Miami

Water and Boat Safety

• Use a diver-down flag for shore diving and snorkeling. Florida law references 91.4 m in open water and 30.5 m in inlets and channels for diver and vessel proximity. Plan entries that keep you within those limits.
• Expect drift procedures on many Atlantic-coast dives. Carry an SMB, stay with your buddy, and follow the boat's pickup plan.

Weather and Planning

• Check the marine forecast every day. Winter cold fronts can change sea state quickly.
• In summer, watch for lightning and fast-moving storms. If conditions deteriorate, call the dive and come back another day.

Freediving-specific

• Use a float and flag, run one-up/one-down buddy procedure, and avoid pushing depth when current and chop increase surface workload.

For any serious dive injury, call local emergency services first, then contact Divers Alert Network (DAN) for consultation and coordination.

• Local EMS: 911
• DAN Emergency Hotline: +1-919-684-9111 (24/7)

Miami has hyperbaric medicine resources in the region, but the correct destination depends on the injury and medical direction. Do not self-refer to a chamber without coordination through EMS or DAN.

• Do not touch or stand on coral and do not collect artifacts. Many wreck sites in Biscayne National Park are part of a protected cultural resource trail.
• Use mooring buoys where available. In Biscayne National Park, do not anchor within 91.4 m of a park mooring buoy.
• Use reef-safe sunscreen, secure all gear to avoid contact with the bottom, and practice good buoyancy over reef structure.
• Respect wildlife and nesting areas. Sea turtles nest on local beaches during the main season, and marked nests are legally protected.