Are Florida waters safe for scuba diving, snorkeling and swimming?
It is recommended that before you begin your dive or swim, you should visually inspect the area for signs indicating the presence of oil (oil sheen, slicks, tar balls, oil mousse, mats, etc). If you see any visible signs of oil, it is recommended that you do not scuba dive, snorkel or swim in the area. Water quality sampling information can be found at www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/water.htm. If you are exposed to oil while swimming or diving, it is recommended that you wash all exposed skin areas with grease-cutting liquid dishwashing detergent and water as soon as possible. More prolonged exposure could cause more serious skin irritation or a rash. Because scuba divers use compressed air, it is unlikely they are in any danger from inhaling water contaminated with oil, even if they accidentally surface in an exposed area. Is the air safe to breathe? At the present time, there are no detectable effects on Florida’s air quality due to the spill. State and federal agencies are wor