Good Diving Near Orlando?

[Waterbabie]

Hi Everyone!

I'm a PADI Open Water Instructor from Ohio and I am bringing my family down to Orlando in December for vacation. I would like to do some certifications while I'm there, but I don't know much about the area. Where would be the best place to dive on the Atlantic side in December?

Any tips would be appreciated!

Waterbabie

 

[DennisW]

It is a 3.5 hour drive to West Palm Beach. That is probably your best bet for a dive from the Orlando area. It has been a while since I have used a dive operator out of there, someone should be able to suggest a good operator.

 

[Wendy]

Doing the dive at the Living Seas at Disney's EPCOT Center. It is kinda pricey, but the conditions will always be good, which is more than you can say for the seas off of the eeast coast.

West Palm beach is about 2.5 hours from Orlando (I can make it to Ft. Lauderdale in 4). There is a good shore/bridge dive in West Palm, which is free as along as you have all your own gear and there are shops near by you can rent at.

 

[jkolb]

I just went and dove with the Starfish this weekend down in Lantana (just south of West Palm). They're a good outfit, and they're who my LDS uses for most of their diving trips when they stay (relatively) local. Very laid back crew, and they give you plenty of freedom. Can't say anything about any other boats down there, as I haven't had a chance to dive them.

I'd have to agree with Wendy on the drive time, and I may even get there a bit more quickly than that. Just one caveat: If you use MapQuest to give you directions to West Palm or below, don't get off of 95, get on the Turnpike, only to rejoin 95 further south. I don't know what they're algorithm is doing to give you directions like that. Just stay on 95.

 

[pdoege]

Hello -

New Smyrna is another choice. The reefs are nowhere near as pretty, but the lobster hunting is better. SeaDog Divers is out of NS and they are pretty good. NS is about an hour away from Orlando.

You can also dive MarineLand, much less polished than Epcot, but much cheaper. Still a lot of fun.

Peter

 

[DennisW]

You guys are right. I lived in Melbourne and it was a 2 hour drive from Melbourne to WPB. Melbourne is an hour from Orlando. I wasn't thinking about the FL Turnpike.

 

[Wendy]

go to Crystal River to see the manatees.

 

[pdoege]

Good idea.

A local shop is hosting manatee dives on Nov 23-24 and Dec 7-8.

Check out www.nwdivers.com

Not affiliated with them, btw.

Peter Doege

 

[Wendy]

Another really good dive op for manatees is http://www.birdsunderwater.com/

 

[WisGal]

but unfortunately when I dove there the manatees were hiding
Nice area in the park too.

I was just looking for the Northwest Divers website.. Thanks for posting that link pdoege Sounds like a fun dive.