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MIAMI: A 'WRECKREATIONAL'

DIVE DESTINATION

When I first moved to Miami Beach, I knew this neon-hot tourist area would be a convenient base for dive destinations like the Florida Keys and practically anywhere in the Caribbean. Afterall, Miami has become the crossroads of the Americas and that means I can easily reach many world-famous dive destinations.

But what I quickly discovered was that a great dive destination is also right outside my back door. The area is definitely a 'wreckreational' diving destination that is destined to become another Miami vice for visitors and residents. Only Truk Bay Lagoon in the Pacific Ocean offers a more concentrated collection of diveable wrecks.

Many divers only stop in Miami long enough to transfer planes or to rent a car on their way to the Florida Keys. But veteran and new divers looking for something different are learning that, thanks to an active artificial reef program, they can stay in the Miami area for unusual diving, good conditions, and many topside attractions and distractions.

The diving boomlet is following in the wake of the boom on South Beach, Miami Beach's sizzling Art Deco District. South Beach and other water-oriented parts of the Miami area serve as perfect places to stay and explore during a tropical wreckreational dive vacation. Who says South Florida doesn't have any history, above or below the surface?

HISTORY

The history of Miami is a colorful cultural cornucopia. In a little more than 100 years, one of America's youngest cities has matured into an international hub that is as much Latin American as it is mid-America. In a century, Miami has gone from swampland to being swamped with visitors.

But the history of Miami started much before the city was officially founded in 1896. It's a history that's as colorful as the reefs and wrecks just off modern Miami Beach.

There was probably a prehistoric population in the Miami area as early as 10,000 BC, with Ice Age nomads either coming from Siberia or up through the Caribbean from Central and South America. These early inhabitants were hunters who survived mainly on the meat of bison, saber-toothed tigers, and mastodons. They eventually established settlements and turned more to agriculture and seafood for subsistence.

There were six primary native groups in Florida by the 1500s, with the Miami area inhabited by the Tequesta Indians. They mainly survived on fishing and abundant game from the Everglades. But their peaceful existence changed forever in the1500s, thanks to colonization by Spain and other European countries, tribal wars with the Creek Indians, enslavement by the Spanish, and disease. By 1763, when Florida became a British Colony, the few remaining Tequestas fled to Cuba with the retreating Spanish.

During all of the Spanish period from 1513 to 1763, the British period until 1783, and another Spanish period until 1821, little happened in the region that would become Miami. The only semi-permanent inhabitants were wreckers who made a living from salvaging wrecked ships on South Florida's reef. One of the most famous rogue wreckers was known as Black Caesar and the area between Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean is still called Caesar's Creek.

Until the 1800s, the Everglades basically spread from Biscayne Bay all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, so little settlement took place. In 1808, the Spanish government granted Bahamian wrecker John Egan 100 acres at the mouth of what is now called the Miami River. By the 1830s, more hearty souls moved to the area, mainly drawn by the large sugarcane plantation owned by Richard Fitzpatrick (which now included Egan's original land). However, this settlement was virtually wiped out by an Indian attack in 1836.

Fort Dallas was established on the former sugarcane plantation site in 1838, but it was no longer needed when the Second Seminole War ended in 1842. Fitzpatrick sold the land to his nephew, William English, who established a town on the former fort site. He called it 'Miami,' which is said to derive from the Indian word for 'sweet water.'

The town grew very slowly for the next few decades and was virtually cut off from the rest of the state. But this was all to change in the 1890s, when Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway reached the area. Legend has it that Julia Tuttle, the 'Mother of Miami,' convinced Flagler to extend his railway so far south with a bunch of orange blossoms that hadn't been affected by a devastating freeze that wiped out orange groves further north.

Tuttle, who had become a major landholder, gave Flagler the rights to half her land in exchange for the railway extension, development of the town, and much more. The first train pulled into Miami in April of 1896, with the total population of 300 welcoming it. In July, the city of Miami was incorporated, now with 800 citizens and growing quickly.

From its very start, Miami has been a tourist town. The elegant 350-room Royal Palm Hotel opened in 1897 and immediately made Miami 'America's sun porch.' Though the hotel was destroyed by a 1926 hurricane and was later demolished, it was just the first of many hotels built to welcome sun-worshipping visitors.

As the city of Miami developed, so did other communities. To the south, Coconut Grove thrived. To the north, Lemon City became a bustling port. Entrepreneurial opportunities drew many Bahamians and African Americans, who made up more than a third of the population by the 1920s.

Miami experienced the first of many serious booms after World War I, when visitors, retirees, and second home buyers drove real estate prices through the ceiling. During this time, the 'island' of Miami Beach was born in earnest.

Though tourists had started visiting Miami Beach once the railroad reached South Florida, growth had been slow until Carl Fisher (who built the Indianapolis Speedway) had 2 1/2-mile bridge constructed in 1909. Other early developers included New Jersey horticulturist John Collins and John and James Lummus, Miami bankers and brothers. In 1915, these men and their companies merged and eventually incorporated all of their land as the city of Miami Beach.

Growth came quickly until the Depression left many companies and buildings in bankruptcy. However, Miami Beach recovered quickly in the late-1930s, with more than 35 hotels and 100 apartments buildings being constructed just in 1936. The style of these brightly-painted and -appointed buildings would eventually become known as Art Deco.

Today, the Art Deco Historic District, the first 20th century neighborhood on the National Register of Historic Places, has the highest concentration of Art Deco architecture in the world. It takes up about one square mile of South Beach, with most of it found between 5th Street and 23rd Street. Thanks to the work of the Miami Design Preservation League and many hard-working locals, lot of the buildings have been saved from demolition and refurbished for all to enjoy as hotels, restaurants, shops, living space, and public buildings.

During this half-century, the face of Miami proper also changed drastically. The 1959 Communist revolution in Cuba, led by Fidel Castro, brought thousands of Cuban refugees to the Miami area. Drawn by its proximity to Cuba and a similar tropical climate and lifestyle, many Cubans settled in Miami.

The failed Bay of Pigs operation, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and a number of airlifts and boatlifts has brought the exile population to more than 500,000. With the addition of a huge range of other immigrants from the Caribbean and Central and South America, you have a true historical and cultural cornucopia in Miami.

GEOGRAPHY

Though many people may think of Miami geography as little more than concrete and neon, the geography and geology of the area actually quite interesting and diverse. With the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Everglades to the west, and the Florida Keys to the south, there are still many natural areas.

Because their are no mountain outcroppings to reveal the area's geography (the highest point in the state is just 345 feet), much of the geology of the region is not easily seen. Many historic findings have been made as an offshoot of deep wells that revealed the area is just 10 to 15 million years old, making it one of the youngest regions in the continental U.S.

The Miami area was originally a primordial subtropical sea, with dinousaurs roaming the Appalachian Mountains to the north. During the Ice Age, the peninsula broke the surface, with a wide variety of animals moving south onto the new land. Virtually half of the plateau still lies below the surface, with its edges surrounding the state at about 300 feet below sea level. The plateau actually dips to the west, rising six feet in Miami and tilting downward about 30 feet up in Pensacola.

The South Florida area is part of an area called the Coastal Lowlands, which includes the Everglades and the Florida Keys. Along with the major urban areas along the southeast coastline, the area includes a surprisingly massive amount of farmland for cattle, sugarcane, and other agriculture.

Miami's coastal areas have a large variety of environmental habitats. Estuaries line the entire coast, with a combination of saltwater and freshwater providing a home for fish and shellfish. Barrier islands provide protection for the land masses and estuaries. Dunes along the coast and barrier islands provide a maritime forest for sea oats, more than 20 other native plant species, and lots of shorebirds. In addition, mangrove swamps feature more than 200 different types of fish and 180 bird species, as well as the endangered American crocodile. To the northwest, Lake Okeechobee provides water to South Florida and the Everglades, as well as many recreational opportunities. Both the Everglades and the Florida Keys can be considered separate ecosystems, as well.

Offshore, coral reefs extend 150 miles all the way from Miami to the Dry Tortugas, 65 miles west of Key West. The coral reef is the only living reef in the continental U.S. and is basically made up of living coral polyps attached to a limestone base. They started forming more than 7,000 years ago. Along with the reefs, the active artificial reef program has drawn a wide array of tropical fish and other sea creatures, making for a 'wreckreational' diving mecca in Miami.

