Florida Travel Tips

Florida the “Sunshine State”. The state’s motto is a good starting point to introduce yourself to the State of Florida. Florida has the largest tourist industry in the world. Over 1.4 million residence of Florida are directly involved in the tourism/hospitality industry. Over 112 million visitors a year visit the state. This number does not include the thousands upon thousands of part time residence who stay in Florida during the cold winter months of the north.

In this page you will find practical information to plan a scuba diving trip to Florida:

Where to stay?

Florida is not a liveaboard destination. There are a few liveaboards that depart from Miami, however, they mostly dive in the Bahamas. Each of the four Florida “destinations” have their own benefits and dozens of places to start your Florida diving from in each. Accommodations run from simple bed and breakfast to luxury five start resorts. The choice is entirely yours.

Activities and excursions in Florida

There are many faces to Florida, It will be not hard to find an activity that will appeal to you.

Florida has been called Theme Park Heaven. The state has five major theme parks with well established world wide reputations. You will find: Universal Studios- Orlando, Walt Disney World, Legoland, Busch Gardens and Sea World.

The Kennedy Space Center allows visitors a look at the past and a glimpse into the future of space travel.

Florida presents an interesting study for those interested in history and culture. The Spanish were the first to colonize Florida, taking dominance over the indigenous peoples they found there. In the early American history, much of those cultures blended in with later settlers. However, today a strong Mexican and Cuban influences are seen in the state.

A trip into the everglades allows you to see nature at its rawest. Crocodiles and alligators are the top of the food chain here and you will also find hundreds of different species of birds.

If that not the type wild life you are interested in, there is South Beach. South Beach, a portion of Miami Beach, has an international reputation as a place to see and be seen. Many consider it one of the best places in the world to party.

Best time to visit Florida

Florida has a semi-tropical climate in the north to tropical climate in the south. Temperature wise, the weather comfortable year round for diving and general tourism. There is the risk of hurricanes during the June to October season, however, they do not arrive without ample warning.

Florida is a popular spring break destination, with tens of thousands of college students from colder states looking to vacation and party.

Florida is also a Snow Bird destination. Retirees leave the cold northern states at the first sign of snow and head to the warmth of Florida.

Health and Safety

The United States has excellent health facilities. Health care is readily available. The crime rate in areas that tourist will go is relatively low, however, normal precautions need to be taken. In the major cities there are areas that should be avoided.

If you are planning an upcoming dive trip or travelling to Florida, it is a really good idea to invest in travel insurance for scuba diving, because you never know what could happen and when you might need it (because accidents do happen!). I recommend this diving insurance as they offer worldwide coverage and focus on providing scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Where is Florida located in the world?

Florida is the southern most state on the United States east coast.

Key West Florida is the southern most point in the Continental United States and is only 90 miles north of Cuba. Florida is also about 50 miles from the Bahamas.

How to get to Florida?

Being a major tourist destination for both domestic and international tourist, flying into Florida is fairly easy.

The state has a number of international airports.

Miami International airport ranks second in the US for international passengers with over 19 million. Including domestic passengers the airport handles almost 44 million a year.

Orlando International has a passenger count that is about 35 million. Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International and Tampa International also are major international airports.

The Florida airports are also major gateways to the Caribbean and for cruise ship departures.

Do I need a visa for Florida?

Most tourist coming to the US will need a visa.

Nationals of the following countries are eligible to enter the USA under the Visa Waiver Program. They must, however, apply online for to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)

Andorra,Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Republic of Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom

Citizens of Canada are free to enter the US with just a passport or enhanced drivers license.
Nationals of other countries must apply for a visa. The US State Department has an online program to identify visa requirements.

Getting Around

While there are mass transit systems, it is generally best to use a rental car to get around except in down town Miami. Miami traffic can be a challenge and if you can use mass transit you would likely save time and money.

Florida may be the best destination for a mixed vacation. The endless choices of dive sites coupled with an unmatched array of vacation activities make this a perfect destination. If you are taking a cruise, consider adding a few days before your cruise to dive in outstanding waters. For a diving dedicated vacation, Florida has more dive sites and different styles of diving to me any desire. Except cold water diving.

Florida Photos

Scuba diving

You will find all information about sea life, best time to visit, top dive spots, etc. in our review: Florida Diving