigation and plenty of space to explore.

You’ll find a healthy mix of reef fish like parrotfish, wrasses, and grunts, along with spiny lobster hiding under the ledges. Sea turtles are also frequently seen cruising along the bottom or resting near coral patches. While not as dramatic in topography as some neighboring spots, Bath & Tennis delivers steady marine life and smooth diving that’s perfect for both new and experienced divers.

  • 60 Rocks

Depth: 50–60 ft
What to Expect:
60 Rocks is an artificial reef created from large rocks deposited when the Palm Beach Inlet was originally cut. Over time, these boulders have become encrusted with marine growth, forming a scattered reef structure that supports a vibrant mix of sea life. You’ll find tropical reef fish like grunts, hogfish, and angelfish navigating between the rocks, along with spiny lobster tucked in crevices and the occasional ray cruising by. The open layout makes for an easy and enjoyable drift dive with plenty to explore.

Deep Reefs

  • Mid-Reef

Depth: 65–85 ft
What to Expect:
Mid-Reef features rolling terrain across the top of the reef at 65 to 70 feet, followed by a distinct ledge that drops to around 85 feet. The structure supports a healthy range of marine life, with grunts, snapper, parrotfish, and hogfish commonly seen along the reef face. Moray eels and spiny lobster are often found tucked into crevices, and larger fish like barracuda occasionally pass through. With its depth and topography, Mid-Reef is a excellent choice for divers looking to explore beyond the shallows.

  • Nun's Reef

Depth: 70–90 ft
What to Expect:

Nun’s Reef features a well-defined ledge with rolling reef structure along the top, offering ample opportunities for exploration. Divers frequently encounter moray eels, spiny lobster, and sea turtles tucked among the crevices and ledges. Its depth and layout make it a favorite for those seeking marine life and a classic deep reef experience.

  • Double Ledges

Depth: 68–87 ft
What to Expect:
Double Ledges is a long stretch of reef known for its two-tiered profile  an upper and lower ledge running parallel. It’s typically broken up into two dive sites, North and South Double Ledges, depending on the section of reef being explored. The deeper ledge typically supports a higher concentration of marine life, while the upper ledge provides a scenic drift with varied coral growth and crevices. Common sightings include schools of tropical reef fish, spiny lobster tucked beneath overhangs, and hogfish cruising along the drop. With its extended layout and depth range, Double Ledges is a versatile site that appeals to both hunters and sightseers alike.

  • Juno Ledge

Depth: 70–95 ft
What to Expect:
Juno Ledge features a dramatic 20-foot vertical drop from the reef top down to the sandy bottom, making it one of the more pronounced ledges in the area. This reef is known to attract larger marine life, including goliath grouper and lemon sharks. You'll also see plenty of reef fish weaving through the coral. The structure itself offers plenty of cover and crevices, providing opportunities for exploration along the ledge face and base. It’s a popular site for divers hoping to encounter big animals while enjoying a classic deep reef profile.

  • Shark Canyon

Depth: 75–90 ft
What to Expect:
Shark Canyon is one of the most exciting deep reef dives off Palm Beach, known for its broad ledge and deep sand channels that create natural corridors through the reef. Many species of shark call this reef home. Divers may also encounter goliath grouper and sea turtles, along with a steady mix of tropical reef fish.

Wreck Dives

  • The Corridor

Depth: 62–90 ft
What to Expect:
The Corridor is a unique wreck trek made up of several sunken vessels and structures intentionally placed in line to form one extended dive. The site includes a mixture of shipwrecks and rubble piles, each offering its own habitat for marine life and structural appeal. Divers can explore hulls, open corridors, and scattered debris fields, all while drifting from one wreck to the next. This site attracts a range of marine life including schooling jacks, barracuda, angelfish, and goliath grouper tucked inside the wreckage. The variety of structures and depth range make The Corridor a favorite for wreck enthusiasts and underwater photographers alike. The next few wrecks listed are part of the Corridor Wreck Trek.

  • Ana Cecilia

Depth: 65–85 ft
What to Expect:
Sunk in 2016 as the first wreck of the Corridor Wreck Trek, the Ana Cecilia is a 170-foot freighter resting upright on the sand. The structure is fully intact, offering plenty of swim-throughs and access points. The wheelhouse and open cargo holds are favorite areas to explore, schools of grunts, snapper, and angelfish call this wreck home. You may also encounter goliath grouper near the bow or tucked inside the structure. With clear layout and manageable depth, Ana Cecilia is a popular site for both recreational and advanced divers.

  • Mizpah

Depth: 68–90 ft
What to Expect:
The Mizpah is a 185-foot Greek luxury liner sunk as an artificial reef in 1968, making it one of the oldest and most iconic wrecks in the area. While originally intact, the wreck has since broken apart considerably over time. Divers can still explore its distinct structure and layout, though swim-throughs are not recommended. The site attracts goliath grouper especially during aggregation season as well as snapper, grunts, and angelfish. Its history and marine life make it a staple of the Corridor Wreck Trek.

  • The Amaryllis

Depth: 70–90 ft
What to Expect:
The Amaryllis is a 441-foot freighter that ran aground during Hurricane Betsy in 1965 before being salvaged and later sunk as part of The Corridor wreck trek. Only the hull and lower deck remain, resembling a massive, hollowed-out canoe. Its long, open form offers a unique dive experience as you make your way along  The Corridor Wreck Trek.

  • Governor's River-walk

Depth: 55–90 ft
What to Expect:
Located just south of the Palm Beach Inlet, Governor’s River Walk Reef is made up of four shipwrecks sunk as part of Operation River Walk  a U.S. Customs initiative aimed at stopping drug smuggling on the Miami River. The vessels:  Shasha Boekanier, Gilbert Sea, St. Jacques, and Thozina, are lined up to form an extended artificial reef system. Over time, they’ve become heavily encrusted with soft and hard corals, drawing a wide variety of tropical reef fish. At the northern tip of the Shasha Boekanier, divers will also find a memorial statue placed by Delray Beach police and firefighters.

  • Toybox & Playpen

Depth: 42–60 ft
What to Expect:
The dive begins at the Toybox, a sunken barge resting across the current at 60 feet, with its highest point reaching about 42 feet. The structure provides solid relief and attracts a mix of marine life, including goliath grouper, hawksbill turtles, and occasionally a passing bull shark.
As you continue drifting north, the site shifts to the Playpen, an artificial reef built from concrete sections and utility poles. This area hosts schools of barracuda, angelfish, and grunts, with spiny lobster frequently spotted tucked between the crevices. Together, the two zones offer a unique blend of wreckage and reef, ideal for exploration and marine sightings.

  • Princess Anne

Depth: 72–101 ft
What to Expect:
Originally a 350-foot car ferry capable of transporting 800 passengers and 200 vehicles across the Chesapeake Bay, the Princess Anne was intentionally sunk in 1993. Today, it sits upright with the top of the wreck at approximately 70 feet and the propeller near 100 feet. Schools of barracuda and jacks are common, with goliath grouper, bull sharks, and hammerheads also spotted at this site. Coral and sponges have grown over the structure, transforming it into a vibrant artificial reef.

Black Flag Charters dive guide Christian playfully posing with shark fin gesture behind guest on Pirates Obsession
A scenic cruise in after our dives
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