South Florida local divers refer it to it as simply, “the Bridge,” while those from further away call it by its proper name, the Blue Heron Bridge. Located in Riviera Beach, just outside of West Palm Beach, Florida, the Blue Heron Bridge is a diver’s dream. Situated on the Intracoastal Waterway near the Lake Worth inlet, the diversity of life along with its easy access and affordability (the shore dive is free!) make it one of the most popular dive spots in Florida. In fact, Sport Diver named it the best dive in North America in 2013!

Divers swarm every weekend to Phil Foster Park an hour before slack tide where the mantra is “in the water 30 minutes before and out 30 minutes after.” The approximate maximum depth at the site is less than 25 — yes, only 25 — feet, but rarely has shallow water been so rewarding! It’s not unusual for divers to get an hour to two-hour dive from a single tank, and the variety of what can be seen is endless: seahorses, starfish and hundreds of species of nudibranchs are counted among its residents.

While there is no shortage of longtime Blue Heron Bridge faithful divers, it is also great place for less experienced divers (although they might be spoiled for other places after diving here), and instructors often use the Bridge for refresher dives or to certify new divers. Another advantage of this gem of a site is that it’s usually divable even if the conditions are too rough for local boat dives.

A macro photographer’s dream, flying gurnards (also known as the bandtail searobin), red lipped batfish, mantis shrimp, sanddab flounder, blennies, and countless other critters live in the muck at the Blue Heron Bridge, whether in the open areas in front of the beach, hiding in and around a sunken rowboat, or near the large pillars of the bridge itself. I’ve done several dives here with students, and continually remind them to slow down — there is so much life here that not rushing is paramount to a remarkable dive the opportunity to get amazing images.

On a personal note, I recently moved north to Palm Beach County, where the Bridge is only a short drive from my new home. With this great asset in my own backyard, I wanted to implement it into my underwater photography classes and I found Force-E Scuba Center (only steps from the Bridge) to be a great resource for me and for my students, where they can rent tanks, dive flags (required for every Bridge dive), or any other gear they may need.

Diving the Blue Heron Bridge is a unique experience every single time. No two dives are the same, but every one is amazing and truly memorable.

More Underwater Photography from Craig Dietrich

Diving with Pacific Manta Rays | Discover Underwater Photography | Diving with Sea Turtles