Destin 7/20-28

[mike_s]

The Destin Pass is said to be the most dangerous pass on the Gulf Coast. I am not expert enough to rank them but it has scared me a few times, therefore, I assume it may have something to do with the wimpish nature of Destin ops, just guessing however, maybe they just don't know anywhere else to go or don't want to burn the fuel. One of the boats looked like it had five years of growth on the bottom, probably does not help with fuel economy but if you only go to the Jetty and the Bridge Rubble pile over and over probably not worth scraping. N

I'm just guessing they are wimps.

the Oregon Inlet is infamous for how dangerous it is. It's much rougher than Destin East Pass. And dive boats go out of it every day and run in 3-5 seas daily to go to wrecks.

I've mentioned this before to Nancy at ST and her reply was that she didn't like going out in seas and getting everyone roughed up and scattered. I have no complaints about Nancy though. she's always been nice to us. I just wish they wouldn't cancel in 2 foot seas just because they have to go "into the wind" to get to an inshore wreck like the Miss Louise which is only 3/8 of a mile offshore.

 

[Nemrod]

Destin area dive sites:

I said Gulf Coast , the Oregon Inlet is in NC and if they did not run into big seas they would never go out. Yes, I agree with you but it is all relative, try the Jupiter Inlet for a nice rinse and dunk, quite fun. I don't get it either, canceling in 2-3 is wimpish.

N

 

[sladerer]

OK, so maybe we suck it up and make the drive to Pen or PCB more days and stay local less.
Which way would you go? Why? I've read good things about MBT and my LDS uses PCDC
when they are down that way.

Is there any reliable way to get out to the further sites like Mohawk Chief and/or Amberjack?

As for 2' seas, what kind of boats are they running? I've ridden 10-12' on a rigid hull inflatable
from Maui, dove 3-5 on east end of Cayman and 5-8 out of Monterey. Calling trips at anything over
2' seems CRAZY
Are the Pen/PCB ops less likely to cancel?

 

[Nemrod]

I like Panama City better but that is just me, Pensacola has a ton of stuff to dive. As you can see from my map there are a few places out of Destin also.

OK, look, here y'all go:

Fishing The Florida Coast

Go to the "super map" and load the public waypoints. Also use Google Earth from:

Scuba diving sites and GPS destinations: Wrecks, Coral Reefs, Reviews, Trip Charters. - Dive Spots

Import the GPS from Divespots into Google Earth.

Now, I am telling you, I have my own numbers, but most coincide roughly with the published stuff.


The most reliable way to get anywhere is on your own, seriously, that is why I have my own boat. Yeah, I have a 14 foot inflatable also and have been in worse than what they cancel out of Destin.

The Y Knot and H20 out of Pensacola and booked through MBT (or whoever) seem to have the stomach for the rough stuff and show some grit. The shops in Destin are frankly wussified. Can I say that, well, I did.

I am probably wussified myself these days as I have come to prefer not to tempt fate, having seen a 10 foot standing wall of green water across that damnedable East Pass sand bar and knowing all of the times I have done things (not just diving and boats) that should have killed me, I figure I should not ask for much more grace (luck). YRMV.

Anyways, back to the maps, tell them and then show them on the map where you want to go, if they turn white and their knees fall out from under them with quiet whispers amongst themselves, then you can assume there be dragons there, real or imagined, now you have to ask yourself, do you think you know more than they do, kid, do you feel lucky today?

N

 

[mike_s]

As for 2' seas, what kind of boats are they running? I've ridden 10-12' on a rigid hull inflatable

ScubaTech as a "oil crew boat" that can handle about seas short of hurricane V

they just don't like anything but flat ocean.

from Maui, dove 3-5 on east end of Cayman and 5-8 out of Monterey. Calling trips at anything over
2' seems CRAZY
Are the Pen/PCB ops less likely to cancel?

I agree.

I think the ops in Pen/PCB are less likely to cancel. but just my opinion.

 

[mk706]

I've had good luck with Scubatech & MBT.

I did the Oriskany last month with the H2O Below arranged through MBT. Both were very professional.

 

[flaski]

I never have been steared wrong by scubatech in destin, and would go back again. there is no other choice, the others are tourist traps.

 

[Gatorshark]

Went out today with Scubatech, safe operation, friendly and knowledgeable crew, first time back in here in several years. I grew up in Destin and have had a chance to dive anything and everything so I was underwhelmed with Bridge Rubble and the Air Force barge. Vis was about 30 feet, seas were 2-3, not calm. Honestly next time I'm here I will try and hook up with some friends with boats to dive. Not as convenient but I dont understand why these shops wont run to a liberty ship, the tanks, Frangista Barge, etc. There are numerous wrecs within 3 miles of E pass.

 

[ROMO DIVER]

I am an Instructor out of Mobile and have been diving the gulf coast all of my life from PC all the way to Mississippi. You can find exellent diving anywhere in between. As for Destin, Nancy and company at ScubaTech run as good a shop/boat as you will find. I drive 2 hours to take my students out with her even though there are good boats in between. I have full faith in her professionalism and have never been dissapointed with the diving (with or without students). If you contact them ahead of time with the type of diving you would like to do they will find the right spot for you. As for the wuss factor, knowing the hit that all LDS's are taking with the economy right now I seriously doubt that anybody is cancelling trips right now without good reason.
The other posts have done a great job of answering your other questions and I think MBT is probably the best bet for the "Mighty O". I would also suggest that you see about diving some oil rigs since I doubt you have tried that very much in Maryland. They are basically vertical reefs and are a very unique diving experience.
If you go out of PC I would look at Capt. Pat Green with panamacitydivecharters.com. He is a young guy that grew up diving the area and I have heard nothing but glowing comments about his operation. Also, keep in mind that if the going gets rough at sea you still have Vortex, Morrisons, Merrits Mill Pond and other springs within an hour or two from Destin.
I hope this helps and that you have a great time.

 

[JPENDERGRAST]

If you go out of PC I would look at Capt. Pat Green with panamacitydivecharters.com. He is a young guy that grew up diving the area and I have heard nothing but glowing comments about his operation.

I heard or read (can't remember) that Pat's boat ran across a whale shark while they were out- now that would be wicked. Of course, you can't go out there expecting to see one, especially in the gulf- but that's definitely cool. His boat and the Wreck Raider will both be getting my vote next time I'm in PCB.