Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park

Florida, USA East
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Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park

Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park is formerly known as John U. Lloyd Beach Park. If conditions are not great, don't even bother visibility is bad here compared to some nearby areas. When I went I could not even see my feet in waist deep water. I swam out anyway, and at about 500 yards out I at least could see bottom, and visibility was around 20 feet. I was looking for a famed ledge that follows the edge of the reef, and I have heard is about 6 feet. I never found it because of poor visibility. What I did find was an endless stretch of reef much like vista park. There were many soft corals, and fish of all kinds, including a few large grouper, butterfly fish, doctor fish, porgy, and a bunch of other fish from I-95 get off on Griffin Road in the Ft. Lauderdale area. Go east until US1 then go South until Dania Beach Blvd (here you should start seeing signs directing you to the park) go east on Dania Beach until you see a sign telling you to turn right to get into the park. After passing a gate to get into the park, where they make you pay five dollars, park in the first lot on the right. Follow the boardwalk to the ocean. The reef starts a long ways out, something like 500 yards.
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Brian Cole
Brian Cole
Jul 18, 2012, 12:00 AM
scuba
Some have posted reviews for this site in the Dania Beach section. Same beach, different sections. There is an entrance fee of $6 per vehicle for John U Lloyd State Park. After you pay the fee, park in the first parking lot on the right. Walk to the beach and head right (south). Walk about 100 yards and you will see 2 EroJacks on the beach near a palm tree. Head straight out from the palm tree and find the EroJacks (erosion control cement structures that look like children's jacks). They start pretty near the shore - maybe 100 yards - and continue for awhile. Viz was not so great (10' or so), but when I went (July) it was low tide and a decent wind was blowing. I still managed to see: Yellow Stingray, Baby Moray, Peacock Flounder, Tarpon, French & Queen Angelfish, Porcupinefish, Juvenile Highat, and many more typical reef fish. Definitely worth the swim.
Originally posted on shorediving.com
Sam from Pembroke Pines
Sam from Pembroke Pines
Jul 11, 2012, 12:00 AM
scuba
It can be a thrill if you go on a nice sunny day with low wind speed. Lots of life and a long stretch of corals. If you go to the second parking lot, and go straight out into the beach about 70yds, you'll run into a huge part of the reef. Excellent spot.
Originally posted on shorediving.com
Reef_Haven
Reef_Haven
Oct 29, 2010, 12:00 AM
scuba
This is a state park so my understanding is, no spear fishing, could be wrong about that. Very long swim out, way past the end of the pier, 500 yards sounds about right. Everyone in our group got a few lobster. Nice coral heads, sea fans, barrel sponges, all the usual tropicals. A couple aggressive groupers. One actually grabbed my lobster as I snared it from under a coral head, and tried to take it away from me. Reported to be a lot of lionfish in the area. Didn't see any on my dive. Viz was about 25 ft. Temp was 78.
Originally posted on shorediving.com
Jesse Rorabaugh
Jesse Rorabaugh
Aug 17, 2004, 12:00 AM
scuba
While I did not have a great dive here this is the site I most want to revisit on a day with better conditions. The reef here, while about 500yards off the shore, is seemingly endless. It stood out as the only dive I did in Jan 2004 that I would consider hunting at. I think the long swim makes it unattractive to most shore divers which allows bigger fish to thrive.
Originally posted on shorediving.com
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