? on Florida diving

We lived in Panama City, Florida, for a year and dove there. It is a
different kind of diving than reef diving. The bottom is dead (just sand
bottom), and you have to dive a lot deeper (mostly 100 feet +) so you use
your air faster. There are some wrecks you can see, and some turtles. The
biggest difference is the fish. In Florida we would see huge schools of
very large fish. That was kind of exciting to see. Not lots of color,
though. We got into some spear fishing there, and that was fun. If you do
that, make sure that your stringer is very long, as you don't want to draw
the big guys too close to you. We learned to dive in Okinawa where the
color and variety of sea life was awesome. We really were spoiled there.
We have dived in Belize and snorkeled in the Philippines which was awesome,
and the Bahamas which was great. We were disappointed with Camp John P.
down in the Keys. The way everyone talked about it, we thought it would be
spectacular, but it's not. Haven't gone to Cozumel yet. We should though,
as it is relatively close. We are just a little north of you in Waxahachie,
Texas. Jane


"BosquePhantom" <BosquePhantom@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:4644f42d$0$4864$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> After an absence of several years, my wife and I want to return to scuba
> diving. We live in Waco, Texas and there is no decent diving within light
> years of this place.
>
> We have (in the distant past) been to Grand Cayman and Cozumel. This time
> we would like to be able to drive to a location.
>
> I am looking for any comments, either positive or negative, about the
> Florida pan handle. Specifically, the Destin area. We realize this is
> not a first class scuba destination but are hoping that it may be fine for
> our return.
>
> I get sea sick easily. Are there any places in that area which allow
> shore diving? If Destin is just a bum destination for scuba, can anyone
> offer any suggestions for the nearest location in Florida that might have
> better diving?
>
> Thanks in advance for any comments.

We lived in Panama City, Florida, for a year and dove there. It is a
different kind of diving than reef diving. The bottom is dead (just sand
bottom), and you have to dive a lot deeper (mostly 100 feet +) so you use
your air faster. There are some wrecks you can see, and some turtles. The
biggest difference is the fish. In Florida we would see huge schools of
very large fish. That was kind of exciting to see. Not lots of color,
though. We got into some spear fishing there, and that was fun. If you do
that, make sure that your stringer is very long, as you don't want to draw
the big guys too close to you. We learned to dive in Okinawa where the
color and variety of sea life was awesome. We really were spoiled there.
We have dived in Belize and snorkeled in the Philippines which was awesome,
and the Bahamas which was great. We were disappointed with Camp John P.
down in the Keys. The way everyone talked about it, we thought it would be
spectacular, but it's not. Haven't gone to Cozumel yet. We should though,
as it is relatively close. We are just a little north of you in Waxahachie,
Texas. Jane


"BosquePhantom" <BosquePhantom@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:4644f42d$0$4864$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> After an absence of several years, my wife and I want to return to scuba
> diving. We live in Waco, Texas and there is no decent diving within light
> years of this place.
>
> We have (in the distant past) been to Grand Cayman and Cozumel. This time
> we would like to be able to drive to a location.
>
> I am looking for any comments, either positive or negative, about the
> Florida pan handle. Specifically, the Destin area. We realize this is
> not a first class scuba destination but are hoping that it may be fine for
> our return.
>
> I get sea sick easily. Are there any places in that area which allow
> shore diving? If Destin is just a bum destination for scuba, can anyone
> offer any suggestions for the nearest location in Florida that might have
> better diving?
>
> Thanks in advance for any comments.

We lived in Panama City, Florida, for a year and dove there. It is a
different kind of diving than reef diving. The bottom is dead (just sand
bottom), and you have to dive a lot deeper (mostly 100 feet +) so you use
your air faster. There are some wrecks you can see, and some turtles. The
biggest difference is the fish. In Florida we would see huge schools of
very large fish. That was kind of exciting to see. Not lots of color,
though. We got into some spear fishing there, and that was fun. If you do
that, make sure that your stringer is very long, as you don't want to draw
the big guys too close to you. We learned to dive in Okinawa where the
color and variety of sea life was awesome. We really were spoiled there.
We have dived in Belize and snorkeled in the Philippines which was awesome,
and the Bahamas which was great. We were disappointed with Camp John P.
down in the Keys. The way everyone talked about it, we thought it would be
spectacular, but it's not. Haven't gone to Cozumel yet. We should though,
as it is relatively close. We are just a little north of you in Waxahachie,
Texas. Jane


