Visiting Hollywood Florida

[ZAquaman]

Hello there,

I have a business trip that will take me away from this Alaskan ice box next week. I'll be staying in Hollywood Florida hotel on S. Ocean Drive. I plan on some early morning and evening excursions if the beach diving is OK, and I have a couple days on my own. I wonder if anyone could fill me in on the local freediving in the area...

Are there any decent beach access dive sites?
What areas should I check out on my few days off?
If boat diving is required are there freedive friendly operators?
What is the water temp. in the area?
What about night diving, is it shark safe or taboo?

 

[JMD]

My wife dove hollywood beach once but I don't remember what the attraction was, I thought the reefs were a fair ways offshore there.

Consider going 20 minutes north to lauderdale by the sea, the reefs are much closer to shore and the first of the bands of reef is just outside the swimming marker buoys. They've sunk some tourist attractions there (canons etc) but the real attraction is the diversity of reef life, from tropical fish to nurse sharks and plenty of lobster.

I was night diving a number of times and never seemed to have any problems...