South Florida Diving Headquarters - Abaco
The team at South Florida Diving Headquarters, despite the name, are your go-to crew for diving the Abaco. They operate out of Marsh Harbour, and really excel at making the most of the area's barrier reef and extensive cave systems. We’ve found them particularly good for groups looking to split their time between wreck and reef dives, and those with a real hunger for exploring the intricate cave networks Abaco is known for. Their setup is pretty robust, with multiple boats meaning you’re not usually waiting around. We especially love that they’re keen to get you on some of the lesser-dived sites if conditions allow, which really sets them apart from some of the more cookie-cutter operations. On a calm morning, ask them about a run out to Fowl Cay Marine Park; the elkhorn corals there are genuinely impressive, and we’ve often seen eagle rays cruising by in the deeper sections. If you’re a cave diver, these guys are properly equipped and knowledgeable, able to guide you safely through the labyrinthine blue holes like those around Nancy's Hole or the famous Guardian Blue Hole. Just remember to discuss your experience level frankly – these aren’t casual dives.
- Location
- Abaco, Bahamas, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 26.232689, -80.092520
- Phone
- +1 954-783-2299
- [email protected]
- Website
- http://www.southfloridadiving.com
- Certification Agencies
- ["PADI"]
- Courses
- PADI 5 Star Dive Resort [padi:21171]
- Address
- 101 North Riverside Drive Ste 111, Pompano Beach, Florida 33062, United States
Diving Capabilities - South Florida Diving Headquarters
- Snorkelling
Dive Sites Near South Florida Diving Headquarters
South Florida Diving Headquarters provides access to 15 dive sites in Abaco.
- 777 - 20m
- Angel Grand
- Atlantis Road
- Ben s Blue Hole (cenote)
- Ben s Cavern (cave)
- Bimini - 10-30m (reef)
- Bimini Barge (Wreck) - 17m (wreck)
- Bimini Diving: Great Hammerheads, Bull Sharks and Wrecks (wreck)
- BIMITI - 12m (wreck)
- Blue Chromis - Bahamas - 22m
- Blue Heron Bridge at Phil Foster Park - 6m (muck)
- Boynton Beach Reef - 21m (reef)
- Breakers Reef - 20m (reef)
- Bull Run - 17m (drift)
- CAPTAIN ROBERTS - 6m (wreck)
Other Dive Centres in Abaco
- Brendals Dive Center
- Dive Guana
- Divers Direct
- Dixie Divers - ["PADI"]
- Force-E Scuba Centers - NAUI, SDI, TDI, SSI
- Hydrotherapy Dive Charters LLC
- Pura Vida Divers - ["PADI"]
- Reef Oasis Viva Bahamas - ["PADI"]
- Scuba Works
- Sea Experience - ["PADI"]
Best Time to Dive in Abaco
The warmest water temperatures in Abaco occur in August, averaging 29.8°C (up to 31.9°C). The coolest conditions are in February at 24.0°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 24.4°C (air: 20.6°C)
- February: 24.0°C (air: 22.7°C)
- March: 24.3°C (air: 23.0°C)
- April: 25.0°C (air: 24.5°C)
- May: 25.9°C (air: 25.7°C)
- June: 27.7°C (air: 27.3°C)
- July: 29.0°C (air: 28.5°C)
- August: 29.8°C (air: 28.8°C)
- September: 29.4°C (air: 28.0°C)
- October: 28.4°C (air: 26.9°C)
- November: 26.9°C (air: 24.2°C)
- December: 25.4°C (air: 21.9°C)
Marine Life in Abaco
Home to 372 recorded species including 293 reef fish, 30 hard corals, 16 whales & dolphins, 7 sea snails & nudibranchs, 7 sharks & rays, 5 other.
Notable Marine Life
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- American eel (Anguilla rostrata) - Reef Fish
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) - Hard Corals
- Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
- Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Blainville's Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon densirostris) - Whales & Dolphins
Recommended Packing List for Abaco
Based on average water temperature of 26.7°C, visibility 20 nmi, currents 4 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories