Daryl Morse
Contributor
I'll be heading down to Panama City on business in the not-too-distant future. I'd appreciate if someone would give me pointers on where I can find out what the diving is like there and recommend a good dive boat operator.
Panama City Diving
- Thread starter Daryl Morse
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I would recomend Divers Den, they seem to be the best in my opinion.
Diveral
Contributor
I like Divers Den as well. The Dive Locker is a good shop with some good people too. They use a six pack Charter and I really like Captain Pat. Panama City Dive center is the big operation they have several boats ranging from big cattleboats to smaller six packs. If business is slow they may be the only ones going out. I have dove with all three and are satisfied with them all.
My favorite dives are the Chippewa, Accokeek,and the Black Bart. Ask the charters what the planned dives are and go with the ones that are doing something other than the Strength and Bridge Span.
AL
My favorite dives are the Chippewa, Accokeek,and the Black Bart. Ask the charters what the planned dives are and go with the ones that are doing something other than the Strength and Bridge Span.
AL
mike_s
Contributor
This time of year, you pretty much have to take what boats are running trips. Weekeday trips during the winter are almost non existant. Weekend trips do occur, but mostly the smaller boats as the can't get 20+ people for the larger PC Dive Center boats. So chances are the "6 pack" boats are the way to go....
The shops there are really decent about either combining efforts to fill a boat during slow days or referring you to a shop that is running a boat.
Though it is Florida, it'll still be cool this time of year. It can be anything from 30f to 68f air temps. Water temps will remain constant though. Prob in the 50's this time of year. (Maybe the low 60's).
The bridge spans like Diver AL said aren't the most interesting. Thought they aren't a bad dive. They are the old Hathaway Bridge Spans that were sunk a few miles offshore as reefs. Lots of wrecks sunk offshore also. Actually pretty good diving when the vis is good. Not the tropical reefs of south florida, but still good.
I'd suggest ordering a copy of Ned Deloachs book. It's well worth the money and has a whole section on Panama City and most every dive site.
Diving Guide to Underwater Florida, 11th Edition (Paperback)
by Ned DeLoach $14 bucks or so.
http://www.amazon.com/Diving-Guide-...ef=sr_1_2/102-4716966-2181703?ie=UTF8&s=books
The shops there are really decent about either combining efforts to fill a boat during slow days or referring you to a shop that is running a boat.
Though it is Florida, it'll still be cool this time of year. It can be anything from 30f to 68f air temps. Water temps will remain constant though. Prob in the 50's this time of year. (Maybe the low 60's).
The bridge spans like Diver AL said aren't the most interesting. Thought they aren't a bad dive. They are the old Hathaway Bridge Spans that were sunk a few miles offshore as reefs. Lots of wrecks sunk offshore also. Actually pretty good diving when the vis is good. Not the tropical reefs of south florida, but still good.
I'd suggest ordering a copy of Ned Deloachs book. It's well worth the money and has a whole section on Panama City and most every dive site.
Diving Guide to Underwater Florida, 11th Edition (Paperback)
by Ned DeLoach $14 bucks or so.
http://www.amazon.com/Diving-Guide-...ef=sr_1_2/102-4716966-2181703?ie=UTF8&s=books
OCDinNC
Guest
I used PC Dive Cenrer last Aug for 3 days, and got along real well with them.
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