Diving
Easy access to great dive sites makes Mexico Beach a great destination for scuba diving, snorkeling, and spearfishing. Our waters offer natural reefs, artificial reefs, and historically significant shipwreck sites; there is a natural, hard rock bottom beginning offshore.
Since 1997, the Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association (MBARA) has developed an extensive artificial reef system just offshore from Mexico Beach. The organization has three functions:
- Conservation and environmental improvement of natural and artificial reef systems near Mexico Beach, Florida
- Research and evaluation of artificial reef designs, biomass development, and fish production
- Educating the public about the importance of reefs to the marine ecosystem and their impact on coastal communities
MBARA also hosts one of Mexico Beach’s best events: the Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association Kingfish Tournament; the organization also publishes a regular MBARA newsletter.
The MBARA website offers a complete listing of nearly 200 artificial reefs and sells a plastic directory of all sites with range, bearing, TD’s and Lat/Long for your GPS. The website features videos of many dive sites as well.
Mexico Beach From Below
Reef Locations & Dives
Reef Locations Map
The Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association has deployed 282 reefs. Using the link button below you will be able to find the exact coordinates of all of the reefs in Mexico Beach. There is a description of the structures, and much more valuable information by browsing all of the local reefs using the MBARA map. The map search and filters will help you locate the perfect spot.
Reef Dives
Mexico Beach offers divers the opportunity to explore natural reef sites consisting of hard corals and rock formations; artificial sites created with Reef Balls, Reef Pyramids, and 10-foot-tall Reef Maker modules; and a number of barges, tugboats, shrimp boats, towers, and even concrete mixer trucks. Sites range from 2 miles to 30 miles offshore and are at depths of 20 to 120 feet.