THE DIVING

In many ways, Miami was a natural to become an unnatural artificial reef mecca. Shipwrecks and other manmade items may not seem natural 'reefs' at first, but it doesn't take them long to fit in quite well. Miami's weather and diving conditions made them a natural fit.

In 1981, when Dade County initiated the Artificial Reef Program, there was just one dive boat operating in the Greater Miami area. Today, the program is recognized as one of the most successful artificial reef programs in the nation. The number of dive boats has increased to more than a dozen, providing everything from shallow water snorkeling on natural reefs to diving on boats, tanks, towers, and much more.

The 'founding father' of Miami diving has to be Ben Mostkoff. As former coordinator of the active program, he was responsible for obtaining and coordinating the sinking of most of the wrecks. Without Ben, Miami probably wouldn't be the wreckreational dive mecca it has become.

There are ten designated offshore artificial reef sites, with five lying between the Dade/Broward county line and Key Biscayne and another five situated between Key Biscayne and Monroe County. Most of the best diving is in less than 130 feet of water and less than two miles east of Sunny Isles, Miami Beach, and the Key Biscayne shoreline.

The sites contain more than 30 ships, two Tenneco oil platforms, a pair of U.S. Army tanks, more than 650 concrete and limestone structures, and many other interesting artificial reefs. It's enough to keep every level of diver interested for many Miami visits.

Along with the local dive shops and operators, the best general guide for Miami area diving is Joel Auerbach's excellent Dive Miami (available through dive shops or by calling 305-944-9055). Last updated after Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Joel provides a good summary of 45 dive sites in Dade County, including a wide range of history, historic and underwater photography, Loran C information, and much more. He says, "Over the years, these wrecks have become a haven for marine life." Many of the wrecks have also become a haven for divers.

The Orion provides a perfect introduction to the vice of Miami artificial reef diving. Sunk in 1981, it was the first ship sunk by the Dade County Environmental Resources Management Artificial Reef Program and is still one of the best and most popular dives. The 120-foot ship was originally named the Trinidad and guided ships through the Panama Canal for almost 50 years before being sunk off Key Biscayne. As with most Miami wrecks, the ship has been stripped for safe diving and can be entered. It's a mature wreck with lots of marine life and coral growth.

Perhaps the most fanciful dive of all is the Spirit of Miami, a Boeing 727 jet aircraft. The jet was meticulously cleaned, disassemble for transportation over land, and reassembled for placement on a barge by its owner, Steve O'Neal. On the perfectly calm morning of September 8, 1993, before a live audience of NBC's Today Show, the jet was lowered intact to the bottom and anchored in place at a depth of 82 feet. Although damaged by Hurricane Gordon in the summer of 1995, the jet remains a favorite of Miami area divers.

The much more recently sunk Doc DeMilly has already become similarly popular with divers and fish. Situated just east of the Pacific Reef Lighthouse, the 287-foot steel freighter was built in 1949 as the Nuevo Rio. It was renamed to honor a legendary area veterinarian and pioneer. Sunk in 1986, area jet fighters dropped concrete 'bombs' on her and remote-controlled chargers took her to the bottom. Though it sits in 150 feet of water, the huge ship has a 70-foot profile and is already very much a living reef.

Another popular dive destination (especially for new divers) is a trio of sites just off North Miami Beach that has been dubbed the 'Wreck Trek' by local operators and divers. An underwater trail connects the sites with steel stakes anchored to the sea bottom as markers. The trek includes the 85-foot tug Patricia; the 100-foot steel fishing vessel Miss Karline; and the unusual Radio Antenna, an old Radio Mambi antenna that was welded into 19 pyramids to make an unusual dive site. There are also some other smaller boats in the area, making this an easily repeatable underwater trek.

In keeping with unusual structures, the Tenneco Oil Rigs are another unusual and popular spot. Though they are located off of Hallandale to the north, these former Gulf of Mexico oil platforms are very popular with Miami dive operators. Donated by the Tenneco Oil Company, five platform sections were sunk in 95-190 feet of water in 1995. The three within safe diving limits make a lively and mature artificial reef.

Local dive shops are also fond of the Tarpoon, which was sunk in 1988 in memory of local diving pioneer Mike Kevorkian, the founder of Hialeah-based Tarpoon Dive Center (his daughter, Valerie, still runs the shop). The 175-foot grain carrier sits in 70 feet of water just south of Key Biscayne. There's a commemorative plaque on the bridge. A victim of 1992's Hurricane Andrew, the Tarpoon was violentely torn asunder by the storm and is now in many pieces.

