Palm Beach, Florida

Drift Diving Safety

• Expect live-boat drift procedures: negative entry when instructed, descend together, and stay with the guide.
• Deploy an SMB before surfacing and keep it inflated at the surface until the boat signals pickup.
• Carry an audible signal (whistle or air horn) and a visual signal (mirror or small strobe).

Blue Heron Bridge Safety

• Dive and snorkel the bridge area around slack tide to avoid strong lagoon current.
• Stay out of the boat channel, respect the guarded swim area boundaries, and use a divers-down flag.
• Follow park rules: spear guns and knives used to capture fish are not allowed at the snorkel trail area.

Weather Awareness

• Winter cold fronts can cancel boats with little notice.
• Summer thunderstorms build quickly. Start early and watch lightning.

Dive Medicine Planning

• For any suspected DCS or serious injury, call local emergency services first, then contact DAN for specialist support.
• Keep your dive profiles conservative on deeper wreck treks, hydrate, and avoid heavy exertion right after diving.

Nearest Chamber Strategy

• Identify your preferred receiving hospital before you splash. In Palm Beach County, hyperbaric services are available in the West Palm Beach area.
• Your dive operator can help coordinate transport and contact the on-call team.

Reef and Wreck Etiquette

• Do not touch, stand on, or collect coral or marine life. Good buoyancy is the most important conservation skill.
• Many reef areas use mooring buoys. If you are on a private boat, use established moorings and avoid anchoring on natural reef.

Sea Turtles and Beaches

• Palm Beach County emphasizes March 1 through October 31 as a key sea turtle nesting window. Keep lights off at night, do not disturb nests or hatchlings, and leave the beach clean and obstacle-free.

Local Programs

• Palm Beach County maintains natural reef areas and an artificial reef program. Treat all artificial reefs as real habitat and avoid damaging structures or entangling fishing line.