Tampa Fl

[jscott83]

I'll have my certification this weekend and we're planning a trip to Anna Maria Island the week of 6/22 and was wondering if anyone could recomend a good trip for a couple of newbie divers. I was looking at a dive that Aristakat Charters Dive Trip #11 that is a 2 tank with the Bone Yard (cause that sounds neat) and Bridge Rubble concrete and culverts what ever that is. http://aristakatcharters.yolasite.com/

Any info and suggestions would be appreciated

Scott from Indiana

 

[jscott83]

No thoughts on this area or company for diving

 

[robandliza]

I don't think there's much to see down that far. How easy would it be for you to get up to Clearwater?
I did my first dives after getting certified in Clearwater
I visit Florida every year and always try to get out with Welcome To Dive Clearwater!

There's not that much to see, compared to the SE, but for a newbie I found it very worthwhile in that there was no current and viz is usually pretty good. If you're anything like I was, in your first few dives without your instructor next to you, you spend so much time checking your air/depth/time etc that you don't miss seeing that much anyway!

 

[sportxlh]

Sorry, but I can't help you on the local gulf dive shops. I think the lack of response will tell you a bit about the diving in the area. I've met a ton of divers from Tampa that regularly drive over to SE Florida to dive in Jupiter and West Palm Beach. It's a 3 1/2 to 4 hour drive. Many do the drive as a day trip: obviously leaving early in the morning and getting back pretty late if they do a AM and PM dive boat. Most of those Tampa divers never or very infrequently dive the west side of the state unless they are spear fishing. There are scores of dive shops/boats in Jupiter and WPB because the diving is really good.

If you want to try some freshwater easy dives, Devil's Den is in Williston which is about 90 minutes north of Tampa.