Camping Vacation to Upper Coast

[Aggiebq86]

I'm thinking of taking a camping vacation to the upper coast. Since I'm coming from Texas, it is about a 9 hour drive to Pensacola. I'd like some suggestions of possible dive spots along the Gulf Coast. I'm a relative new diver (less than 50 dives) so I don't want anything too difficult.

[sontek]

We have lots of shore dives:
1. Ft.Pickens
2. Destin Jetties
3. St.Andrews Jetties
4. Navarre Pier
5. Pensacola Beach Rubble
6. Whiskey Wreck (in Gulf Shores)

And lots of good charter dive sites... While you are out here you should definitely see the Oriskany.

Call up Dive Pro's or MBT and schedule some trips off shore with them!

Here is a post I did on the shore diving around here: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/deep-dixie-divers/323960-pensacola-area-shore-diving-feb-27-28-1st.html

[Dr Dive]

Aggiebq86,

Glad to see you on the board and to know you are considering Pensacola for vacation. It's a great area.

There is camping as well as diving at Ft. Pickens. Navarre and the Beach Rubble are close by. Whiskey Wreck is an hour to the west and Destin and hour to the east. St. Andrews about 2.5 hours east.

Charters are readily available in Pensacola. Call me or send me an email and we can discuss specific questions. We have many sites that are comfortable for newer divers, but are still challenging and interesting.

Looking forward to seeing you in Pendacola. Let me know how I can help.

Capt. Jim
Dr Dive
www.drdive.com (http://www.drdive.com)
drdive@drdive.com
Dr Dive | Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/DrDiveCharters)
850-932-6602
617-943-5553

[Aggiebq86]

Are there any campgrounds that are conducive to diving? By this I mean shore dives and air fills are readily accessible as well as dive operators. I don't want to have to load up at 6 in the morning in order to make it to the boat for a dive. I also don't want to end up camping in a parking lot that calls itself a campground or someplace my daughter will get bored out of her mind when we aren't diving. Any suggestions?

[Hetland]

Are there any campgrounds that are conducive to diving? By this I mean shore dives and air fills are readily accessible as well as dive operators. I don't want to have to load up at 6 in the morning in order to make it to the boat for a dive. I also don't want to end up camping in a parking lot that calls itself a campground or someplace my daughter will get bored out of her mind when we aren't diving. Any suggestions?


Dive Spot: Ft. Pickens Jetty


City/State Location: Pensacola, Florida

Type of diving: Shore Dive

Picture: See Maps Below

Directions: Drive to the end of Ft. Pickens Road, take a left, and stop when you get to the curve. Dive between the two rock jetties (see maps below)

Google Maps Link: Google Maps (http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=30.331329,-87.295446&spn=0.001317,0.002747&t=h&z=19)

GPS Coordinates: N30 19.809 W87 17.554

About the DiveSite: Typical jetty dive. Should only be attempted at high, slack tide, as currents can be strong, and visibility can be effected significantly by tidal direction. Best to dive this site with someone who knows their way around underwater until you learn the ropes.

What to expect at the dive site: Salty water, sand, etc. Seriously, bring a knife because there is a bit of fishing pressure here. I've never been tangled, but I have cut some tangled fish loose. Typical life for the area. Watch for stargazers and torpedo rays as either can give you a shock if molested. In 2009 there was a single resident french angelfish too!

Where to park: This will be apparent when you get there.

Amenities/Facilities: Bathrooms and cold-water showers (both public and private) are within walking distance from the parking area. Camping is also available.

Amenities/Facilities Map: CLICK HERE (http://www.nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/upload/Nov%2009%20for%20Roxanne.jpg)

Cost/Fee's associated with site:

Per vehicle (1-7 days) - $8.00
Gulf Islands Annual Pass - $25.00
Night Owl Pass (After hours access) - $30.00

Get the pass, it's worth it.

Times Open: Fort Pickens area is open from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. except for registered campers and visitors with Night Owl passes (available for sale at the entrance station). The road is subject to flooding during major rain events or from storm surge which may cause closure of the Ft. Pickens area on short notice.

Pros
Awesome Shore Dive!
Awesome Night Dive - Lots of phosphorous in the water
Easy to get to, short walk.
Large selection of critters to see, usually from 12 to 65 ft


Cons
Site is tide-dependent (dive at high, slack tide)
Site is easily closed due to storm activity, turning it into a boat dive
Site sometimes has a number of fishermen, though usually they are polite (especially the fishers on shore)
Site takes a few dives to learn your way around underwater


Most recent date visited: April 3, 2010

Website for site: Gulf Islands National Seashore (U.S. National Park Service) (http://www.nps.gov/guis/index.htm)

Expected Vis: 0ft - 35ft Often on the same dive.

Depths: 12ft - 65ft

Water temps: 53f - 80f Depending on the season

Closest Air Fills or Dive Shops: Lots of shops in Pensacola

Good Places to eat near site:

McGuire's Irish Pub (http://www.mcguiresirishpub.com/) Everyone's Favorite!
Landry’s Seafood House (http://www.landrysseafoodhouse.com/)
Fuji Sushi Bar & Grill (http://www.fujisushigb.com/) 1385 Shoreline Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, Tel: (850)916-9990


Maps:


http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Ft_Pickens_Parking_copy.jpg


http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Ft_Pickens_Directions_2.jpg


* Thanks to WJeffries for the Maps and DDD for the info to wrap around them.

[sontek]

St.Andrews and Ft.Pickens both have campgrounds on site but fills are about a 15min drive for each site... which isn't too bad.

[Aggiebq86]

I still haven't made up my mind on this vacation. I've been waiting a little to see what happens out in the Gulf. What are the conditions like in and around Pensacola? You never can tell what ground truth is when your listening to the reporters on TV.

[wjefferis]

There is also Vortex Springs (camping and lodging available) as well as Morrison Springs to check out

Vortex Spring
Vortex Diving Center, LLC (http://vortexspring.com/)

Morrison Spring
Morrison Springs Florida (http://morrisonsprings.com/)

[wjefferis]

Pensacola has several different dive shops to choose from. In an effort to not be biased here they all are (not in order of best to last):

MBT Divers
MBT Dive & Surf Pensacola, Florida (850) 455-7702 (http://mbtdivers.com/)

Dive Pros
Home (http://florida-divepros.com/)

Scuba Shack
Scuba Shack (http://www.scubashackpensacola.com/)

Bay Breeze Scuba (closest to Ft Pickens)
Welcome to Bay Breeze Dive Center (http://www.baybreezescuba.com/)


Here are a few of the boat operators in the Pensacola area (not in order of best to last):

Dr Dive
Dr Dive Pensacola, FL - Home of the USS Oriskany (http://drdive.com/)

Blue Water Adventures
Pensacola SCUBA Diving Charter Boat Dive the USS Oriskany Spearfishing Artificial Reef (http://bluwateradventures.com/)

H20 Below
Charter Boat H2O Below     Pensacola Florida (http://ussoriskanydiver.com/)

Viking Diving
Viking Diving Home (http://www.vikingdivingpensacola.com/)

Reel Easy Charters
Fishing, Diving, Cruise Charter of Pensacola Beach Florida. Including to the USS Oriskany (http://www.reeleazy.com/)

Pensacola Dive Company
Pensacola Oriskany Scuba Dive Charters Underwater wedding ceremony marriage (http://www.pensacoladivecompany.com/index.html)

Scuba Shack has their own boat, it is on their website. MBT Divers also uses some other six-pack boats, but I don't know the name of them. If you call them they can hook you up with them.

If I left someone out please excuse me, I am TWUI (Typing While Under the Influence) :D.