Pensacola Area Shore Diving Feb 27, 28, and 1st?

[sontek]

Hey, me and my 2 buddies are going to be doing a dive trip around Florida, starting with Pensacola and ending around Tampa bay and since diving for 8 days straight could get expensive, we are hoping to get some shore dives in to save

Anyone have good info or want to come out and dive/show us around at any of the shore locations around here?

Here is what I've read about these so far (this is my first time trying to figure out tides, got info from http://www.saltwatertides.com/

Destin Jetties (used East Pass (Destin), Choctawhatchee Bay)
- Best at High Tide
- 26th: 8:57pm
- 27th: 10:07pm
- 28th: 11:31pm
- 1st: 11:38am

St.Andrews Jetties (used St. Andrew Bay Channel entrance)
- Best at High Tide
- 26th: 7:52pm
- 27th: 9:02pm
- 28th: 10:26pm
- 1st: 10:33am

Ft.Pickens Jetties ( used Pensacola Bay Entrance )
- Best at High Tide
- 26th: 8:08pm
- 27th: 9:18pm
- 28th: 10:42pm
- 1st: 10:49am

Navarre Pier ( used Navarre Beach)
- Best at Low Tide
- 26th: 4:40am
- 27th: 5:11am
- 28th: 5:28am
- 1st: 5:12am

Pensacola Beach Pier Rubble ( used Pensacola Bay Entrance )
- Best at Low Tide
- 26th: 6:32am
- 27th: 7:03am
- 28th: 7:20am
- 1st: 7:04am

Vortex Springs
Morrison Springs

Whiskey Wreck (in Gulf Shores)

The Catherine
- Heard this might be do able from shore... any one know?

We will be in Pensacola the 27th, 28th, and the 1st, then we are looking to drive around Florida to see other areas... right now we are thinking High Springs, Crystal River, Ft.Lauderdale, and the Keys, if any of you guys have suggestions on areas we should hit, none of us have ever dove in Florida before... I've lived here for a few months but haven't actually got in the water yet!

Pensacola Bay Entrance Tide Tables:

Day High /Low Tide Time Height/Feet Sunrise/Set Moon Time % Moon Visible

F 26 Low 6:32 AM -0.6 6:18 AM Set 4:38 AM 88
26 High 8:08 PM 1.0 5:46 PM Rise 3:47 PM

Sa 27 Low 7:03 AM -0.3 6:17 AM Set 5:19 AM 95
27 High 9:18 PM 0.9 5:47 PM Rise 4:58 PM

Su 28 Low 7:20 AM -0.1 6:16 AM Set 5:58 AM 99
28 High 10:42 PM 0.6 5:47 PM Rise 6:08 PM

M 1 Low 7:04 AM 0.2 6:15 AM Set 6:34 AM 99
1 High 10:49 AM 0.3 5:48 PM Rise 7:16 PM
1 Low 5:51 PM 0.1

St.Andrews Entrance:

Day High /Low Tide Time Height/Feet Sunrise/Set Moon Time % Moon Visible

F 26 Low 5:16 AM -0.7 6:12 AM Set 4:31 AM 88
26 High 7:52 PM 1.3 5:40 PM Rise 3:41 PM

Sa 27 Low 5:47 AM -0.4 6:11 AM Set 5:13 AM 95
27 High 9:02 PM 1.1 5:40 PM Rise 4:52 PM

Su 28 Low 6:04 AM -0.1 6:10 AM Set 5:51 AM 99
28 High 10:26 PM 0.8 5:41 PM Rise 6:01 PM

M 1 Low 5:48 AM 0.2 6:09 AM Set 6:28 AM 99
1 High 10:33 AM 0.4 5:42 PM Rise 7:09 PM
1 Low 4:35 PM 0.1

Navarre Beach:

Day High /Low Tide Time Height/Feet Sunrise/Set Moon Time % Moon Visible

F 26 Low 4:40 AM -1.2 6:17 AM Set 4:36 AM 88
26 High 7:24 PM 1.4 5:44 PM Rise 3:46 PM

Sa 27 Low 5:11 AM -0.7 6:16 AM Set 5:18 AM 95
27 High 8:34 PM 1.2 5:45 PM Rise 4:56 PM

Su 28 Low 5:28 AM -0.2 6:15 AM Set 5:56 AM 99
28 High 9:58 PM 0.9 5:45 PM Rise 6:06 PM

M 1 Low 5:12 AM 0.3 6:13 AM Set 6:32 AM 99
1 High 10:05 AM 0.4 5:46 PM Rise 7:14 PM
1 Low 3:59 PM 0.2
1 High 11:57 PM 0.5

East Pass (Destin), Choctawhatchee Bay

Day High /Low Tide Time Height/Feet Sunrise/Set Moon Time % Moon Visible

F 26 Low 6:32 AM -0.2 6:15 AM Set 4:35 AM 88
26 High 8:57 PM 0.6 5:43 PM Rise 3:44 PM

Sa 27 Low 7:03 AM -0.1 6:14 AM Set 5:16 AM 95
27 High 10:07 PM 0.5 5:43 PM Rise 4:55 PM

Su 28 Low 7:20 AM -0.0 6:13 AM Set 5:55 AM 99
28 High 11:31 PM 0.4 5:44 PM Rise 6:05 PM

M 1 Low 7:04 AM 0.1 6:12 AM Set 6:31 AM 99
1 High 11:38 AM 0.2 5:45 PM Rise 7:13 PM
1 Low 5:51 PM 0.0

 

[joe8mofo]

Sounds like a plan, however water temp in the pensacola area is currently 49 degrees, so it will be chilly. Kudos on gathering all the information in 1 place for everybody though.

 

[bamamedic]

49 degrees? Dear God, my quarry is warmer than that! (admittedly, only by a couple of degrees, though)

I'll stick to my 68 degree freshwater springs, thank you very much!

 

[joe8mofo]

You are better off not doing the panhandle now unless you are diving dry or 7mm wetsuit with hooded vest and capable of handling cold. Fort Lauderdale area is supposed to have shore diving and I have listed links to this information below. Also the FL keys have a lot of boat diving that can be done.

Pensacola FL 47.7
(02/18/2010 16:54 UTC)

South of FT Lauderdale:
Recent Water Temperature:
70.9°F (21.6°C)
Observation Date and Time:
Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Beach DIVE IN FT LAUDERDALE: Fill Express -- The Best Shore Dive in Florida

Blue Heron Bridge: FT Lauderdale: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/florida-conch-divers/279974-continuing-sagas-blue-heron-bridge.html

Florida Dive site list: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/florida-conch-divers/60333-insider-information-local-diving.html

 

[CaveMD]

you'll enjoy the st andrews dive, i haven't been there with tanks yet but i've free dove it a couple times and it's not bad for a shore dive at all

 

[CaveMD]

49 degrees? Dear God, my quarry is warmer than that! (admittedly, only by a couple of degrees, though)

I'll stick to my 68 degree freshwater springs, thank you very much!

according to my computer it was only 1 degree warmer today @ 120 :cold:

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

49 degrees? Dear God, my quarry is warmer than that! (admittedly, only by a couple of degrees, though)

The Gulf has far more to offer than any quarry.

 

[jwhitlock]

Wear a hood....lol....Sounds like fun tho, wish I could make it....

 

[joe8mofo]

Water temp has warmed up significantly. I would still say 7mm with hooded vest though. Maybe it will keep going up
54.0 F
(02/22/2010 20:54 UTC)

 

[sontek]

I talked to some guys at MBT that went out on Saturday to the Oriskany in 5mm's and said it was a little chilly but warmed up at depth and was fine