LA - Lower Alabama

[DawgPaddle]

Hi Ya'll!

Growing up in Alabama, I spent many a time at Lake Eufaula (although I forget how to spell it), and down at PC (Panama City). I wasn't a diver at the time, but am definitely going back to visit friends and family.

Can someone let me know where the great diving spots are within, lets say, 100 miles of PC and Emerald Coast. I'm sure the shore provides some great diving opportunities, but if someone could be nice enough to clue me in to some good specific locations, I'd much appreciate it.

Thanks in advance,

 

[DawgPaddle]

oops, I just noticed "Let's leave Florida out of it" on the group description.

Perhaps one of the moderators can move this down one group.

My apologies

 

[gbdr97]

Hey I am in Dothan and there are lots of places to dive with in 125 miles of eufaula or so as far as fresh water there is Morrisons, Vortex, if you have a boat there are several at Merrits mill pond, PC there are numerous wrecks, and the jetties, but they can be very tricky if you dont do the tide just right, do it at slack tide is the best. but that is about the only shore dive that I know of other than Pensacola. let me know if this helps, I have an office in Eufaula also

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

PC(FL - St. Andrews State Park), Destin(FL East Pass), Pensacola(Ft. Pickens State Park), and Orange Beach(AL Perdido Pass) all have jeddies. Like gbdr97, catch them at high slack tide.

Navarre has a pier you can dive(supposedly only at night, when there is no fishing - but its closed to the public, the pier, so you could probably dive it during the day without worrying about getting into trouble).

There are a few beachable shipwrecks that I've read about in the Pensacola Beach to Gulf Shores area(I've only dove the Whiskey Wreck which is covered in sand at the moment).

Then there are the springs on the panhandle, Vortex and Morrison being the easiest accessible. Lots more if you have a small boat to get you up the rivers.

If you get on a charter, there are literally hundreds of artificial reefs(brigde rubble, wrecks, ect) and a handfull of natural limestone ledges too.

 

[mike_s]

Hi Ya'll!

Growing up in Alabama, I spent many a time at Lake Eufaula (although I forget how to spell it), and down at PC (Panama City). I wasn't a diver at the time, but am definitely going back to visit friends and family.

Can someone let me know where the great diving spots are within, lets say, 100 miles of PC and Emerald Coast. I'm sure the shore provides some great diving opportunities, but if someone could be nice enough to clue me in to some good specific locations, I'd much appreciate it.

Thanks in advance,

For detailed info on all the Florida dive spots near/around Panama City,
check out Ned Deloach's book "Diving Guide to Underwater Florida".
http://www.booksamillion.com/ncom/books?id=3031465963153&isbn=1878348299
It's well worth the $15 buck cost.

As for Panama City, check out
Hydro Space http://www.hydrospace.com
Panama city Dive Center http://www.pcdivecenter.com/

North of Panama City is Vortex Springs for freshwater spring diving
http://www.vortexspring.com/

Destin has a few shops.
Emerald Cost Scuba
Scubatech http://www.scubatechnwfl.com (I think).

Pensacola has some dive shops, but I don't know
what's left after the recent hurricane.

Gulf Shores dive shop Down Under has a great boat,
but the diving there is very 'blah'.
http://www.downunderdiveshop.com/
Their shop also was hit hard by the hurricane and
may not be open.
People do like to dive the "whiskey wreck" from the
beach, but other posts here have reported it
covered in sand for now.

Hope that helps.

-Mike

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Down Under got gutted by the storm, its gonna be a little while before they get opened back up. Underwater Works in Daphne, AL(a little North of Gulf Shores) is open, but not running boats until dock conditions are in better shape(hurricane put a pound'n on em).

Getting on either the Down Under or Underwater Works boats can be fun, just be sure to get on the deeper/farther trips to get to more interesting dive destinations. Its about $20 more a trip for the deeper trips - but its well worth it IMO.

ScubaShack in P'Cola is still running boats from what I understand. MBT and DivePros(off of Hwy 98) are pretty far inland and should have weathered the storm well enough - dunno if they are running their boats though - a search through google will get you any of these dive shops websites.

ScubaTech(Destin) is running boats still, just dove with them on the 12th, not sure about Emarald Coast, but I'd assume they are running them too.

 

[chickdiver]

Dive Pros is open and just fine. We don't run our won boats- but I would suggest Capt. Dave Mucci and the Yknot for Pensacola charters. His website is:

http://www.bluwateradventures.com

 

[deadend]

Call the Dive Locker in PCB and leave the rest. There is a website at www.divelockerpcb.com. They have a couple of boats, the best guys working there and the lowest prices. Tony or Joe will do you right and point you in the right direction in that area.

Good luck.

 

[mike_s]

Forgot to mention the Oriskany.

It'a HUGE aircraft carrier that will be sunk between
Pensecola and Destin.

It won't be a quick or easy dive though.
It'll be 28 miles boat ride from Destin and
in 212 feet of water, which will put the flight
deck at about 130 feet, before the current
cause the heavy ship to sink into the sand some...

still worth diving at least once.


check out http://www.ussoriskany.com/id18.html

 

[algulfdiver]

Try Gulf Divers in Orange Beach we have 2 Custom Dive boats a 36ft Newton A 28ft Delta and soon to have a 28ft Pro Kat.

Dive Pros uses the same 36ft Newton (H2o Below) quite often.