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Sylvia

3.8 — based on 17 community signals
4.1 10 species 15 contributors

Sylvia is a year-round dive destination in the United States with diverse marine life and healthy coral conditions.

⭐ Best for intermediate divers.

updated 4 months ago
Shore entryFamily-friendly

At a glance

Activity
dive
Best months
Year-round
Marine life
Bottlenose dolphin

Top operators here

See all operators ↓

Map

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

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
6.1 kn
Wave
0.62 m
Water
30.1°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: SSE (14%)
Now: SE (143°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 0.47m

Next: High at 01:00 (+0.2m)

+0.2 m0 m-0.3 m
▲ 01:00 · +0.2m ▼ 14:00 · -0.26m ▲ 02:00 · +0.17m ▲ 04:00 · +0.18m Now +0.2m
Fri 18Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24
UV7.55 · high Air PM2.57 · good 06:35 18:50
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-18 13.1 0.9 8 0mm
09-19 11.4 0.48 8 0mm
09-20 21.7 0.28 7 22mm
09-21 10.6 0.18 7 5mm
09-22 6.7 0.14 7 7mm
09-23 7 0.12 7 3mm
09-24 10.5 0.3 7 4mm

About this spot

Sylvia offers year-round diving opportunities for visitors to the United States. The site supports a variety of marine species and maintains healthy coral ecosystems, making it a stable choice for repeat visits across all seasons. The dive site is not protected under marine preserve designation, which means standard recreational diving practices apply. Local conditions and access may vary by season, so checking current reports before your trip is wise. With documented species observations and community video resources available, divers can research what to expect and share their own experiences. The site's year-round accessibility makes it a flexible option for planning dive trips around your schedule rather than chasing seasonal windows. Visit during your preferred time of year and experience what this established US dive destination offers.

📖 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

Bottlenose dolphin

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 · 47%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 7221km · ~1661kg · €30

FAQ

Can I dive Sylvia year-round?

Yes. Sylvia is accessible for diving throughout the year, giving you flexibility in planning your trip whenever your schedule allows.

What marine life might I see?

The site has recorded species observations available to review. Check community resources and dive logs to see what other divers have documented before your visit.

Are there coral protection rules?

Sylvia is not designated as a marine protected area, so standard recreational diving guidelines apply. The corals show no stress, indicating a healthy ecosystem.

Where can I find more information?

Community videos and species observation records are available online. These resources from other divers provide current conditions and wildlife documentation.

Operators near this spot

Dive centres, kite & surf schools within 10 km, sourced from OpenStreetMap.

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

77 records · 25 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Demospongiae

Demospongiae
OBIS
Last seen:
2 Jul 2022
×5records
Depth:
56–87 m

Aplysina cauliformis

Demospongiae · Aplysinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jul 2022
×1records
Depth:
59 m

Geodia

Demospongiae · Geodiidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jul 2022
×1records
Depth:
58 m

Cinachyrella

Demospongiae · Tetillidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jul 2022
×1records
Depth:
56 m

Ampharetidae

Polychaeta · Ampharetidae
OBIS
Last seen:
15 Aug 2010
×1records
Depth:
39 m

Tharyx acutus

Polychaeta · Cirratulidae
OBIS
Last seen:
15 Aug 2010
×1records
Depth:
32 m

Rhincodon typus

Whale Shark
Elasmobranchii · Rhincodontidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Aug 2008
×1records

Penaeus (Farfantepenaeus) duorarum

Pink shrimp
Malacostraca · Penaeidae
OBIS
Last seen:
26 Oct 2007
×2records

Penaeus (Litopenaeus) setiferus

White shrimp
Malacostraca · Penaeidae
OBIS
Last seen:
7 Aug 2007
×1records

Lolliguncula brevis

Brief squid
Cephalopoda · Loliginidae
OBIS
Last seen:
8 May 2007
×1records

Penaeus (Farfantepenaeus) aztecus

Brown shrimp
Malacostraca · Penaeidae
OBIS
Last seen:
19 Apr 2007
×1records

Luidia clathrata

Seastar--Common
Asteroidea · Luidiidae
OBIS
Last seen:
27 Nov 2006
×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 deep with sylvia earle.mov

Boyd Matson
💬 3 top comments
  • Thank you Sylvia for all the great work you have done.

    @outlaw565 · 👍 0
  • Дякую

    @viktorvolkov8388 · 👍 0
  • How's your knee now? :-)

    @Kukenango · 👍 0

Dr. Sylvia Earle | Morning Blend

Tampa Bay 28

Sylvia Earle - The Hero of the Ocean

Simply Scuba
💬 3 top comments
  • Well deserved tribute

    @MrPaulchapman1969 · 👍 5
  • This deserves more recognation!

    @TouhidaNasrin · 👍 0
  • What a legend.

    @mylifefornick · 👍 0
wind peaks Jan-Nov-Feb, calmest Sep-Aug-Jul, dry Jan-Dec.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)
Visibility (month-by-month)
Best: Apr (100/100) Worst: May (0/100) Now: Sep (38/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

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