Florida July 2004 Location Advice

Hi, I 'm off back to Florida (Kissimmee) this year and would appreciate any
advice this group can offer.

Last year I dived with Jim Abernathy in West Palm Beach, a 3 Tank Dive trip,
all drift dives. I enjoyed it very much mainly due to the fact that I saw
some SHARKS, the diving was easy, the water was warm and the crew and my
buddies were all very friendly and helpful. The only downside was the view,
I'm not really into senic diving and the sea bed was a bit boring.

My Ideal diving would be a good size intact and interesting wreck not too
deep (max bottom time) with lots of SHARKS, fish and crustaceans. (We can
all hope!)

West Palm Beach took me about 4 hours each way so I 'd prefer not to travel
any further than that, I'll be on a family holiday and my family will be
stuck at the villa for the day as i'll have the car.

It is my intention to do 2 seperate full days diving (preferably 3 tank
dives) this year. Maybe dive with Jim Abernathy again for one day and do 1
other days diving elsewhere. Or maybe 2 completely new operators. I'll only
have my computer mask n fins (all the wife will let me bring "FAMILY
HOLIDAY") so will need to hire gear.

Any ideas please
Thanks
Andy
Reply to group or email me on Florida@annengom.plus.nospam.com remove the
obvious.

P.S. I LOVE SHARKS IF YOU HADN'T NOTICED.

Thanks Lee, do you have any experience of any thing further north or the
west coast? I've seen quite a few operators web site in the clearwater
Tarpon area?

Andy

"Lee Bell" <leebell@ix.remove.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:DP5jc.11526$gH6.4239@newsread3.news.atl.earth link.net...
> "AstraMan" wrote
>
> > Last year I dived with Jim Abernathy in West Palm Beach, a 3 Tank Dive
> trip,
> > all drift dives. I enjoyed it very much mainly due to the fact that I
saw
> > some SHARKS, the diving was easy, the water was warm and the crew and my
> > buddies were all very friendly and helpful. The only downside was the
> view,
> > I'm not really into senic diving and the sea bed was a bit boring.
>
> > My Ideal diving would be a good size intact and interesting wreck not
too
> > deep (max bottom time) with lots of SHARKS, fish and crustaceans. (We
can
> > all hope!)
>
> You forgot treasure. It would be nice to bring home some treasure.
>
> You don't see many sharks anyplace down here that they haven't been fed.
> The sites Jim takes people to are the same places he, and others, used to
> feed them. The fact that you can still see a lot of sharks this long
after
> the feedings have been banned is a pretty good indication just how much
the
> shark's behavior patterns were altered.
>
> There are lots of places that you can see a lot of fish, but you don't
> usually see many large fish down here. Jewfish, which can be found on
many
> of our wrecks, are the exception. Since gill nets and long line fishing
> have been banned in Florida, the number of larger fish is increasing, but
> it's got a way to go before it reaches the levels we once enjoyed.
>
> > West Palm Beach took me about 4 hours each way so I 'd prefer not to
> travel
> > any further than that, I'll be on a family holiday and my family will be
> > stuck at the villa for the day as i'll have the car.
>
> You've already found one of the best operators in the West Palm area. By
> the way, his name is Abernethy, not Abernathy. Neither Jim, nor any of
the
> other operators in that area can do much about what they have to offer.
It
> is what it is. If you were willing to drive another half hour, give or
take
> a bit, you could make it to Boynton Beach, one of Florida's better diving
> areas. Most diving in Boynton is also drift diving, but tends to be a bit
> shallower and a bit more scenic than the West Palm area. You get longer
> bottom times, healthy reefs and a lot of fish. You don't get many sharks.
> We like Splashdown Divers and the Deeper fleet, both out of the Sea Mist
> marina.
>
> Lee
>
>

"AstraMan" <bobsdisks@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:_eycnWuws8CBnhDdSa8jmA@karoo.co.uk...
> Thanks Lee, do you have any experience of any thing further north or the
> west coast? I've seen quite a few operators web site in the clearwater
> Tarpon area?

The bottom on the west coast of Florida tends to be barren. They have no
coral reefs and not many rock ledges. In most areas, the bottom drops off
very slowly, forcing dive boats to travel longer distances for even moderate
diving depths. As far as I know, all of the good west coast diving is on
wrecks, at least in salt water.

About the only reason I go to the west coast is to dive/snorkel for scallop
season. Well, that and the fact that my father lives about an hour north of
Tampa. In the Homosassa/Crystal river areas, they have an open season on
bay scallops. They're quite a bit smaller and have a more intense flavor
than the deep sea variety, but in season, there are lots of them. It's kind
of fun to catch a shellfish that actually swims.

Central Florida is cave country. There are several cave and cavern dives
that are probably as close, or closer than West Palm. Devil's Den and Blue
Grotto are both interesting enough to do once. With just a little good
sense, either is OK for an open water diver. These are near Ocala. In the
same area, a drift dive or snorkel along the Rainbow River is worth doing
too. These are all spring fed and, at least for a warm water wimp like me,
a bit cool. Water temperatures are somewhere between 68 and 72 F. Ginnie
Springs is in that same general area.

Lee

In response to the visitor staying in Kissimmee and asking about dive options,
I offer the following.

Check in With Gary, Annette, or JP at Kissimmee Pro Dive -- it is just at the
railroad tracks on 192. The shop operates at least one trip and usually more
everyweekend which you would be3 welcome to join or they can assist you with
weekday arrangements with a number of operations up and down the coast or help
you find someone who is a regular at the shop who is going somewhere on the
days you want to dive.

