I do this nearly every year.
1. Hit Oriskany or dive Pensecola with MBT divers or sub in Panama City for some wrecks and hit the St. Andrews Jetty for shore diving. Hit Destin for the Destin East Jetty shore dive.
2. Run down to Jupiter and dive with Jupiter Dive Center (great crews, boats and excellent shop and you park right at the shop and boats) for the best "big stuff" experience drifting medium to fairly deep ledges and a few wrecks (Wreck Trail). Or alternatively use Jupiter Scuba Diving and the red Kyalami diver boat (nice almost concierge experience). Hit the Blue Heron Bridge, use the Force E dive shop on Blue Heron Blvd a few blocks from the BHB to hook you up with gear, a guide or even some offshore stuff.
3. Go down to Tavenier in the Keys and dive with the Conch Republic for shallow reefs, deep ledges (Conch Wall) and the various wrecks like the Eagle and Spiegle etc). Best op in the Keys.
4. Rinse off at Morrison if the giant alligator is not there and the water is clear as it usually is. The only spring in Florida I will still entertain for diving as there are no park staff Gestapo to deal with and it is beautiful there.
5. Or for less money go to Bonaire or Cozumel.
Look, the problem with Florida is variable weather, rude drivers (SoFla), some rude people (again SoFla) and too much driving for not enough diving and it is expensive. At yet each year I make the sojourn because that is what I do and then I go to Bonaire and Cozumel and wherever
. No place do I see every kind of turtle, all sorts of sometimes big sharks, Goliath groupers and all on the same dive, so many you get bored with them. I guess that is why I put up with the rest of it. And the dive ops I mentioned specifically are superb and will not insist on being your nanny if you demonstrate a modicum of competence. And they do not make you remove your fins to step up the ladder. WTH is it with Florida and the fins on the arms!!!!!!!!! I refuse to do that.
James