In 1994, just two miles east of the Eden Roc Resort & Spa, two U.S. Army tanks (complete with their huge gun turrets) were sunk in just 50 feet of water. As you can guess, this created the ultimate Miami 'two tank dive.'

Nearby, the 1995 sinking of the 180-foot freighter Tortuga (renamed Fair Game) brought the artificial reef program even more publicity. Sunk as part of the Cindy Crawford/Billy Baldwin move by the same name, the huge ship is easily penetrated and has already attracted lots of barracuda and other marine inhabitants.

Another interesting dive in relatively shallow water is the Rio Miami, sunk by Hugh Downs, an avid diver, during a 20/20 television segment on artificial reefs in 1989. The 105-foot tug is in just 80 feet of water.

In addition, Artificial Reef Program personnel were responsible for placing more than 650 concrete and limestone structures in barren habitats offshore in 1996, with another 400 coming in 1997. The specifically designed structures used in Miami are 6 feet wide, 9 feet long, and weigh about 17,000 pounds. They were designed by Mostkoff to be a cost-effective and functional replica of a small patch reef, with emphasis given to creating a habitat catering to the needs of post-larveal recruits and juvenile fish. "As these artificial reef programs evolve, you will see more and more prefabricated structures, designed for a particular purpose," said Mostkoff on a recent dive.

Of course, there are many other interesting dive sites in the Miami area. Heading from north to south, the possibilities include: the Narwal (steel freighter); the Andro (originally a private yacht); the C-One (a Navy tug boat); the Crane Wreck (an old steel crane that apparently fell off a barge or ship); the Biscayne a great shallow ship dive and night dive); the Proteus (a huge and shallow steel freighter); the Sheri Lyn (another huge steel freighter); the Sarah Jane (actually a combination of seven different boats); Belcher Barge #27 (a large barge and more than 500 tons of concrete pipe); the Belzona Triangle (a trio of tugs); the Ultrafreeze (a long steel freighter); Emerald Reef, Flamingo Reef, and Fowey Light Reef off Key Biscayne; and, finally, the Almirante (another huge steel freighter).

All of these varied sites may make you think you wo'nt have much time to explore the area. But most of the sites are conveniently close, as are the operators and their boats. You also probably need to stay in the area longer than first planned. The land is (almost) as fun as the sea.

ON LAND

Miami Beach's South Beach is the ideal base for divers, with additional excellent bases including the Surfside area to the north, downtown Miami, and Key Biscayne to the south. Many operators and hotels now offer land packages specifically for divers through the WaterSports Marketing Council of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce (see below).

Some hotel possibilities include: the white-hot Delano (305-672-2000 or 800-555-5001); the Pelican Hotel (305-673-3373 or 800-7 PELICAN), the Oceanfront Hotel (305-672-2579), the Century Hotel (305-674-8855), Park Central Hotel (305-538-1611 or 800-PARK CENTRAL), Colony Hotel (305-673-0088 or 800-226-5669), La Voile Rouge (305-531-4107 or 800-528-6455), and the Clevelander Hotel (305-531-3485), all right on trendy Ocean Drive; the chic Hotel Astor (305-531-8081 or 800-270-4981) on Washington Avenue; Chris Blackwell's Marlin Hotel on Collins Avenue (305-673-8770 or 800-338-9076); or the huge lofts of Van Dyke Loftel (305-534-3600 or 800-OUTPOST) on Lincoln Road. If you don't want to stay right in busy South Beach, dive package options with the Westin Resort Miami Beach (305-532-3600 or 800-228-3000) and the Miami Beach Ocean Resort (305-534-0505 or 800-550-0505) are great choices. Even further afield Key Biscayne's Sonesta Beach Resort (305-361-2021 or 800-SONESTA) is a peaceful place, yet very convenient for diving.