The rental gear is top quality and priced less than most of the boat operators
charge. Good folks and good divers who run a class local dive shop. I live in
Casselberry and prefer to drive the 40 or so miles to this shop for my stuff --
geat, fills, whatever.

There is a saying I heard from a dive shop in Clearwater that in the Gulf, if
it ain't been put there, it ain't there. In my opinion, diving the southern
Gulf coast isn't worth the inconvenience. One of these days I'm going up to
the panhandle and try some of the diving up there which is supposedly better.
Of course, then their is that carrier destined for the panhandle coast
sometimes in the future.

Warren

On a slightly different issue, what would you expect max depths to be on day
boat trips?
I'm asking as I'm in the process of booking my travel insurance and need to
know if 30 metres (98.5 ft) will be adequate.
Thats all the cover I had last year and my actual max depth was 26.9m
(88.25ft)

Thanks Andy

"AstraMan" <bobsdisks@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:_i2dnYNX1vU58hPdSa8jmw@karoo.co.uk...
> On a slightly different issue, what would you expect max depths to be on
day
> boat trips?
> I'm asking as I'm in the process of booking my travel insurance and need
to
> know if 30 metres (98.5 ft) will be adequate.
> Thats all the cover I had last year and my actual max depth was 26.9m
> (88.25ft)

On non-technical reef dives, that should be enough. On the other hand,
Florida has a habit of sinking their artificial reefs in water deeper than
that, usually in the 110 to 120 foot range. Technical dives are possible to
depths way beyond that.

Lee

"mono sect" <All@for.the.One.org> wrote in message
news:c6orqn$6am$1@ngspool-d02.news.aol.com...
>
> "AstraMan" <bobsdisks@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:7bGcnYdyWt6tRxHdSa8jmw@karoo.co.uk...
> > Hi, I 'm off back to Florida (Kissimmee) this year and would appreciate
> any
> > advice this group can offer.
> >
> > Last year I dived with Jim Abernathy in West Palm Beach, a 3 Tank Dive
> trip,
> > all drift dives. I enjoyed it very much mainly due to the fact that I
saw
> > some SHARKS, the diving was easy, the water was warm and the crew and my
> > buddies were all very friendly and helpful. The only downside was the
> view,
> > I'm not really into senic diving and the sea bed was a bit boring.
> >
> > My Ideal diving would be a good size intact and interesting wreck not
too
> > deep (max bottom time) with lots of SHARKS, fish and crustaceans. (We
can
> > all hope!)
> >
> > West Palm Beach took me about 4 hours each way so I 'd prefer not to
> travel
> > any further than that, I'll be on a family holiday and my family will be
> > stuck at the villa for the day as i'll have the car.
> >
> > It is my intention to do 2 seperate full days diving (preferably 3 tank
> > dives) this year. Maybe dive with Jim Abernathy again for one day and do
1
> > other days diving elsewhere. Or maybe 2 completely new operators. I'll
> only
> > have my computer mask n fins (all the wife will let me bring "FAMILY
> > HOLIDAY") so will need to hire gear.
> >
> > Any ideas please
> > Thanks
> > Andy
> > Reply to group or email me on Florida@annengom.plus.nospam.com remove
the
> > obvious.
> >
> > P.S. I LOVE SHARKS IF YOU HADN'T NOTICED.
> >
> >
>
> We dive off Cocoa and Daytona for bugs and grouper. Not real pretty and
the
> viz can be poor. We're diving Site #11, bridge rubble/culverts, this
> weekend. We dive the Liberty, Lead and Damocles wrecks too. Post a
follow-up
> message if you're interested in going. My boat is only 20 foot so three
> people + equipment is the limit.
>
> Some years ago I had a meeting of the minds with a 500 lb Yellow Fin
inside
> the Damocles. The best dive I've ever been on!

By the way, I live in Orlando

>
>

Load up the kids... take everyone to Fort Lauderdale or Pompano... They
will love a day on the beach and you can catch a dive boat that will
take you to one of a dozen or so artificial reefs (sunken ships).
Better yet, come down the night before, leave the villa for the night,
get a room at the Bahia Cabana ($65 or so)... OR get a room up in
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and do some of the best beach diving in Fl.
Introduce the family to snorkeling and maybe next year opt for a week in
the keys!!!

AstraMan wrote:
> Hi, I 'm off back to Florida (Kissimmee) this year and would appreciate any
> advice this group can offer.
>
> Last year I dived with Jim Abernathy in West Palm Beach, a 3 Tank Dive trip,
> all drift dives. I enjoyed it very much mainly due to the fact that I saw
> some SHARKS, the diving was easy, the water was warm and the crew and my
> buddies were all very friendly and helpful. The only downside was the view,
> I'm not really into senic diving and the sea bed was a bit boring.
>
> My Ideal diving would be a good size intact and interesting wreck not too
> deep (max bottom time) with lots of SHARKS, fish and crustaceans. (We can
> all hope!)
>
> West Palm Beach took me about 4 hours each way so I 'd prefer not to travel
> any further than that, I'll be on a family holiday and my family will be
> stuck at the villa for the day as i'll have the car.
>
> It is my intention to do 2 seperate full days diving (preferably 3 tank
> dives) this year. Maybe dive with Jim Abernathy again for one day and do 1
> other days diving elsewhere. Or maybe 2 completely new operators. I'll only
> have my computer mask n fins (all the wife will let me bring "FAMILY
> HOLIDAY") so will need to hire gear.
>
> Any ideas please
> Thanks
> Andy
> Reply to group or email me on Florida@annengom.plus.nospam.com remove the
> obvious.
>
> P.S. I LOVE SHARKS IF YOU HADN'T NOTICED.
>
>