Lauderdale-be-the-Sea
I just got back from a week long scuba / freedive trip Lauderdale-by-the-sea (fyi this is just south of Pompano and north of Ft. Lauderdale). There are actually 3 main reef systems just off the beach, the first one starts maybe 200 yards off shore. It lies in about 15-30 feet. This one is easily done from the shore. Normally the group I go with will scuba out to the first reef while freedive and swim circles around them. It's
amazing how much more agile and power you have in the water without all of that cumbersome equipment and a pair of Gara HF's. The other 2 reefs are progressively farther and deeper. Night freediving on this reef is absolutely fantastic with lots of interesting things to see - cuttlefish, baby barracuda, nurse sharks, and the complementary set of fish make this a must do for me every time I head over there. This is not a technically challenging site in the least but I always enjoy it. I am going to bold this next part so you don't miss it, it really is that important.
Boat traffic is fast, drunk, and furious - TAKE A DIVE FLAG!!!!
Please, please, please listen to the above and follow it. I don't want you to become a statistic. Boat traffic through here is downright nuts........I have heard stories from a divemaster friend of boats actually running over dive flags. This is known to happen right off shore so if you go be safe and take a flag w/float and stay near it. Nuff said 'bout that.
The other 2 reefs are not a feasible swim without a boat unless you are laminar and efattah. :hmm Kayak is probably doable although a boat with someone who knows where to go would be a much better alternative. There are LOTS of really interesting wrecks to dive out there. They lie in all sorts of depths ranging from about 40ft to 120ft. The Deloach book on Florida can give you specifics. Again, a charter boat split several ways would not cost much and make the trip much more enjoyable imho. I am not sure if any of the regular bubble-blower boats would welcome us, I normally go with about 10 folks on scuba so they tolerate my "freakish" freediving eccentricity.
Currents in this area are what would concern me the most. After making several annual pilgrimages to the area I have seen how fast and unpredictable they can be. On the first reef I have yet to see a hard current, however farther out I have blown bubbles on wrecks that had a
ripping 3 knot current. I can't imagine trying to kayak far in a current that strong. Or do a decent breathe-up on the surface while keeping an eye out for the boats. Not saying that it can't be done, but a local guide would be a good idea as they would know what to expect when.
I am in Tampa now (hooray!) and would be up to diving off a kayak.....a beach.....in a spring....or a decent mud puddle......just pm me to let me know. I used to freedive in a quarry where visibility is less than 2 feet and the water temp is 56 degrees so everything here seems like paradise. :t
If you want to go to the reef off the beach I visit when I go to lauderdale just take commercial blvd east till you hit the ocean and keep going about 200 yds offshore. It's pretty nice, visibility is decent once you get out a ways. Also there is a little restaurant called "Mulligan's" that is great for beer and snacks afterwards. Because if you aren't planning your beer before you plan your dive, then you might be drinking your plan when you beer your dive - and that can just get messy.