"BosquePhantom" <BosquePhantom@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:4644f42d$0$4864$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> After an absence of several years, my wife and I want to return to scuba
> diving. We live in Waco, Texas and there is no decent diving within light
> years of this place.
>
> We have (in the distant past) been to Grand Cayman and Cozumel. This time
> we would like to be able to drive to a location.
>
> I am looking for any comments, either positive or negative, about the
> Florida pan handle. Specifically, the Destin area. We realize this is
> not a first class scuba destination but are hoping that it may be fine for
> our return.
>
> I get sea sick easily. Are there any places in that area which allow
> shore diving? If Destin is just a bum destination for scuba, can anyone
> offer any suggestions for the nearest location in Florida that might have
> better diving?
>
> Thanks in advance for any comments.

"BosquePhantom" <BosquePhan...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> ...
> I am looking for any comments, either positive or negative, about the
> Florida pan handle. Specifically, the Destin area. We realize this is not
> a first class scuba destination but are hoping that it may be fine for our
> return.

I did a dive out of Destin with a friend a couple of years ago. Not
sure that I'd recommend what I did as the first dives to get back in
the water with after a hiatis, at least for the conditions I
experienced on that day.

Visibility was a "thin pea soup" green, maybe 30ft, and there was a
bit of a surface chop and wind, such that we ran as a live boat
instead of throwing in a hook. Conditions on the bottom were
predominantly sand with ledge (lobstering) on the first site, which we
dive-bombed on our marker (no surface float, due to currents) to
find. Second dive was another called drop, onto a small wreck, which
was also sitting on the sand. My understanding was that this was
fairly typical.


> I get sea sick easily.

Skip the fried oysters the day before. Food poisoning and sea
sickness can appear to have similar symptoms


> Are there any places in that area which allow shore
> diving? If Destin is just a bum destination for scuba, can anyone offer any
> suggestions for the nearest location in Florida that might have better
> diving?

>From my general understanding of the topology of the FL panhandle, I
don't think that it will generally make a huge difference in terms of
general conditions. Pensacola reportedly has a good number of wrecks,
which is more interesting than sand.

Overall, if I were looking to move or retire to an area of Florida
that had good scuba diving, the only reason why I'd consider the
Destin area is that if you know who/where to go, you can do get in
some good lobstering and spearfishing. Its not what I'd consider to
be a clear-viz "go look at reefs" kind of place like Cayman.


-hh

"BosquePhantom" <BosquePhan...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> ...
> I am looking for any comments, either positive or negative, about the
> Florida pan handle. Specifically, the Destin area. We realize this is not
> a first class scuba destination but are hoping that it may be fine for our
> return.

I did a dive out of Destin with a friend a couple of years ago. Not
sure that I'd recommend what I did as the first dives to get back in
the water with after a hiatis, at least for the conditions I
experienced on that day.

Visibility was a "thin pea soup" green, maybe 30ft, and there was a
bit of a surface chop and wind, such that we ran as a live boat
instead of throwing in a hook. Conditions on the bottom were
predominantly sand with ledge (lobstering) on the first site, which we
dive-bombed on our marker (no surface float, due to currents) to
find. Second dive was another called drop, onto a small wreck, which
was also sitting on the sand. My understanding was that this was
fairly typical.


> I get sea sick easily.

Skip the fried oysters the day before. Food poisoning and sea
sickness can appear to have similar symptoms


> Are there any places in that area which allow shore
> diving? If Destin is just a bum destination for scuba, can anyone offer any
> suggestions for the nearest location in Florida that might have better
> diving?

>From my general understanding of the topology of the FL panhandle, I
don't think that it will generally make a huge difference in terms of
general conditions. Pensacola reportedly has a good number of wrecks,
which is more interesting than sand.

