Pensacola Shore Dive Sites
- Thread starter Jason8598
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scubagal28
Contributor
Jason8598:
Here is a link to MBT Divers in Pensacola that list all the dive sites and several are good shore dives.
http://www.mbtdivers.com/divesites.htm
SuPrBuGmAn
Contributor
Actually, you can't dive the Fort Pickens Jetties as easily as before. The road has been knocked out a few times already since Ivan without it ever having officially opened back up. You have to get to that area of Fort Pickens by boat, which kinda defeats the point of a shore dive in the first place.
Navarre Pier is condemned to fisherman(thank Ivan), so you can dive it. I hear it can make for a fun shore dive, but I haven't done it yet. I've dived the Alabama Gulf State Pier(now that its condemned, again, thanks to Ivan) and have had a great time. I can't imagine them being much different.
Jump across the Florida/Alabama line and you can dive the jetties at Alabama Point. I have no idea on how the Whiskey Wreck is doing in Gulf Shores since Katrina and Rita, but perhaps its gotten itself a bit more uncovered with all the new erosion we've had? Ivan and the beach renourishments buried it.
There are supposedly a few more beach dives in the Pensacola area, but I haven't dived them. There is some info on them in Ned DeLoach's book, but directions are vague at best... and conditions aren't current.
Navarre Pier is condemned to fisherman(thank Ivan), so you can dive it. I hear it can make for a fun shore dive, but I haven't done it yet. I've dived the Alabama Gulf State Pier(now that its condemned, again, thanks to Ivan) and have had a great time. I can't imagine them being much different.
Jump across the Florida/Alabama line and you can dive the jetties at Alabama Point. I have no idea on how the Whiskey Wreck is doing in Gulf Shores since Katrina and Rita, but perhaps its gotten itself a bit more uncovered with all the new erosion we've had? Ivan and the beach renourishments buried it.
There are supposedly a few more beach dives in the Pensacola area, but I haven't dived them. There is some info on them in Ned DeLoach's book, but directions are vague at best... and conditions aren't current.
SuPrBuGmAn
Contributor
We still have alotta surf from Rita, up to shoulder high sets today. Visibility is suffering at the moment. If it manages to calm down and clear up, I definately wouldn't mind hitting up the Whiskey Wreck this weekend - I've been meaning to go check it out after Katrina, just haven't had the opportunity. I'm not sure if I'll be in the area to dive it anytime after this weekend and before next...
PreKatrina there was very little relief. Two small stretches, one about 5' long and the other about twice that, neither with more than 6-12"(yes, inches) of relief. The sandbar was ontop of it, making the bottom as deep as about 6-7'. PreIvan, depths on the wreck were ~13' with 6-7' of relief.
The sands shift on it and off it, I've seen the wreck with 12-15' of relief when the bottom was 20' deep in Dec '03. Sometimes the hurricanes just make the process happen a hellovalot faster.
PreKatrina there was very little relief. Two small stretches, one about 5' long and the other about twice that, neither with more than 6-12"(yes, inches) of relief. The sandbar was ontop of it, making the bottom as deep as about 6-7'. PreIvan, depths on the wreck were ~13' with 6-7' of relief.
The sands shift on it and off it, I've seen the wreck with 12-15' of relief when the bottom was 20' deep in Dec '03. Sometimes the hurricanes just make the process happen a hellovalot faster.
SuPrBuGmAn
Contributor
The Whiskey Wreck? Park at the public parking area next to Bahama Bobs(1/2 mile west of Hwy 59 on the Beach Highway(182). Line up with Bahama Bob's sign and swim out 100-150 yards.
I don't know if you're allowed to dive the Pensacola Pier, but you'd want to park in the large parking lot where the pier starts at.
Same with the Navarre Pier, which is definately divable.
I don't know if you're allowed to dive the Pensacola Pier, but you'd want to park in the large parking lot where the pier starts at.
Same with the Navarre Pier, which is definately divable.
Archer_Pensacola
Contributor
Yeah I think the fisherman on Pensacola Pier might be miffed when you start tangling their lines. Navarre pier is just over the bridge to Navarre (Take US 98 through Gulf Breeze to Navarre to FL 393, cross over Intercoastal, take 1st right (I think road turns right here) and pier and parking lot is on the left). There is no toll if you take the Navarre bridge and there is no parking fee.
diver doh
Contributor
Archer_Pensacola:
But it is just such great fun to tie their lines together!
Don't tell me you have never done this?!
SuPrBuGmAn
Contributor
Well.. they've got a sheriff's office that share the public beach parking lot. I know that you weren't allowed to dive the Navarre Pier when it was open to fisherman and that was enforced, luckily, its condemned to the surface dwellers now 
Pensacola's Pier has stood strong through the past few hurricanes and remains open, I doubt diving is allowed.
The old pier was dumped just east of the new pier from what I understand. It was covered in sand last I heard, but maybe some of the newer storms have uncovered it?
Jellyfish are real bad as I found out Friday. Snorkeled for about 5min before being torn up by sea nettles to the point of rushing me out of the water. Gonna dive tomorrow, but with a wetsuit
Pensacola's Pier has stood strong through the past few hurricanes and remains open, I doubt diving is allowed. The old pier was dumped just east of the new pier from what I understand. It was covered in sand last I heard, but maybe some of the newer storms have uncovered it?
Jellyfish are real bad as I found out Friday. Snorkeled for about 5min before being torn up by sea nettles to the point of rushing me out of the water. Gonna dive tomorrow, but with a wetsuit
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