advice: diving in Florida

We're thinking of doing a dive trip to Florida for a few days the second
week of September. I would like to go snorkle w/ the manatees, but we arent
really set on a location. We just want to dive for a few days. We will be
driving from SC. Both of us are *new* divers w/ less than 15 dives each, so
we need to take that into consideration as well. Any advice?

"Lee Bell" <leebell@ix.remove.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:UR72b.8991$8i2.7456@newsread2.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
> LJ wrote
>
> > We're thinking of doing a dive trip to Florida for a few days the second
> > week of September. I would like to go snorkle w/ the manatees, but we
> arent
> > really set on a location. We just want to dive for a few days. We will
be
> > driving from SC. Both of us are *new* divers w/ less than 15 dives each,
> so
> > we need to take that into consideration as well. Any advice?
>
> Yes, but you may not like it. The manatees are most reliable when the
Gulf
> waters are colder than the rivers. That does not normally happen in
> September. Further, the areas where manatees most often hang out, don't
> have a lot of quality diving, unless a couple hours at 9 feet, in low
> visibility is your idea of quality diving. There are a few rivers in the
> area that are fun to snorkel or dive.
>
> My suggestion is for you to drive on down to West Palm Beach where you can
> do some good drift diving or call around the Panhandle area to see if
> anybody there's diving anything you're interested in.
>
> Lee
>
>
Ideally, I would like to go to the Keys, but it is a short driving trip for
us, so W. Palm would be a bit far. If Crystal River isnt a good option, what
would be?

LJ wrote:

> Ideally, I would like to go to the Keys, but it is a short driving trip for
> us, so W. Palm would be a bit far. If Crystal River isnt a good option, what
> would be?

Crystal River, Homosassa Springs and Homosassa are just fine, especially
if
you want to see manatee. Check out;
http://www.lafp.co.uk/sofa03/page_01.htm

michael (in Homosassa FL)

Michael Neverdosky wrote:
>
> LJ wrote:
>
> > Ideally, I would like to go to the Keys, but it is a short driving trip for
> > us, so W. Palm would be a bit far. If Crystal River isnt a good option, what
> > would be?
>
> Crystal River, Homosassa Springs and Homosassa are just fine, especially
> if
> you want to see manatee. Check out;
> http://www.lafp.co.uk/sofa03/page_01.htm
>
> michael (in Homosassa FL)

Make that;
http://www.manateecam.com/manateecam.html

Depends on whether you're cave certified. There are a bunch of spring fed
caves systems in that same area. Otherwise, I'd go for Panama City area or
whatever others seem to like in that area. That's the wrong coast for me.
I'm only there in the winter, when some of my friends from up north make a
journety to see the manatees. You're better off getting your detailed
advice from somebody that knows the area.


"LJ" <ljamlj@earthlink.not> wrote in message
news:NX72b.7450$jY2.2157@newsread1.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
>
> "Lee Bell" <leebell@ix.remove.netcom.com> wrote in message
> news:UR72b.8991$8i2.7456@newsread2.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
> > LJ wrote
> >
> > > We're thinking of doing a dive trip to Florida for a few days the
second
> > > week of September. I would like to go snorkle w/ the manatees, but we
> > arent
> > > really set on a location. We just want to dive for a few days. We will
> be
> > > driving from SC. Both of us are *new* divers w/ less than 15 dives
each,
> > so
> > > we need to take that into consideration as well. Any advice?
> >
> > Yes, but you may not like it. The manatees are most reliable when the
> Gulf
> > waters are colder than the rivers. That does not normally happen in
> > September. Further, the areas where manatees most often hang out, don't
> > have a lot of quality diving, unless a couple hours at 9 feet, in low
> > visibility is your idea of quality diving. There are a few rivers in
the
> > area that are fun to snorkel or dive.
> >
> > My suggestion is for you to drive on down to West Palm Beach where you
can
> > do some good drift diving or call around the Panhandle area to see if
> > anybody there's diving anything you're interested in.
> >
> > Lee
> >
> >
> Ideally, I would like to go to the Keys, but it is a short driving trip
for
> us, so W. Palm would be a bit far. If Crystal River isnt a good option,
what
> would be?
>
>

Do a search on Ginnie Springs and Devils Den both good places for open water
divers that are in the area you are looking at. Crystal River is ok but not
much to see. Also Rainbow Springs is a nothing trip in my book. If you
want to snorkle with the manatee you have to come here in the dead of
winter. The manatee only come to the springs to get warm in the 72 degree
water.....that should give you an idea of how cold it needs to get for that.
Ginnie Springs should give you a good North Florida dive trip. Bring a dive
flag and put in at Devils Ear and drift down the Sante Fe River to Ginnie
and then get a taste of cavern diving in water that looks like windex. Just
my two pennies.

steve
"LJ" <ljamlj@earthlink.not> wrote in message
news:eo72b.7424$jY2.5487@newsread1.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
> We're thinking of doing a dive trip to Florida for a few days the second
> week of September. I would like to go snorkle w/ the manatees, but we
arent
> really set on a location. We just want to dive for a few days. We will be
> driving from SC. Both of us are *new* divers w/ less than 15 dives each,
so
> we need to take that into consideration as well. Any advice?
>
>
>

"steve lane" <slane3@cfl.rr.com> wrote in message
news:GhR3b.152$WX5.23259@twister.tampabay.rr.com.. .

Also Rainbow Springs is a nothing trip in my book.

Personally, I find it one of the more interesting dives in the area, much
better than repeat dives in the springs.