Dive Report: Destin Jetties East 05-17-2009

[MRXRAY]

The answer to charters to the Destin Jetties is a simple one.... Liability Insurance. The shops can't charge enough to make the trip worth while for them to cover the cost of insurance. For the $ they would charge for a trip to the Jetties it would be about the same as a trip offshore. Crazy I know, but that is what I've been told!

You know something I just don't understand is why some of the dive shops in Destin don't have a cheaper (price) dive trip on their skorkel boats to the jetties! They charge $25.00 for snorkelers for what 2 1/2 hours? And they provide them with all the gear they will need(mask, fins, snorkel). Why not charge a driver $40.00 to include 2 tanks for 3 1/2 hours? A driver that doesn't have all his own equipment would also rent stuff from them and they would make more money there.

I know I would make that dive everytime I was in Destin. Just doesn't make sense to me!

 

[Raider]

You guys have convinced me! I'm either going to dive the bridge or drive back down to St. Andrews and do the #2 walk! LOL! I would not want anybody to see me crying along side the trail! LOL!

How far of a drive is it from Destin to Ft. Pickens? Would it be about the same distance as Destin to St. Andrews? That might be an option.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Its a shorter distance from Destin to St. Andrews, but with PCB traffic, it will probably take an equal amount of time to get to either St. Andrews or Ft Pickens.

If you goto Ft Pickens... don't forget there's an actual Fort there - LOL. Its actually very cool to walk around in.

 

[Raider]

What about this dive I have read some references to on here, the Navarre piers, I think that’s right?

 

[Hetland]

Navarre Pier rubble is covered in sand at the moment. IF you are lucky, you can spot a school of passing lookdowns, spadefish, sheepshead, or spanish macks, along with an occasional flounder, stingray and a solitary barracuda. The piers on the existing structure are usually covered with a nice selection of grasses, tunicates and crusts of various origins, along with their resident blennies, crabs, and other reef critters, but as it stands now, it's low on my list of dive possibilities (while last year it was a night-diving favorite)

Your best bet is St. Andrews or Ft. Pickens, and my choice this weekend would be St. Andrews. It's worth the drive.

 

[MRXRAY]

I'll second that! Keep in mind too that Ft. Pickens will not be a family friendly place this weekend. It is Rainbow weekend in Pensacola!

 

[wheeliejerm]

St. Andrews walk is about 80 yards to the water.

Destin Jetties walk is about 300 yards, and that's just to the water. You've got another 200 yards you'll need to walk in the water (easier than walking the beach the whole way) before you get to the jetty proper. You do that 2 times a week, and you can cancel your gym membership But I agree with XRay. The best bet is to suit up at the car and make the walk. If the shower is working, you could wet yourself down first too. It'll add a little weight, but might keep you from having a heatstroke too.

You guys think I could just pull my pontoon up to the entry point at the jetties?

 

[MRXRAY]

Absolutely, It's done all the time. In fact the snorkel Charter pontoon boats will probably be right there with you!!!

You guys think I could just pull my pontoon up to the entry point at the jetties?