Recommendations for dives in Tampa/Sarasota area (for junior diver)

[Susan Rose]

Hi Tampa folks,

We'll be in the area July 27 to Aug 3 and would love to get in a day or two of diving. There are four of us, including one inexperienced junior diver. We don't really want to drive the 2 hours up to Crystal River, so were hoping to find some fun, easy dives in Clearwater/Tampa/Sarasota. We're staying in Anna Maria.

Any suggestions? I'm not having much luck just searching for dive shops.

Thanks.

 

[robandliza]

I have been out with Capt Rod at Welcome To Dive Clearwater! quite a few times and I can thoroughly recommend his boat and trips for the area
Be aware though that the dives are not as exciting as you would get on the Atlantic coast, although still more exciting than Crystal River imo, and the trips are more susceptible to being cancelled at short notice due to the weather than the other side too
On the plus side, I have found that there is little to no current to deal with so your junior diver should have no problems

 

[jvazquez]

Blue Water Explorers (Home) is a good outfit. They are much closer to Anna Maria.