FORT LAUDERDALE

Fort Lauderdale's signature beachfront is lined with joggers, bikers and sunbathers ... daily year-round. Its seven miles of sand offer the perfect beach vacation. Yet many people don't know thatFort Lauderdale's Atlantic water has more than 130 wrecks.

www.sportdiver.com/florida

At the Sea Emperor (a.k.a. Aqua-Zoo), a wreck just one mile off the Boca inlet, divers can experience swim-throughs and comfortable profiles. And while the wreck alone is a dive in itself, the resident critters make it even more worthwhile. Baby, a large green moray eel, almost always comes in for a close-up, while stingrays flying overhead are hard to miss. And as if these showstopping performances weren't enough, a massive, curious goliath grouper patrols the wreck. With so much to see, the Sea Emporer can overwhelm divers with its sights. And that's just one of this city's underwater fleet.

DESTINATION PRIMERAverage Water Temp: 78-82°F What to Wear: 3-5 mmfullsuit Average Viz: 60-80 feet When to Go: Year-round, but summer has best conditions