Overall, if I were looking to move or retire to an area of Florida
that had good scuba diving, the only reason why I'd consider the
Destin area is that if you know who/where to go, you can do get in
some good lobstering and spearfishing. Its not what I'd consider to
be a clear-viz "go look at reefs" kind of place like Cayman.


-hh

"BosquePhantom" <BosquePhan...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> ...
> I am looking for any comments, either positive or negative, about the
> Florida pan handle. Specifically, the Destin area. We realize this is not
> a first class scuba destination but are hoping that it may be fine for our
> return.

I did a dive out of Destin with a friend a couple of years ago. Not
sure that I'd recommend what I did as the first dives to get back in
the water with after a hiatis, at least for the conditions I
experienced on that day.

Visibility was a "thin pea soup" green, maybe 30ft, and there was a
bit of a surface chop and wind, such that we ran as a live boat
instead of throwing in a hook. Conditions on the bottom were
predominantly sand with ledge (lobstering) on the first site, which we
dive-bombed on our marker (no surface float, due to currents) to
find. Second dive was another called drop, onto a small wreck, which
was also sitting on the sand. My understanding was that this was
fairly typical.


> I get sea sick easily.

Skip the fried oysters the day before. Food poisoning and sea
sickness can appear to have similar symptoms


> Are there any places in that area which allow shore
> diving? If Destin is just a bum destination for scuba, can anyone offer any
> suggestions for the nearest location in Florida that might have better
> diving?

>From my general understanding of the topology of the FL panhandle, I
don't think that it will generally make a huge difference in terms of
general conditions. Pensacola reportedly has a good number of wrecks,
which is more interesting than sand.

Overall, if I were looking to move or retire to an area of Florida
that had good scuba diving, the only reason why I'd consider the
Destin area is that if you know who/where to go, you can do get in
some good lobstering and spearfishing. Its not what I'd consider to
be a clear-viz "go look at reefs" kind of place like Cayman.


-hh

"BosquePhantom" <BosquePhan...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> ...
> I am looking for any comments, either positive or negative, about the
> Florida pan handle. Specifically, the Destin area. We realize this is not
> a first class scuba destination but are hoping that it may be fine for our
> return.

I did a dive out of Destin with a friend a couple of years ago. Not
sure that I'd recommend what I did as the first dives to get back in
the water with after a hiatis, at least for the conditions I
experienced on that day.

Visibility was a "thin pea soup" green, maybe 30ft, and there was a
bit of a surface chop and wind, such that we ran as a live boat
instead of throwing in a hook. Conditions on the bottom were
predominantly sand with ledge (lobstering) on the first site, which we
dive-bombed on our marker (no surface float, due to currents) to
find. Second dive was another called drop, onto a small wreck, which
was also sitting on the sand. My understanding was that this was
fairly typical.


> I get sea sick easily.

Skip the fried oysters the day before. Food poisoning and sea
sickness can appear to have similar symptoms


> Are there any places in that area which allow shore
> diving? If Destin is just a bum destination for scuba, can anyone offer any
> suggestions for the nearest location in Florida that might have better
> diving?

>From my general understanding of the topology of the FL panhandle, I
don't think that it will generally make a huge difference in terms of
general conditions. Pensacola reportedly has a good number of wrecks,
which is more interesting than sand.

Overall, if I were looking to move or retire to an area of Florida
that had good scuba diving, the only reason why I'd consider the
Destin area is that if you know who/where to go, you can do get in
some good lobstering and spearfishing. Its not what I'd consider to
be a clear-viz "go look at reefs" kind of place like Cayman.


