Jacksonville Fl

[BradMM]

Posted this under Snorkeling, too. Son is moving there for his residency so I know we'll be going to visit a lot. Since we always go somewhere in the Caribbean (live in Texas) I'm not that familiar with Florida. Went down the coast one year about 20 years ago but nothing since.

What's there to do in the Jacksonville area? How cold is it? In my first brief search, sounds like it drops off pretty quickly and most dive sites are close to 100'. Maybe I just landed in the wrong place but would appreciate any insights.

Brad

 

[darushin]

As a former resident of jax here is my opinion. Temp wise you will have a couple of weeks of weather that is below 50 usually. Diving wise, there isn't much there. The seas and visibility there change pretty quick and for the most part of winter and fall/spring the water there is cold enough to merit a 7mm. Throw in some random raging current and most days you are better off going to Daytona or over to the springs.

Daru

 

[SWAMPY459]

Posted this under Snorkeling, too. Son is moving there for his residency so I know we'll be going to visit a lot. Since we always go somewhere in the Caribbean (live in Texas) I'm not that familiar with Florida. Went down the coast one year about 20 years ago but nothing since.

What's there to do in the Jacksonville area? How cold is it? In my first brief search, sounds like it drops off pretty quickly and most dive sites are close to 100'. Maybe I just landed in the wrong place but would appreciate any insights.

Brad

Either head to the springs around high springs and/or williston for a day trip or hop on I95 and head a good bit south for maybe a weekend.

Jax doesn't offer much and the water is usually dirty.

With either choice good diving is at least a couple hours or more away but worth the trip.

 

[TMHeimer]

Check out the Florida Forum (in US section), or maybe Deep Dixie Divers there. Jax Beach is about the same lattitude as the panhandle, but you have open Atlantic to deal with.

 

[100days-a-year]

Best chance at seeing a big animal in FL.Charters are scarce and stay inshore for the most part.Vis is better in Jax than Daytona nearly always.Half my 8-10k dives are in Jax or St Augustine so I love it.WT varies more by depth than season,with thermoclines in summer varying it even more.I expect 40' for the most part but have looked up in 165' to see the boat about a 150' to the side.Most of the divers spearfish,with as many as 20 private boats or more going out on weekends.Best chance to get offshore is to try hitching a ride on Spearboard,most of the Jax posters are resort or cattleboat divers.No offense intended but most have no clue whats out there.There are vids on youtube under my screen name but there is a lot of spearing.

 

[BradMM]

Throw in some random raging current and most days you are better off going to Daytona or over to the springs.

Daru

Thanks to everyone but help me out... what springs? Seems to be a number of them.

Map of Florida Spring locations, Florida Springs Map - Florida's Springs: Protecting Nature's Gems