Tampa/St. Petersburg area diving?

Does anyone have any recommendations on dive shops/boats that do trips
out of the Tampa Bay/St. Pete's area of Florida? I'll be going there
in late January and want to do some diving (gulf and/or fresh water).

I've seen several shops/outfitters on the web but was looking for any
personal recommendations.

Thanks in advance.

Jon Weinberg

| email: jon at JonWeinberg daht com
| web: www.JonWeinberg.com

I'm heading there myself. I'll let you know if I end up using some local
dive shop.


"Jon Weinberg" <jon@JonWeinberg.com> wrote in message
news:km1do291q0opsoqiu3i39r80qc98vo3bth@4ax.com...
> Does anyone have any recommendations on dive shops/boats that do trips
> out of the Tampa Bay/St. Pete's area of Florida? I'll be going there
> in late January and want to do some diving (gulf and/or fresh water).
>
> I've seen several shops/outfitters on the web but was looking for any
> personal recommendations.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Jon Weinberg
>
> | email: jon at JonWeinberg daht com
> | web: www.JonWeinberg.com
>

Jon Weinberg wrote:
> Does anyone have any recommendations on dive shops/boats that do trips
> out of the Tampa Bay/St. Pete's area of Florida? I'll be going there
> in late January and want to do some diving (gulf and/or fresh water).
>
> I've seen several shops/outfitters on the web but was looking for any
> personal recommendations.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Jon Weinberg
>
> | email: jon at JonWeinberg daht com
> | web: www.JonWeinberg.com
>

It's very tough to get out on the Gulf side of Florida that time of year
from the Tampa area. I gave up trying last year after trying for two
years. Rivers and caverns are the order of the day unless you want to
travel to the East coast or up to Pensacola (for the Oriskany). Hudson
Grotto, Devil's Den, Hospital Hole, and Blue Grotto (in no particular
order) are all reasonable drives from Tampa. Eagle's Nest is also close
but you need a vehicle that can negotiate a rutted dirt road and enough
cave diving experience to keep you safe. Also, Ginnie Springs is 3-4
hours away in High Springs. (If you do Hudson Grotto be aware that the
sulfer/tannin layer will instantly corrode any brass in your kit. Oh,
and it's dark below that--bring at least two lights.)

In the Tampa area, EZ Scuba in (I think) Oldsmar is IMO the best dive
shop in the area by far. For one thing, so far as I know, it's the only
place you can rent a set of doubles. (I live in NYS and have no
connection with them other than as a satisfied customer.)

Oh--and manatees are *big* up close.

John Eells

Thanks John. This is exactly what I was looking for.

Jon Weinberg

On Mon, 18 Dec 2006 21:02:19 -0500, JRE <nothing@nowhere.com> wrote:

>Jon Weinberg wrote:
>> Does anyone have any recommendations on dive shops/boats that do trips
>> out of the Tampa Bay/St. Pete's area of Florida? I'll be going there
>> in late January and want to do some diving (gulf and/or fresh water).
>>
>> I've seen several shops/outfitters on the web but was looking for any
>> personal recommendations.
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>> Jon Weinberg
>>
>> | email: jon at JonWeinberg daht com
>> | web: www.JonWeinberg.com
>>
>
>It's very tough to get out on the Gulf side of Florida that time of year
>from the Tampa area. I gave up trying last year after trying for two
>years. Rivers and caverns are the order of the day unless you want to
>travel to the East coast or up to Pensacola (for the Oriskany). Hudson
>Grotto, Devil's Den, Hospital Hole, and Blue Grotto (in no particular
>order) are all reasonable drives from Tampa. Eagle's Nest is also close
>but you need a vehicle that can negotiate a rutted dirt road and enough
>cave diving experience to keep you safe. Also, Ginnie Springs is 3-4
>hours away in High Springs. (If you do Hudson Grotto be aware that the
>sulfer/tannin layer will instantly corrode any brass in your kit. Oh,
>and it's dark below that--bring at least two lights.)
>
>In the Tampa area, EZ Scuba in (I think) Oldsmar is IMO the best dive
>shop in the area by far. For one thing, so far as I know, it's the only
>place you can rent a set of doubles. (I live in NYS and have no
>connection with them other than as a satisfied customer.)
>
>Oh--and manatees are *big* up close.
>
>John Eells

Jon Weinberg

| email: jon at JonWeinberg daht com
| web: www.JonWeinberg.com