-hh

On May 13, 8:21 am, -hh <recscuba_goo...@huntzinger.com> wrote:
> "BosquePhantom" <BosquePhan...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > ...
> > I am looking for any comments, either positive or negative, about the
> > Florida pan handle. Specifically, the Destin area. We realize this is not
> > a first class scuba destination but are hoping that it may be fine for our
> > return.
>
> I did a dive out of Destin with a friend a couple of years ago. Not
> sure that I'd recommend what I did as the first dives to get back in
> the water with after a hiatis, at least for the conditions I
> experienced on that day.
>
> Visibility was a "thin pea soup" green, maybe 30ft, and there was a
> bit of a surface chop and wind, such that we ran as a live boat
> instead of throwing in a hook. Conditions on the bottom were
> predominantly sand with ledge (lobstering) on the first site, which we
> dive-bombed on our marker (no surface float, due to currents) to
> find. Second dive was another called drop, onto a small wreck, which
> was also sitting on the sand. My understanding was that this was
> fairly typical.
>
> > I get sea sick easily.
>
> Skip the fried oysters the day before. Food poisoning and sea
> sickness can appear to have similar symptoms
>
> > Are there any places in that area which allow shore
> > diving? If Destin is just a bum destination for scuba, can anyone offer any
> > suggestions for the nearest location in Florida that might have better
> > diving?
> >From my general understanding of the topology of the FL panhandle, I
>
> don't think that it will generally make a huge difference in terms of
> general conditions. Pensacola reportedly has a good number of wrecks,
> which is more interesting than sand.
>
> Overall, if I were looking to move or retire to an area of Florida
> that had good scuba diving, the only reason why I'd consider the
> Destin area is that if you know who/where to go, you can do get in
> some good lobstering and spearfishing. Its not what I'd consider to
> be a clear-viz "go look at reefs" kind of place like Cayman.
>
> -hh

Must it be SCUBA? Would you consider snorkelling?

http://www.ginniespringsoutdoors.com/ Been there, done that, like it
a lot, strongly recommend it.

http://www.ginniespringsoutdoors.com...vils%20Springs
Been there, done that, like it a lot, strongly recommend it.

http://www.ginniespringsoutdoors.com...a%20Fe%20River Been
there, done that, like it a lot, strongly recommend it. You start at
the top of the river and let the current take you to the bottom. You
put your face in the water, the scenery changes continuously, a you
don't have to move a muscle. Talk about relaxing! Drift snorkelling
on the Santa Fe was close to the best Florida snorkelling experience
ever.

http://www.pennekamppark.com/snorkeling.html Been there, done that,
apparently we went during the wrong part of the year because the water
was choppy and visiblity was unimpressive. My wife is a poor swimmer
and the big waves made her very uncomfortable.

http://www.floridastateparks.org/manateesprings/ Best Florida
snorkelling experience ever! We saw mommy manatees swimming with baby
manatees. Wife loved it!

On May 13, 8:21 am, -hh <recscuba_goo...@huntzinger.com> wrote:
> "BosquePhantom" <BosquePhan...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > ...
> > I am looking for any comments, either positive or negative, about the
> > Florida pan handle. Specifically, the Destin area. We realize this is not
> > a first class scuba destination but are hoping that it may be fine for our
> > return.
>
> I did a dive out of Destin with a friend a couple of years ago. Not
> sure that I'd recommend what I did as the first dives to get back in
> the water with after a hiatis, at least for the conditions I
> experienced on that day.
>
> Visibility was a "thin pea soup" green, maybe 30ft, and there was a
> bit of a surface chop and wind, such that we ran as a live boat
> instead of throwing in a hook. Conditions on the bottom were
> predominantly sand with ledge (lobstering) on the first site, which we
> dive-bombed on our marker (no surface float, due to currents) to
> find. Second dive was another called drop, onto a small wreck, which
> was also sitting on the sand. My understanding was that this was
> fairly typical.
>
> > I get sea sick easily.
>
> Skip the fried oysters the day before. Food poisoning and sea
> sickness can appear to have similar symptoms
>
> > Are there any places in that area which allow shore
> > diving? If Destin is just a bum destination for scuba, can anyone offer any
> > suggestions for the nearest location in Florida that might have better
> > diving?
> >From my general understanding of the topology of the FL panhandle, I
>
> don't think that it will generally make a huge difference in terms of
> general conditions. Pensacola reportedly has a good number of wrecks,
> which is more interesting than sand.
>
> Overall, if I were looking to move or retire to an area of Florida
> that had good scuba diving, the only reason why I'd consider the
> Destin area is that if you know who/where to go, you can do get in
> some good lobstering and spearfishing. Its not what I'd consider to
> be a clear-viz "go look at reefs" kind of place like Cayman.
>
> -hh

