Fort Lauderdale Dive & Snorkel Sites

Discover Fort Lauderdale’s Underwater Wonders with Gold Coast Scuba’s Guided Tours

Welcome to Gold Coast Scuba, Fort Lauderdale’s premier PADI 5-Star Dive Center, where the ocean’s secrets come alive! Whether you’re dipping your fins in for the first time or chasing epic underwater stories, our guided tours showcase South Florida’s dazzling reefs, historic wrecks, and vibrant marine life. From the coral haven of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea to the legendary SS Copenhagen and the quirky Lady Luck wreck, our expert-led adventures are perfect for beginners and seasoned divers alike. Grab your gear, rent a GoPro, and dive into Fort Lauderdale’s underwater magic with us. Check out our tours below and book your next splash today!

Featured Guided Tours

1. Discover Scuba Diving Experience

• What’s It About? Never dived before? Try scuba with no certification required! This intro tour in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea’s shallow reefs teaches basics and gets you diving with an instructor.
• Highlights:
  • Learn skills in 12–15 feet of water, then explore corals and fish.
  • See sergeant majors and maybe a turtle up close.
  • One-on-one guidance for total confidence.
• Duration: 3–4 hours (1-hour training, 45–60 min dive).
• Price: $275
• Inclusions & Add-On: Includes gear rental and 1 tank.  Add-on a GoPro rental ($15) to share your first dive with friends.
• Why Choose It? The ultimate beginner adventure to test-drive scuba in a safe, fun setting.
• Book Now!

2. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Shore Dive & Snorkel Tour

• What’s It About? Wade from the beach to vibrant reefs and the Shipwreck Snorkel Trail, just 100–400 feet offshore. A beginner’s dream, this shore dive delivers corals and fish with zero boat hassle.
• Highlights:
  • Meet turtles, parrotfish, and nurse sharks in 12–20 feet of water.
  • Check out replica cannons and an anchor on the snorkel trail.
  • Crystal-clear visibility, often 50–70 feet.
• Duration: 2–3 hours (60–90 min dive; 90 minutes snorkel).
• Price: From $149.99 (snorkel) / $349.99 (dive)
• Inclusions & Add-On: Includes gear rental and tank.  Add-ons include a GoPro rental ($15 to film the reef’s glow, a Scooter or Sea Bike ($25) for an effortless experience. 
• Why Choose It? Walk-in diving at its finest—perfect for newbies wanting ease and wonder.
• Learn More
• Book Now! Diving or  Snorkeling

3. SS Copenhagen Shipwreck Boat Dive

• What’s It About? Hop a boat 3/4 mile offshore to the SS Copenhagen, a 1900 steamship wreck and National Historic Site. Its 15–30-foot depths are ideal for beginners.
• Highlights:
  • Explore coral-covered boilers and beams with turtles and barracuda.
  • Snorkelers glimpse the wreck from the surface.
  • Home to over 100 marine species.
• Duration: 2.5–3 hours (45–60 min dive
• Price: $349.99
• Inclusions & Add-On: Includes gear rental and tank.  Add-on a GoPro rental ($15) to capture swim-throughs and sea fans.
• Why Choose It? A mix of history and marine life, with guides highlighting secret spots.
• Book Now!

4. Lady Luck Shipwreck Boat Dive Tour

• What’s It About? Cruise 1 mile southeast of Hillsboro Inlet to the Lady Luck, a 324-foot tanker sunk in 2016 as an artificial reef in Pompano Beach’s Shipwreck Park. At 60–130 feet, it’s great for confident beginners with Advanced Open Water certification.
• Highlights:
  • Swim through a faux underwater casino with octopus dealers, giant dice, and a mermaid waitress, crafted by artist Dennis MacDonald.
  • Spot barracuda, Goliath grouper, and tropical fish amid coral-encrusted decks.
  • Explore 16 staterooms, the bridge (at 83 feet), and engine room for a wreck-diving thrill.
• Duration: 3–3.5 hours (40–60 min dive).
• Price: $349.99 (Nitrox recommended)
• Inclusions & Add-On: Includes gear rental and tank.  Add-on a GoPro rental ($15) to film the unique casino art and fishy “card sharks.”
• Why Choose It? A one-of-a-kind wreck with playful art and rich marine life, plus our dive masters keep it safe despite possible strong currents.
• Book Now!

5. Sea Emperor Shipwreck Boat Dive Tour

• What’s It About? Head just south of Hillsboro Inlet to the Sea Emperor, a 171-foot hopper barge sunk in 1994 off Pompano Beach, nicknamed “Aqua Zoo” for its marine life. At 55–70 feet, it’s great for Advanced Open Water divers ready for a wreck.
• Highlights:
  • Explore an upside-down barge with scattered concrete culverts, home to Goliath grouper, moray eels, nurse sharks, and stingrays.
  • Safe swim-throughs with light-filled chambers for easy navigation.
  • Connect to the nearby United Caribbean wreck (300 feet south) for a two-wreck dive, guided by our pros.
• Duration: 3–3.5 hours (40–60 min dive).
• Price: $349.99
• Inclusions & Add-On: Includes gear rental and tank.  Add-on a GoPro rental ($15) to capture grouper hideouts and culvert tunnels.
• Why Choose It? A fish lover’s paradise with open wreck spaces, perfect for new wreck divers with our guides’ expertise.
• Book Now!

6. Ancient Mariner Shipwreck Boat Dive Tour

• What’s It About? Sail 2.89 miles northeast of Hillsboro Inlet to the Ancient Mariner, a 165-foot ex-Coast Guard cutter sunk in 1991 off Deerfield Beach, near Pompano Beach’s Shipwreck Park. At 50–70 feet, it’s great for Advanced Open Water divers ready for a historic wreck.
• Highlights:
  • Dive a Prohibition-era cutter turned WWII sub-chaser, now home to a massive Goliath grouper in the wheelhouse, plus schools of grunts and angelfish.
  • Explore easy penetration areas like the forward deck, with coral and sponges coating the hull.
  • Swim 150 feet southeast from the bow to glimpse the Berry Patch Tug for a bonus mini-trek, guided by our pros.
• Duration: 3–3.5 hours (40–60 min dive).
• Price: $349.99
• Inclusions & Add-On: Includes gear rental and tank.  Add-on a GoPro rental ($15)to film the grouper’s lair and coral-crusted decks.
• Why Choose It? A storied wreck close to reefs, buzzing with fish and history, with our crew ensuring a safe, fun dive.
• Book Now!