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A scuba diver in full gear swimming underwater in the ocean, surrounded by a calm blue sea.
📷 Mukund patel · Pexels

Lofthus

3.9 — based on 18 community signals
4.4 12 species 44 contributors

Lofthus is a year-round Florida dive destination in Manalapan with healthy coral and diverse marine life.

⭐ Best for beginners.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
Shore entryFamily-friendlyPhotoFriendlyReefHealthy

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Best months
Year-round
Marine life
Tiger shark

Map

This spot Airport Nearby spots
Lofthus location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
3.3 kn
Wave
0.82 m
Water
30.3°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: ENE (18%)
Now: W (270°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 0.81m

Today: High 15:00 (+0.2m), Low 08:00 (-0.4m)

+0.3 m0 m-0.5 m
▼ 08:00 · -0.4m ▲ 15:00 · +0.2m ▼ 21:00 · -0.29m ▲ 03:00 · +0.11m Now +0.1m
Fri 18Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24
UV6.85 · high Air PM2.57 · good 07:07 19:21
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-18 11.4 1.18 7 12mm
09-19 9.7 0.78 8 12mm
09-20 9.9 0.5 8 6mm
09-21 7.6 0.48 8 7mm
09-22 14.2 0.48 8 8mm
09-23 8.4 0.38 7 2mm
09-24 10.2 0.86 6 1mm

About this spot

Lofthus, located in Manalapan within Palm Beach County, offers year-round diving opportunities for divers of all interests. The site sits outside a marine protected area, making it accessible without special permits or restrictions. With 12 documented species observations and 3 community videos available, Lofthus has an active diving community sharing underwater footage and marine data. The reef system here supports healthy coral populations with no current bleaching stress, indicating stable conditions for coral-dependent marine life. Whether you're tracking fish behavior, photographing corals, or exploring the underwater landscape, the documented species list gives you a solid reference for what to expect. Year-round conditions mean you can plan a dive trip any month that suits your schedule. Local divers have contributed multiple videos documenting the site, so you can preview what to see before you go. The combination of accessible location, healthy reefs, and active community makes Lofthus a solid choice for Florida diving. Check community footage to get a sense of current conditions and species activity.

📖 Guide: Diving in the United States: 87 Sites From Springs to Open Ocean

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Marine life

Tiger shark

Dive types

ReefShore

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type A/B · 120V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 49%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 7030km · ~1617kg · €29

FAQ

When's the best time to dive Lofthus?

Lofthus is diveable year-round. Spring and fall typically offer good visibility and comfortable water temps in South Florida, while summer brings warmer water and winter is cooler. Check current conditions before booking.

What marine life will I see?

Lofthus has 12 documented species observations on record. Watch the community videos to see recent sightings and get an accurate picture of what's currently active at the site.

Is Lofthus in a marine protected area?

No. Lofthus is not inside an MPA, so standard dive access applies. Check with local dive operators for any site-specific guidelines or entry requirements.

How's the coral health?

Coral at Lofthus shows no bleaching stress, indicating healthy reef conditions. This is a solid sign for stable marine ecosystems and good visibility into coral-dependent life.

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

7 records · 6 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Papyridea lata

Bivalvia · Cardiidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 2018
×1records

Niveria suffusa

Gastropoda · Triviidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 2018
×1records

Trichechus manatus latirostris

Florida manatee
Mammalia · Trichechidae
OBIS
Last seen:
14 Feb 2006
×1records

Selachii

Elasmobranchii
OBIS
Last seen:
13 Jun 1999
×1records
Depth:
180–288 m

Trichechus manatus latirostris

Florida manatee
Mammalia · Trichechidae
OBIS
Last seen:
29 Jan 1998
×1records

Carcharhinus longimanus

Elasmobranchii · Carcharhinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
10 Oct 1994
×1records
Depth:
160–400 m

Nerita peloronta

Gastropoda · Neritidae
OBIS
Last seen:
11 May 1957
×1records

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Diving the Pete II Wreck Pensacola Florida (2018 - 2024)

Florida Scuba Diving
💬 1 top comments
  • If you have dived this wreck leave a comment below sharing when you dived and any highlights of your dive 🙂

    @floridascubadiving · 👍 0

Scuba Diving the S.S Gulfamerica in Jacksonville 🤿🌴🐠

NickGoesFar
💬 3 top comments
  • That is much better vis than expected at what 8mi offshore?

    @TheOffCycle · 👍 2
  • Great underwater shots! Nice meeting you today at the distillery in St. Augustine. We look forward to watching your upcoming adventures. OneAdvansureatatime

    @oneadVANtureatatime · 👍 1
  • Looks like an awesome dive!!

    @Marcellc67 · 👍 2

USS Narcissus

The Florida Aquarium

Local knowledge

OpenStreetMap Notes
  • "https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/1087108631/history lanes would not be a separate carriageway anyway, right?"

    Mateusz Konieczny · 2023-03-20
  • "onosm.org submitted note from a business: name: Olympic Behavioral Health phone: 5612720800 website: https://www.olympicbehavioralhealth.com/ twitter: facebook: email: hours: Monday-Friday 9-5 category: Rehabilitation Center address: 3200 s congress ave"

    anonymous · 2022-01-14
Visibility (month-by-month)
Best: May (100/100) Worst: Jan (0/100) Now: Sep (0/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

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