Visiting Orlando in February

[ptbodiver]

I will be visiting Orlando in Feb and have 1 full day plus a rental car and am looking for recomendations on where to dive. I was just certified in June and have logged 18 dives. Is there anything on either coast or are the springs my best bet. Thanks in advance for any advice.
Andrew

 

[crazed_dolphin]

If you don't want to go far try Dive Quest in EPCOT center. Aquarium diving in what I hear is the biggest aquarium tank. You may want to try Crystal River about 2 hrs drive from Orlando. The Crystal River LDS specialize in Manatee snorkeling/diving.

 

[ABQdiver]

The area on the East side around West Palm Beach and Boynton Beach are awesome!

Easy drift dives to a hard bottom at about 60'. I went out with the Loggerhead out of Boynton and the Rampage out of WPB and enjoyed every minute of it. The spring diving in Florida is great also.

 

[JaxDiver]

If you're going to do a spring....the recommendation is usally Ginnie Springs. It's a great dive and O/W divers can dive the Cavern.

 

[Orlando Eric]

I recently moved from Orlando to Ft Pierce. As was earlier said the diving West Palm is 60' with some profiles and ledges with tropicals and very often TURTLES. I use http://www.divingsolutions.com/ they have always given me good drops and great pickups not to mention Fresh Pineapple and M&M's. I have started diving Jupiter and in my opinion it is as good if not BETTER than the WPB dive. The profiles are larger 10- 15 feet and the ledges are huge. There are the same tropicals but the game fish are the difference. I have seen HUGE grouper and schools of jack. There is occsionally even a shark or three. The Jupiter dives are 80 - 90' though. The gulf stream is out further here and therefore requires a greater depth. http://www.jupiterdivecharters.com/ When in Orlando I found a shop that is more concerned with you as a Diver then a quick buck. Such a thing is a rareity in "Mouse town." I looked for a shop for my wife to become Certified with and did it the easiest way I knew how. I called around and told them I was in a hurry and did they offer a weekend class that I could get certified in a hurry. I was flat turned down by kissimmee professional. They told me that it is a sport that requires knowledge and skills and that they did not deviate from the standard class period. I knew that would be my shop. I higly recommend it http://www.kissdivecenter.com/ Of course there are TWO places that must be seen in Orlando. #1 is of course Divers Direct. Kinda the walmart of diving and #2 is BASS Pro Outlet. As far as best meal in town Charlies Steakhouse on S OBT. Best steaks I have ever had and I spent 13 years on a expense account
Hope your Orlando trip goes well and if I can assist in any way please just click away.

 

[crazed_dolphin]

Charle's Steakhouse has been listed as one of the top 10 steakhouses in the US for yrs but I would be cautious about the restaurant in the International drive area. I think it was last year that they were closed down the health department for a while.

I'd go with the South Orange Blossom Trail (S. OBT) restairant.


As for best steaks I think Kobe beef over in Japan is better.