North America · United States
Fort Myers & Sanibel
The USCGC Mohawk, a veterans memorial reef in 27 m off Captiva Island
Lee County, the stretch of Gulf coast around Fort Myers, Sanibel and Captiva, has more than 20 wrecks and artificial reefs offshore, dived from charter boats out of Fort Myers and Cape Coral. The draw is the USCGC Mohawk, sunk in 2012 as a veterans memorial reef 45 km off Captiva in 27 m (90 feet), with the Pegasus tug close by at 29 m. Nearer in, Edison Reef sits in 14 m and Santa Lucia in 6-9 m, while goliath grouper, snook and greater amberjack work the structure.
About diving in Fort Myers & Sanibel
Diving here is a boat trip into the Gulf of Mexico. H2O Offshore Adventures runs charters off Fort Myers, Sanibel and Captiva to any site the group chooses, and Island Coast Excursions works the Cape Coral and Fort Myers area with a walk-out transom, dive platform and telescoping ladder. The distances decide the day: the Mohawk lies 45 km (28 miles) off Captiva Island and Boxcar Reef 32 km (20 miles) off Boca Grande, so those trips make a long run offshore, while the shallower sites lie closer inland.
The diving is on structure: Lee County has more than 20 wrecks and artificial reefs in the Gulf. The Mohawk sits in 27 m (90 feet) with many ways into the hull, and the Pegasus tug rests nearby in 29 m (95 feet). The Bayronto wreck lies in 30 m (100 feet), the boxcars of Boxcar Reef in 22 m (72 feet), Edison Reef in 14 m (45 feet), and Santa Lucia, deployed in 1997, in 6-9 m. Goliath grouper, snapper, tarpon and rays use the structure, and a whale shark turns up now and then.
The area suits wreck divers with an Advanced card: the choice of site depends on certification level, and the Mohawk charters ask for proof of Advanced certification because the wreck has many ways into the hull. Newer divers have Edison Reef, which suits every level of experience, and the shallow Santa Lucia at 6-9 m. Visibility runs from 7 to 24 m (25 to 80 feet) across the area.
Best time to dive Fort Myers & Sanibel
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair |
Diving runs all year; no month stands out. January has the coolest water, near 19 C, and the summer peak reaches about 30 C.
Best months:
Dive types & marine life
Goliath grouper, snook, tarpon, snapper and rays live on the wrecks and reefs, with the occasional whale shark. In winter, thousands of snook gather at the shallower sites closer inland, while greater amberjack are plentiful further offshore.
- Wreck
- Reef
- Groupers
- Trevally & jacks
Best dive sites in Fort Myers & Sanibel
- 1
USCGC Mohawk
Military ship sunk in 2012 as the first veterans memorial ship reef in the US, 27 m (90 feet), many penetration options.
- 2
Pegasus Tug
Tug resting in 29 m (95 feet) close to the Mohawk.
- 3
Bayronto Wreck
Wreck lying in 30 m (100 feet) of water.
- 4
Boxcar Reef
Sunken boxcars in 22 m (72 feet), 32 km (20 miles) off Boca Grande.
- 5
Edison Reef
Artificial reef in 14 m (45 feet), suited to divers of all levels.
- 6
Santa Lucia
Artificial reef deployed in 1997 at 6-9 m.
Site guides
Wreck
A 1919 hurricane wreck home to a large population of goliath grouper
Artificial reef
Train boxcars sunk as a reef in 22 m off Boca Grande
Artificial reef
Rubble from the old Edison Bridge, sunk in 1993
Wreck
A 1927 New York Harbor tug lying close to the Mohawk
Wreck
A refugee boat from Cuba, sunk off Naples in 1997
Wreck
The first veterans memorial military ship reef in the United States
How to get to Fort Myers & Sanibel
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) is 26 km south of downtown Fort Myers, off Exit 128 of I-75. The dive charters are based in the Fort Myers and Cape Coral area, and all diving is by day boat into the Gulf.
Questions divers ask
What certification does the Mohawk wreck need at Fort Myers?+
Charters to the USCGC Mohawk require proof of Advanced certification because the wreck has many ways into the hull. Edison Reef suits every level of experience.
How far offshore is the Mohawk from Fort Myers?+
The USCGC Mohawk lies 45 km (28 miles) off Captiva Island in 27 m (90 feet), a long run offshore by charter boat. All diving is by day boat into the Gulf.
When are snook at Fort Myers and Sanibel?+
In winter, thousands of snook gather at the shallower sites closer inland, while greater amberjack are plentiful further offshore. Goliath grouper, tarpon and rays live on the wrecks and reefs all year.
Sources
- Dive Charters - Island Coast Excursions — Island Coast Excursions
- Fort Myers / Sanibel / Captiva Scuba Diving Charters — H2O Offshore Adventures
- Fort Myers diving — GoodDive
- Fort Myers Water Temperature — seatemperature.org
- Fort Myers — Wikivoyage
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