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Ponce Inlet Jetty - Ponce Inlet FL


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Ponce Inlet Jetty is a shore accessible salt water dive site, located at Lighthouse Point Park, Ponce Inlet, FL 32127. This dive site has an average rating of 3.00 out of 5 from 1 scuba divers. The maximum depth is 51-60ft/16-18m. The average visibility is 5-10ft/2-3m.

Lighthouse Point Park entrance fee is $10 per vehicle. No spearfishing

From Spearboard: The key is to watch and plan the tides VERY carefully. Ask the Lifeguards right there at the beach they’ll have the tides, or look at the back of the News Journal Local section. Ponce can rip if you don’t plan to be at the middle of the inside channel at DEAD SLACK HIGH TIDE. Enter from the outside Ponce Inlet beach, proceed out and near the jetty to about 60’ max depth then around the tip back in through the channel (inside inlet) to the other beach (Jetty Park) Stay close to the jetty (no more than 50 ft from the rocks, you’ll be in the marked channel past that, not a good place to be) You can enter and exit within about 50 yards of each other (Outside to inside) I would not recommend this if you are not REAL familiar with tides, and are not a fairly proficient diver, there are no safety valves other than climbing up in full gear on very slippery jetty rocks. Tow a large surface buoy/ball with you, look out for fisherman at anchor and fishing lines off the Pier, (have a knife at the ready) most will pull their lines when they see your buoy moving towards them, I have mine marked on top with DIVERS DOWN in large letters on it so they knoiw whats going on. Be sure to hit the HIGH SLACK TIDE 20 mins into the dive. I use an AL80 with air and do the circuit in about 45 minutes. There are very large barracuda schools patrolling the outside, and inside are some of the biggest sheepshead you will ever see. Lots of Silversides and grunts, the occasional Lobster, and a Manatee or two is not uncommon.

YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=nYZJPn7gsW0

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Comments
David-Corbin - 3/24/2023 5:06 PM
Looks like an interesting site. I live right in New Smyrna beach and am looking for local dives. Would be interested in buddying up with someone experienced at this site....
fisharefriends - 10/03/2020 6:33 PM
There’s a wide variety of creatures around the rocks near dog beach, but it doesn’t get deeper than 6ft...it’s good for fish ID. Around and inside the buoy near the lifeguard tower (south side), there’s a bunch of sand with the occasional rock and sand perch. Moving east on the jetty will yield more animals and deeper water.

The Spearboard tip in the description downplays how long the jetty is...it’s a full kilometer long and going all the way around and back in 45 minutes is quite a dash. If you want to go around the jetty, consider a late low slack/incoming tide run, as the vis is usually not good enough for a 1.5 mile dive to be enjoyable at high speed. If you’re only doing one side of the jetty then high slack is always the best. Just make sure you aren’t caught in an outgoing tide—other than that, be ready for low vis and you’ll make it. Bring a compass.
fisharefriends - 6/22/2020 10:40 PM
Rating Added: 3
Tons of fishermen/women, especially due to the coronavirus response, so weekdays are the way to go. Even then it’s not a diver-friendly spot. It’s not easy...small hike from the lot, strong currents, possibly climbing on rocks. You have to time the tides carefully—the tide on the south side of the jetty has been about 45 minutes later than the Ponce/Halifax River tide forecasts lately. I’ve heard from a LDS that doing the low tide is okay, but that means you should be at the tip of the jetty before the tide starts coming back in.

Not for the faint of heart—generally a low-vis spot and a bit of work, but it’s a rewarding dive. It’s not necessary to go all the way around as there is plenty to see on both sides. Again, look out for cantankerous fishermen/women and bring your dive knife for parking lot fights.