The dining scene is just as interesting as the choice of hotels. First and foremost, you have to eat at least once at famed Joe's Stone Crab (305-673-0365). Along Ocean Drive, three excellent picks (among many) include Les Deux Fontaines (305-672-7878), News Cafe (305-531-0392), and The Pelican Cafe (305-673-3373). Up on Lincoln Road, try Pacific Time (305-534-5979), Van Dyke Cafe (305-534-3600), Norma's On the Beach (305-532-2809), or Yuca (305-534-4292). On restaurant-rich Washington Avenue, head to Astor Place Bar & Grill (305-531-8081), China Grill (305-534-2211), Mercury (305-532-0070), Ruen Thai Restaurant, 947 305-534-1504), or Lulu's Restaurant (305-532-6147).

With the nation's largest Art Deco historic district, the trendiest of accommodations options, creative chefs in varied restaurants, designer shopping, and the nonstop action of the ever-so-wide beach, the aqua Atlantic, and Ocean Drive's people-watching, SoBe is the place to be. It's like visiting a movie set (a la Birdcage), but this setting is ever so real.

South Beach is enjoying a tourism and economic boom that springs from the refurbishment of the area's Art Deco District. From cafes and clubs along Ocean Drive, Washington Avenue, and Lincoln Road to the hot hotels and restaurants everywhere, South Beach is sizzling with the vibrant colors of Art Deco architecture and style.

One of the best ways to tour the Art Deco Historic District is through a walking tour run by the Miami Design Preservation League (outlined below) or another organized tour by foot, bike, car, or bus. With a tour, you'll get a true sense of the history and flavor of the buildings, providing a perfect introduction for returning later to favorite buildings for closer inspection.

Once you've explored the colorful buildings of South Beach, you can pursue as little or as much as you desire. The choices include: swimming, sunning, and people-watching on the wide beach; strolling, biking, or roller-blading along Ocean Drive and Lummus Park; shopping until you drop; finding a favorite restaurant; or dancing the night away in one of many hot nightclubs. You'll never be bored in South Beach.

Post-dive afternoons are a good time for some culture or shopping, in that some museums. Though some would say that South Beach's culture is limited to people-watching on Ocean Drive, there's much more to this vibrant area, thanks to many creative minds and souls.

Some possibilities for those in-the-know include: the numerous art galleries on Lincoln Road, (contact the Lincoln Road Partnership, 924 Lincoln Road, Suite 200, 305-531-3442); the Bass Museum of Art, 2100 Park Avenue (305-673-7530), an Art Deco building, with 14th to 20th century art; the Wolfsonian, 1001 Washington Avenue (305-531-1001), a huge and eclectic collection of virtually anything from the late-19th to mid-20th centuries; and the Sanford L. Ziff Jewish Museum of Florida, 301 Washington Avenue (305-672-5044), with an interesting overview of Jewish history in Florida.

You may also want to head up to the Holocaust Memorial, 1933 Meridian Avenue (305-538-1663), a stirring memorial that includes a bronze sculpture that depicts Holocaust victims crawling up a huge open hand to freedom, pictures from concentration camps, and the etched names of many victims. It's just across the street from the helpful information counter and shop of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce (see below).

With so many fashion models and famous people (some of whom are fashion models), it's natural that the shopping choices suit their tastes. Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue, Washington Avenue, Lincoln Road, and the accompanying cross streets provide the swankiest shopping streets.

The most popular shopping spots include Gianni Versace, Armani Exchange, Kenneth Cole, Banana Republic, Succa, Nicole Miller, A.B.S., and Island Trading, all of which (and many more) are on or near Ocean Drive, Collins, or Washington. But there's also huge roster of eclectic boutiques on Lincoln Road (ideal for strolling and spending).

After you've eaten on Ocean Drive at least once, you should try to head up to Lincoln Road for an evening of window-shopping (many stores stay open late) and dining. Lincoln Road has rebounded to become one of South Beach's best dining and shopping spots, featuring a 10-block retail district stretching from ocean to bay (including a sharply renovated seven-block pedestrian mall). Many Lincoln Road afficionados shop until they drop into one of many excellent restaurants.

After dinner, evening entertainment options are quite varied. There is a wide variety of performances at the stunning Jackie Gleason Theater, 1700 Washington Avenue (305-673-7300), or a host of scheduled events with Lincoln Road's acclaimed Miami City Ballet, 905 Lincoln Road (305-532-7713), or New World Symphony, 541 Lincoln Road (305-673-3331).