Must it be SCUBA? Would you consider snorkelling?

http://www.ginniespringsoutdoors.com/ Been there, done that, like it
a lot, strongly recommend it.

http://www.ginniespringsoutdoors.com...vils%20Springs
Been there, done that, like it a lot, strongly recommend it.

http://www.ginniespringsoutdoors.com...a%20Fe%20River Been
there, done that, like it a lot, strongly recommend it. You start at
the top of the river and let the current take you to the bottom. You
put your face in the water, the scenery changes continuously, a you
don't have to move a muscle. Talk about relaxing! Drift snorkelling
on the Santa Fe was close to the best Florida snorkelling experience
ever.

http://www.pennekamppark.com/snorkeling.html Been there, done that,
apparently we went during the wrong part of the year because the water
was choppy and visiblity was unimpressive. My wife is a poor swimmer
and the big waves made her very uncomfortable.

http://www.floridastateparks.org/manateesprings/ Best Florida
snorkelling experience ever! We saw mommy manatees swimming with baby
manatees. Wife loved it!

On May 13, 8:21 am, -hh <recscuba_goo...@huntzinger.com> wrote:
> "BosquePhantom" <BosquePhan...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > ...
> > I am looking for any comments, either positive or negative, about the
> > Florida pan handle. Specifically, the Destin area. We realize this is not
> > a first class scuba destination but are hoping that it may be fine for our
> > return.
>
> I did a dive out of Destin with a friend a couple of years ago. Not
> sure that I'd recommend what I did as the first dives to get back in
> the water with after a hiatis, at least for the conditions I
> experienced on that day.
>
> Visibility was a "thin pea soup" green, maybe 30ft, and there was a
> bit of a surface chop and wind, such that we ran as a live boat
> instead of throwing in a hook. Conditions on the bottom were
> predominantly sand with ledge (lobstering) on the first site, which we
> dive-bombed on our marker (no surface float, due to currents) to
> find. Second dive was another called drop, onto a small wreck, which
> was also sitting on the sand. My understanding was that this was
> fairly typical.
>
> > I get sea sick easily.
>
> Skip the fried oysters the day before. Food poisoning and sea
> sickness can appear to have similar symptoms
>
> > Are there any places in that area which allow shore
> > diving? If Destin is just a bum destination for scuba, can anyone offer any
> > suggestions for the nearest location in Florida that might have better
> > diving?
> >From my general understanding of the topology of the FL panhandle, I
>
> don't think that it will generally make a huge difference in terms of
> general conditions. Pensacola reportedly has a good number of wrecks,
> which is more interesting than sand.
>
> Overall, if I were looking to move or retire to an area of Florida
> that had good scuba diving, the only reason why I'd consider the
> Destin area is that if you know who/where to go, you can do get in
> some good lobstering and spearfishing. Its not what I'd consider to
> be a clear-viz "go look at reefs" kind of place like Cayman.
>
> -hh

Must it be SCUBA? Would you consider snorkelling?

http://www.ginniespringsoutdoors.com/ Been there, done that, like it
a lot, strongly recommend it.

http://www.ginniespringsoutdoors.com...vils%20Springs
Been there, done that, like it a lot, strongly recommend it.

http://www.ginniespringsoutdoors.com...a%20Fe%20River Been
there, done that, like it a lot, strongly recommend it. You start at
the top of the river and let the current take you to the bottom. You
put your face in the water, the scenery changes continuously, a you
don't have to move a muscle. Talk about relaxing! Drift snorkelling
on the Santa Fe was close to the best Florida snorkelling experience
ever.

http://www.pennekamppark.com/snorkeling.html Been there, done that,
apparently we went during the wrong part of the year because the water
was choppy and visiblity was unimpressive. My wife is a poor swimmer
and the big waves made her very uncomfortable.

http://www.floridastateparks.org/manateesprings/ Best Florida
snorkelling experience ever! We saw mommy manatees swimming with baby
manatees. Wife loved it!