The Hidden Gulf Coast Tourist Attractions
GULF SHORES Ala.
November 28, 2024
By: Rick McCann
The greater Gulf Shores area has dozens of places to see and plenty of attractions for visitors and locals alike where fun and entertainment are the name of the game!
But there are plenty of other attractions that go unseen to most.
These sites are full of history, intrigue, and mystery and more are opening every year but unfortunately, few ever get to see them.
These special places are located below, not above the surface, and include many Artificial Reefs and dive locations that await you just off the coast of Gulf Shores.
These spectacular sites include decommissioned ships, statutes, and manmade objects as unique as the ocean itself.
An ancient cypress forest found 60 feet underwater in the Gulf of Mexico, due south of Gulf Shores, Ala., is about 60,000 years old and appears to be a wholly unique relic of our planet’s past, the only known site where a coastal ice age forest this old has been preserved in place, with thousands of trees still rooted in the dirt they were growing millennia ago. It is considered a treasure trove of information, providing new insights into everything from climate in the region to annual rainfall, insect populations, and the types of plants that inhabited the Gulf Coast before humans arrived in the new world.
The beauty below surpasses all other beauty offered above.
From the beautiful water and the creatures who live here, to the sights, sounds, colors, and overall breathtaking beauty.
“The artificial reef program in Alabama is the best in the world. The collection of inshore reefs, near shore reefs and offshore reefs is unmatched anywhere else in the world. Artificial reefs provide great recreational fishing and diving opportunities.
Some sites offer snorkelers a chance to view life below without heavy diving equipment while deeper reefs require it.
1094 square miles of water bottoms have been authorized as sites for the Gulf Coast’s artificial reef system, so there is plenty to see!
The Fairfield New Venture is a 250-foot-long former research vessel sunk in 2018 about 20 miles off the coast of Orange Beach. The ship’s wheelhouse rests at about 60 feet, with a depth of around 125 feet. There are many holes in the sides of the vessel that create pass-throughs for open water and advanced divers.
Among some of the most visited reefs is the The LuLu just off Orange Beach.
It’s quite the site to see as it is a 271-foot intact freighter sunk in 2013. With the wheelhouse starting at 60 feet and a bottom depth of approximately 115 feet, there’s plenty of structure to explore, offering an exciting wreck diving opportunity to everyone from novice to experienced divers.
The Poseidon’s Playground is located 3.5 miles offshore of Perdido Pass at Orange Beach. The depths are 35-40 feet. It’s another exciting site created as a virtual playground underwater to include statues and structures that are strategically placed in a permitted area for recreational diving. These shallow depths allow for young divers, novice divers, and training divers to enjoy our underwater wonders.
There’s even a reef site called the CSX Rail Car site and divers can find it at Lat. 29:59.563 and Long. 87:33.37.
There are professional divers in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach who offer tours and, guidance to these underworld attractions or, experienced divers can seek them out themselves.
However, safety, preparation, and caution are the three keywords to having a fun and safe adventure!
