- 1). Complete the courses and tasks required for scuba certification. There are several venues throughout Fort Lauderdale that offer instruction for scuba certification from the major agencies, which include the PADI, the SSI, the SDI and the TDI. Some programs offer a mixture of online and in-person instruction.
- 2). Plan a diving trip that is within the range of Fort Lauderdale's lobster season. The season dates change annually, but typically begin in August and end in March.
- 3). Choose an area in Fort Lauderdale to dive and research that area's bag limit. Most areas throughout Florida have limits of 12 lobsters per diver per day, while a few designated state areas and national parks have limits of six lobsters per diver per day. There are sanctuaries and no-take areas throughout Florida where lobster harvesting is prohibited.
- 4). Spend a few hours diving for lobsters in offshore areas where coral and and seaweed are abundant. Lobsters migrate to these areas because they provide adequate food and protection from larger predators.
- 5). Save only the lobsters that qualify in an enclosed, water-filled container. Each harvested lobster must have a three inch carapace, or shell, and Florida requires that all divers carry a measuring device.
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