Gulf Coast Dive Reccomendations

divedude1962 · Apr 7, 2008

I am planning a vacation trip around the Gulf coast: Florida to Texas, and I'm looking for reccomendations. Dive shops, charters, sites, etc. Doesn't have to be salt, springs and lakes are cool too.

DiveBandit · Apr 8, 2008

You may want to ask that here

Sh@rkW@tcher · Apr 8, 2008

As your travels take you through the Florida west coast, stop at Florida Underwater Sports Florida Underwater Sports - Home in Sarasota. They can arrange local dive charters and take care of all of your equipement/repair/service and fill needs.

PatMyGreen · Apr 8, 2008

If its been awhile since you have been to Panama City Beach, I think we are worth visting just to checkout the new Pier Park and Frank Brown Aquatic center,a city run olympic pool and kiddy play area if you don't want to get salty. Nevermind all the wreck diving offshore, springs an hour North of town or St Andrews State park.

Disclaimer
I run a scuba charter and am promoting my own area, so I have a conflict of interests, none the less those are some of the reasons I decided to settle here.

divedude1962 · Apr 8, 2008

Panama City is on the agenda (wrecks, and Morrison spring if it's open, maybe Vortex.)
I'm looking for dives from Tampa and up. I do Venice regularly from shore, but up north to Pensacola is unknown to me.
So, oil rigs in the gulf, Flower Garden banks, and so on are thigs I know of. Need more ideas.

Dr Dive · Apr 8, 2008

Pensacola has many good operators and over 100 charted sites to choose from in addition to the Oriskany.

Same disclaimer as PatMyGreen, I'm one of the operators. Check us out as you make your plans. We'd love to see ya.

Capt. Jim
Dr Dive
Dr Dive Pensacola, FL - Home of the USS Oriskany

Sh@rkW@tcher · Apr 9, 2008

divedude1962:
Panama City is on the agenda (wrecks, and Morrison spring if it's open, maybe Vortex.)
I'm looking for dives from Tampa and up. I do Venice regularly from shore, but up north to Pensacola is unknown to me.
So, oil rigs in the gulf, Flower Garden banks, and so on are thigs I know of. Need more ideas.

For diving the Flower Gardens check out M/V Fling and M/V Spree, both run out of Freeport ,TX and do weekend trips to the Flower Gardens and Stetson rock. There are a couple of charter boats that do rig trips out of Galveston (none coming to mind at the moment) where the biggest #'s of rigs are. Tell them ya wanna dive either Bucanneer Field or A20, don't waste your time with the VA Fogg.

divedude1962 · Apr 10, 2008

Cool, good ideas.
As for Pensacola, I know it's not a considered an exciting dive, but I want to see the Massachusetts. I have a thing for old Navy ships. And it's the only diveable pre-Dreadnought anywhere in the world. (As far as I know.)
I will contact the Fling and Spree (Are they the same operator?).

Any ideas about the Louisiana area?

algulfdiver · Apr 10, 2008

We do the Massachusetts on a regular basis and it is the best shallow water wreck dive in the country IMO

Dr Dive · Apr 10, 2008

Ditto algulfdiver's comment. The Mass is an awesome dive. It is a particularly incredible night dive, as you can spend forever just poking around the nooks and crannies. usually lots of octopi, an occasional nurse shark, Stargazers (which can shock you into next week) and tons of other stuff. You can look at the armor belt that protected the ship and lots of other interesting stuff. It's a Marine Preserve and, as you suggest, old, Navy and unique. Come see it.

Capt. Jim
Dr Dive Pensacola, FL - Home of the USS Oriskany

Gulf Coast Dive Reccomendations

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divedude1962

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Sh@rkW@tcher

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