Any diving around the Tampa / St. Petersburg area?

[emttim]

So I'm looking at going to St. Petersburg next summer to look at an employment opportunity for when I graduate from paramedic school, and I was wondering since this is definitely an important part of me moving somewhere, what kind of diving is there close to St. Petersburg and Tampa? Granted, where I live now is 3 hours drive minimum to a decent dive site, however, I can be a paramedic in SoCal and be right next to the Channel Islands so I'm wondering if there's comparable diving near Tampa/St. Petersburg?

 

[purduepete007]

Most of the diving in the gulf is so-so. However you're only a 3hr drive from great diving on the east coast of FL.

 

[gnwes]

There's plenty in Florida, cave, cavern and O/W trust me. O yeah, and the ocean too.

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Florida Cave Diving

 

[WaterDance]

Hi there,
Is there any good spring or cave diving within a 2 hour drive of St Augustine? Heading over there in 2 weeks and we are looking for a spot to dive on a weekday.

Thanks!

 

[Reef]

I'm in the process of relocating to the Tampa area, and I'm also in the medical field.

Over the weekend we dove The Spanish Rocks just below St.Petersburg, and had a blast.

There are loads of spring nearby aswell. I'm not a local just yet (8 more days), but so far I'm impressed.

 

[purduepete007]

There is Blue Springs in Orange City. It appears to be a bit over an hours drive from St Augustine. At a few minutes over a 2 hr drive you have Blue Grotto and Devil's Den in Williston, FL.

 

[eandiver]

Paradise springs too.

 

[1Echo]

Plenty of spring and cave diving ....... and don't forget the Florida Aquarium right there in Tampa. They allow you to dive in the shark tank.

 

[WaterDance]

Paradise springs too.

Just got back from Florida. Paradise Springs was the best! Any idea what those fish were? Ben and I saw two different kinds.

Susan

 

[xxMACxx]

Cave Country...