The other option is to take advantage of the active club scene that's prevalent throughout South Beach. Keep in mind, however, that much of the activity doesn't even get started until midnight. From foam parties to Latin-style dancing 'til the wee hours, clubs like Bang, Van Dome, Amnesia, Bash, the Cleveland Bar, Kremlin (gay), Berlin, Glam Slam, Groove Jet, Liquid, 821 (gay), and 841 are all hot to nighttime-trotters. To avoid disappointment or embarassment, be sure to call first to see what's happening at particular clubs on particular nights, as well as to make sure the club hasn't closed or moved in this quickly-changing entertainment environment. Tara Solomon's column in Thursday's Miami Herald and the weekly New Times are also great club resources.

One of the most popular dry land activities in South Beach is in-line skating. If you didn't bring your own, rent what you need at Skate 2000, 1200 Ocean Drive (305-538-8282), or Fritz's Skate Shop, 726 Lincoln Road Mall (305-532-1954). Along with the Art Deco biking tours mentioned above, rental bikes from Gary's Megacycle, 1260 Washington Avenue (305-534-3306), or Miami Beach Bicycle Center, 601 5th Street (305-674-0150), also offer a convenient way to get around South Beach for a day or more. For watersports enthusiasts, there are vendors all along the beach that rent equipment for windsurfing, sailing, and jet skis. For inland boating along Indian Creek and Biscayne Bay, head up to Beach Boat Rentals, 2380 Collins Avenue (305-534-4307). For boating (and gambling) further afield, you may check into a short lunch or dinner cruise with Sea Kruz, 1280 5th Street (305-538-8300). Golfers can enjoy a fun short course at the Bayshore Par Three Golf Course, 2975 Praire Avenue (305-674-0305). If you want to keep up with all of the other hardbodies of South Beach, fitness facilities include: Club body Tech, 1253 Washington Avenue (305-674-8222); Gridiron Club, 1676 Alton Road (305-531-4743); and South Beach Gym, 1020 Ocean Drive (305-672-7499), where you enjoy and ocean view and are just steps away from a cold drink at the ever-popular Clevelander Bar.

Of course, the rest of the Miami area also has much to offer. Downtown Miami's Bayside is a great place for shopping, dining, and tours of Biscayne Bay. Sightseeing and activity possibilities include: the American Police Hall of Fame and Museum (305-573-0070); Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park (305-361-5811) on Key Biscayne; Fairchild Tropical Gardens (305-667-1651); the Miami Metrozoo (305-251-0403); the Miami Seaquarium (305-361-5705); Monkey Jungle (305-235-1611); Parrot Jungle and Gardens (305-666-7834); Villa Vizcaya (305-250-9133).

All of these possibilities on and off Miami Beach may seem to leave little time for diving. That just means you need to stay longer or, like me, move to the wreckreational dive capital of the world.

FACTS & FIGURES

Population: Miami Beach proper has a population of just 90,896. The Miami metropolitan area, stretching from Aventura in the north to Homestead in the south, is a collection of 27 municipalities and more than one million residents.

Size: The Miami metropolitan area encompasses more than 2,400-square-miles.

Climate: Summer temperatures range in the high-80sF, while winter temperatures are in the high-70sF.

Language: English, with a large bi-lingual and Spanish-speaking population.

Money: U.S. dollar. (Most banks have branches and 24-hour ATMs.)

Telephone: Area code 305; Information 555-1212; Emergency 911 service.

Transportation: Rental cars are readily available, as are metered taxis. Most hotels can arrange bus tours. There is generally good public transportation throughout the Miami area.

Entry Requirements: None for U.S. citizens, valid passports for others.

Water Temperature: Varies from 70-80F.

Underwater Visibility: Ranges from 10 feet to more than 100 feet, depending on the location and weather conditions.

Dive Boats: All dive boats in Miami must be operated in accordance with U.S. Coast Guard regulations, and licensing of captains applies.

More Diving Information: For more information on diving, get a copy of Joel Auerbach's Dive Miami through your local dive shop or call (305) 944-9055.

More About Miami: For more specific information about diving and dive packages, call (888) SCUBA MB. They can also help with other hotel and travel recommendations. For more information the Miami area in general call the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 283-2707. For more information about Miami Beach specifically, call the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce at (305) 672-1270.