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SpinOff: SCUBA destinations for beginner
Posted on 6/16/14 at 8:26 am
Posted on 6/16/14 at 8:26 am
A few buddies will be getting certified next month. Does the outdoor board have any recommended dives between LA & Florida?
I've heard the USS Oriskany is a good dive. Looking for relatively newb dives in terms of water clarity, view, etc.
Offshore rigs are my favorite but may be a bit intimidating for a beginner
Thanks
I've heard the USS Oriskany is a good dive. Looking for relatively newb dives in terms of water clarity, view, etc.
Offshore rigs are my favorite but may be a bit intimidating for a beginner
Thanks
Posted on 6/16/14 at 9:08 am to DucksnBucks37
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.
Nothing like going to a good destination, but it'll be an ok 60-90ft dive that will let you get more comfortable diving.
Posted on 6/16/14 at 9:17 am to DucksnBucks37
Im in Atlanta, all the dive shops around here, head down to Panama City weekly
Posted on 6/16/14 at 3:08 pm to NYCAuburn
Go with a dive shop. They are always booking group trips to the rigs outta here.
Or just fly down to Cozumel or Belize.
Or just fly down to Cozumel or Belize.
Posted on 6/16/14 at 3:11 pm to TopWaterTiger
quote:
Or just fly down to Cozumel or Belize.
get a few dives under your belt then dive rigs
Posted on 6/16/14 at 3:26 pm to DucksnBucks37
like other said, Cozumel. DIve Palencar Reef.
Posted on 6/16/14 at 4:37 pm to DucksnBucks37
The water here south of P'cola is pretty cloudy.
A good, cold easy place is Vortex springs near Defuniak Fl. About 1.15hr east of P'cola.
I wouldn't take newbs on the Oriskany. JMO
Good luck!
A good, cold easy place is Vortex springs near Defuniak Fl. About 1.15hr east of P'cola.
I wouldn't take newbs on the Oriskany. JMO
Good luck!
Posted on 6/16/14 at 4:42 pm to goatmilker
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.
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.
Posted on 6/17/14 at 4:29 pm to AUTimbo
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.
Posted on 6/17/14 at 4:39 pm to warr09
You can dive relatively deep in vortex, it's clear with a sandy bottom. You don't have to go in the cave (IIRC, there's a gate across the opening now anyway)
OTOH, there are gators there. I'd rather dive with sharks than gators.
OTOH, there are gators there. I'd rather dive with sharks than gators.
Posted on 6/17/14 at 10:51 pm to DucksnBucks37
I did my check-out dives at Vortex Springs and Morrison Springs. My dive master kept us away from the caves, btw.
Posted on 6/17/14 at 11:25 pm to DucksnBucks37
Offshore diving seems so bad arse. It looks like the most fun you could possibly have, anywhere.
I wish I wasn't too big of a puss to do it.
I wish I wasn't too big of a puss to do it.
Posted on 6/18/14 at 8:59 am to DucksnBucks37
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.
Posted on 6/18/14 at 9:19 am to DucksnBucks37
I know you said LA-FL but man if you can swing a trip to Cozumel and stay down there with one of the dive outfits you can get in 20 dives in 4-5 days and it is like being in an aquarium. Now if you want to stay in FL i have done plenty of diving with PCDC out of Panama City. They run dives out of the marina on the other side of the Hathaway bridge. My favorite was the Black Bart a offshore utility boat sitting upright in about 80' of water. SO that puts the pilot house area in the 40' range and the back deck in the 50-60' depth giving you a generous bottom time. The bridge spans were also nice for holding some fish to look at.
Posted on 6/18/14 at 10:37 am to DucksnBucks37
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.
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.
Posted on 6/19/14 at 4:28 am to DucksnBucks37
This post was edited on 12/18/18 at 4:31 pm
Posted on 6/19/14 at 11:08 am to DucksnBucks37
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.
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