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

Each year, MBARA brings the community together for one of Mexico Beach’s most anticipated events: The MBARA Kingfish Tournament. The tournament stands as the foundation’s most significant fundraising event, directly supporting its vital mission of constructing and deploying artificial reefs off the coast of Mexico Beach. These reefs play a crucial role in preserving and expanding natural habitats for marine life, providing a sanctuary for fish, coral, and other species to thrive. Moreover, they enhance fishing opportunities for both recreational and commercial fishermen by creating abundant and sustainable ecosystems, making them indispensable to the Gulf’s marine biodiversity and local fishing economy.

The MBARA website provides a comprehensive directory of nearly 300 artificial reef locations, along with a plastic guide available for purchase, complete with range, bearing, TDs, and GPS coordinates. You’ll also find captivating videos showcasing many of the dive sites. Click here to be redirected to their website.

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.

Historic Shipwreck Dives

The Empire Mica

The Empire Mica was a British steam tanker that was attacked and sunk by the German U-boat U-67, on June 29, 1942. Lying in 105 feet of water, this wreck offers scuba divers a historically significant world-class diving experience. Use the button links below to discover more.

The Lumber Ship Vamar

The wreck of the Vamar (formerly the Eleanor Bolling) is located in 27 feet of water in the Bell Shoal area. This site, designated as a State Underwater Archaeological Preserve, is accessible by both scuba divers and snorkelers and is often visible from the surface.