SpinOff: SCUBA destinations for beginner

You can get decet dives thoughout the florida coast. Destin, Panama City, etc.

Nothing like going to a good destination, but it'll be an ok 60-90ft dive that will let you get more comfortable diving.

Go with a dive shop. They are always booking group trips to the rigs outta here.

Or just fly down to Cozumel or Belize.

like other said, Cozumel. DIve Palencar Reef.

I hope to God your not trying to get a green,newly certified diver into cave diving.

Great way to scare the piss out of someone and chance them never diving again, much less the ridiculous amount of danger associated with cave diving versus a run of the mill offshore dive.

Actually alot of dive shops that I know of use Vortex Springs for part of their certificatiin process. Not sure why, but I know they go there often.

I did my check-out dives at Vortex Springs and Morrison Springs. My dive master kept us away from the caves, btw.

quote:

---

A few buddies will be getting certified next month. Does the outdoor board have any recommended dives between LA & Florida?

---

Panama City Beach, Saint Andrews provides pretty good shore diving, be sure to hit it on the incoming tide.

Also, there are numerous boat dive operations.

Do not take beginners to the Oriskany. If you go on a dive boat, they won't even take you unless you are Advanced Open Water.

All the charters for Oriskany that I have seen require advanced, 20 minimum dives or hire a dive master to go with you.


Pensacola is nice to go out of as well. My family usually goes there. If you go all the way to the end of the island next to Fort Pickens, you can make a shore dive that is only about 50 feet from the sea wall. A lot closer than the beach dive at Panama City.

Vortex is a good place to train as the water temp is constant and much clearer with the old owners taking back over. You don't have to go in the caves.

After looking at the gulf coast we decided to go down to playa del carmen. Certified by phantom divers on 1st avenue. Charlie was our instructor and he was awesome. You can stay at a decent hotel there for very cheap. Food is good and there is a decent amount of nightlife. Highly recommend the Mexican riviera area for diving. Visibility wasn't that good for the area, it was monsoon style rain, but was far better than anything. Makes for a great beginners environment, but very interesting at the same time. I slipped and broke my elbow the first day and phantom divers made it as easy as possible for me. Also, in puerto aventuras dive aventuras has been great! Probably have 30+ dives with them. We are not going to Mexico this year and I'm a little bummed. Gonna try some diving in exuma.