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Watersport Galore
With water as a way of life in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach , there are many rental companies that offer kayaks , paddleboards , jet skis or waverunners , and boat rentals , as well as various types of guided tours . Guests can choose from activities in the Gulf , Bon Secour River , Orange Beach back bays or Gulf Shores ’ Little Lagoon — or explore all options paddling the Back Bay Blueway ! Whether you are new to watersports or a seasoned vet , adventures await on the water .
Take a Dive
Within the blue there are many popular wrecks and sites in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach created by the Alabama Gulf Coast Reef & Restoration Foundation :
The LuLu
Sunk in 2013 , The LuLu is a 271-foot retired coastal freighter . Originally named M / V Yokamu and bought by David Walter of Walter Marine , the ship was renamed The LuLu by the project ’ s title sponsor Mac McAleer , owner of Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores . With the top of the ship sitting at 60 feet below the surface and the bottom at 115 feet , the upper portion of the artificial reef is accessible for first -time divers while veteran divers can explore the deeper sections of the vessel .
Poseidon ’ s Playground
At a depth of 40 feet , Poseidon ’ s Playground is a group of shallow artificial reefs for scuba divers to explore just 3 miles south of Perdido Pass and the Gulf State Park Pier . Fun , whimsical statues including Poseidon , Venus of the Sea , Apollo and various marine creatures fill this project , adding to the diversity of dive sites along Alabama ’ s Gulf Coast , and makes for a unique underwater selfie location .
The site is perfect for kids and beginner divers , training classes , night dives and shallow-water fun . The first statues were deployed in December 2014 , and the site continues to grow . In 2015 , a new theme was added to Poseidon ’ s Playground with the introduction of the “ Reefs of Fame .” While Nicholas Cage was in Orange Beach filming “ USS
Indianapolis : Men of Courage ,” he , Cody Walker and director Mario Van Peebles placed their hands in concrete that was then incorporated into a fish pyramid reef . This is an ongoing project that continues to add the handprints of well-known artists , actors , etc .
Capt . Shirley Brown Memorial Reef
The Capt . Shirley Brown is a 128-foot-long former vessel built in St . Marks , Florida , in the 1940s for the Tennessee Gas & Transmission Company ( later “ Tenneco ”). Captain Shirley Brown bought the vessel from Tenneco in the 1980s and transformed it into a “ party ” vessel for birthday parties , community breakfasts and industry trade forums in Pensacola , Florida . After Capt . Brown passed away , his family donated it to the foundation for deployment as an artificial reef . The wreck sits at a depth of 85 feet and the top deck is approximately 75 feet from the surface .
Fairfield New Venture
The Fairfield New Venture is the newest dive site in Orange Beach . The former research and survey vessel was built in 1986 in Louisiana . The 250-foot-long and 56-footwide ship was deployed in late June 2018 . The New Venture sits near The LuLu allowing divers to hit both dives in the same trip . With the top wheelhouse being 60-feet deep and the bottom sitting at about 125-feet deep , this dive site is accessible to both novice and advanced divers .
Snorkeling
Recently , 166 snorkeling reefs were deployed at three locations past the second sandbar south of the Beach Pavilion at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores , and the Romar Beach Access and east of Perdido Pass in Orange Beach . The reefs sit at about 10 feet of water and extends nearly 20 feet . This is a fantastic option for families and non-divers to explore the fascination underwater life that exists in the beautiful Gulf of Mexico .
• For more information , visit GulfShores . com or OrangeBeach . com T
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