Have you asked at the dive shops in Destin & P'cola? Perhaps they can point you to a good buddy. I've taken charters with Emerald Coast in Destin among others, and have had good buddies, but was just lucky. There is a Gulf dive club somewhere in the area too, perhaps the shops can get you a contact there.
The panhandle is also called LA, as in Lower Alabama (AL was cheated out of a lot of shoreline they say). I've also heard it called the (Florida's) Tundra. "Redneck Riviera" I believe is reserved for the Miss. Coast, while inland Miss. may be called "In Thar".
Shore diving goes to pot West of Gulf Shores, AL due to low viz from Mobile Bay and the Miss. River.
Another thought is try posting in Deep Dixie Divers under US--S.E. US. I've found a couple of buddies that way.