Florida

[rmediver2002]

Can anyone tell us more about the shore diving in PC?

The jetties are great, both sides actually. Before labor day you can take a shuttle to shell island but the mainland side is a great walk in year round. Both sides of the jetty (beach and channel) make good dives, watch for the fishing line as Wendy mentions!!

Do we need our own tanks or are they available for rent? I note that the State Park web site shows the Concessions close after Labor Day.

Tanks are pretty cheap to rent and there are five dive shops right on the way to the park...

The main store / concession was open this week, they may have closed the smaller stands though... Plent close by if you need something and you can enter and exit the park during the day with your reciept...

Are they still dredging and if so does anyone know when they are planning to stop?

All the equipment is still on station but I did not see the pumps running Wednesday... I have not really been following it to closely, but the visibility is not great right now from all the rain / tannin in the water...

How late into the fall can you go befor the temps start to drop?

Late October is never a problem but temperatures sometimes stay pretty nice until December... Even when cold the water is not that bad...

Anyone camped at the park?

Man the camping is great, sites are right on the lagoon side of the bay. Really nice area... Bring some bug juice and a fly rod and hit the flats at dusk... Big trout and reds...

I would most definately recommend hitching a ride on one of the local charters (cattle boats) or renting a boat to hit some of the fantastic wrecks out here. Or better yet bring one down if you have it, often folks will camp in the park and use the park ramp to launch. Panama City is really a treasure trove of wrecks and some pretty intertesting history behind some of the wrecks...

Look into getting a tour of the Navy diving and salvage training center. They often host groups and you may be able to join one for the tour...

and last but most defiantely not least in my eyes!!! Take a tour of the Museum of man in the sea!!! The greatest museum in the world in my opinion!!! (of course it is all diving gear so some might argue this to be false...)

http://www.keel.org/museum.htm

http://www.adp.fsu.edu/pics/MuseumPics021121/

If anyone is interested the Institute of Diving - Museum of Man in the Sea membership is only $25.00 a year and entitles you to free entrance to the museum all year...

http://diveweb.com/iod/mmits.html

Jeff Lane

 

[CBulla]

OK.. looks like I am planning a trip north for a long weekend sometime. My wife would love to see the museum and defintiely be into the diving, so easy sell there. Thanks for all the info on that area rmediver2002!

 

[sngatlanta]

Thanks rmediver2002,

That's the information I was looking for and is enough to lock in the idea of going in early October.

We have traveled the Caribbian plenty but always talk about finding a place to go for a weekend to get some bottom time and this is close enough for us Georgia folks to drive and dive.

 

[sngatlanta]

FYI
Just spoke with the State Park and they said that they are still dredging.
Also the main concession is still open