Best time to dive in panhandle of Florida?

[jupitermermaid]

I've been spoiled and have stayed pretty much close to my home area for diving. I'm going to be taking a week off between June and July to hit the Florida panhandle for different scenery. Anybody have any ideas on some good spots to dive? What about water temp? Is June or July a better month to dive or doesn't it matter? Thanks for any info and tips you wonderful SB'ers can give me.

 

[b1draper]

I've been spoiled and have stayed pretty much close to my home area for diving. I'm going to be taking a week off between June and July to hit the Florida panhandle for different scenery. Anybody have any ideas on some good spots to dive? What about water temp? Is June or July a better month to dive or doesn't it matter? Thanks for any info and tips you wonderful SB'ers can give me.

Both June and July are great times to dive. The water temps average around the mid-80s. If you go out of Panama City the charters will take you to usually a wreck and a bridge span. In Destin they go to reefs and wrecks too. In PC and Destin the dives are going to average in the 70-80 foot range on the first and 50-60 on the second (using a charter).

The black bart is a nice dive in PC; there's also The Chickasaw and The Strength (a must see). In Destin the Pheonix is a cool dive; plus there's tanks and planes out there too.

 

[mike_s]

What about water temp?

water temps will be in the 80's in June/July. nice and warm.

Is June or July a better month to dive or doesn't it matter?

diving will be about the same. Condos will cost more in July. The condos there are "Peak summer" rates instead of just "summer rates" that apply in June and August. just FYI. just the way they price things there. not all apply to that but the bigger condo' companies do.

Thanks for any info and tips you wonderful SB'ers can give me.

the PCB and Destin operators both are infamous for taking you to the same spots over and over again. Which will be ok your first time as you haven't been there yet. Yes the Black Bart is a great dive, but you don't want to do it 4 days in a row when there are numerous other great wrecks there. So check their schedule before booking. Don't let them tell you "well see what the conditions are" because that's just doublespeak for "we're cheap and lazy and will go to the first wreck outside the pass"


Of course you should consider the Oriskany since you're in that part of the state. Diver operators run to it mostly out of P'cola, but Gary's Gulf Diver and maybe Down Under run out of Perdido Pass (Orange Beach).

 

[jupitermermaid]

Thanks, guys. I'll check into those dive operations and see what they've got. I love wrecks and reefs, so I want some variation and to do a LOT of dives! With the water temp in the 80's, I'm assuming a 3 mil wetsuit will be sufficient?

 

[b1draper]

I've been spoiled and have stayed pretty much close to my home area for diving. I'm going to be taking a week off between June and July to hit the Florida panhandle for different scenery. Anybody have any ideas on some good spots to dive? What about water temp? Is June or July a better month to dive or doesn't it matter? Thanks for any info and tips you wonderful SB'ers can give me.

Oh one other thing, diving charters in this area range from $75 - $85 for a (2) tank dive. With the trip to the Orinskany being in the range of $150 going out of Pensicola.

 

[b1draper]

Thanks, guys. I'll check into those dive operations and see what they've got. I love wrecks and reefs, so I want some variation and to do a LOT of dives! With the water temp in the 80's, I'm assuming a 3 mil wetsuit will be sufficient?

I usually ware a skin with a 3/2 shorty over it.

 

[wjefferis]

During the times you are planning on diving most people here wear a 3mm just for any jellyfish activity and for a very comfortable dive. There are many great dive ops in the area around Pensacola and Orange Beach. CHeck out this Thread The all inclusive Oriskany Thread it shows info on the Mighty "O" but it also gives you info to the dive ops in the areas as they all run out to many other sites other than the Oriskany. If you really like wrecks/artifical reefs you will love the Oriskany, YDT14 & 15, CHevron rigs, Pete Tide, Russian Freighter, USS Massachusetts just to name a few. Hope that helps.

 

[S&V]

I would just add that the dive operators going to the Oriskany advise booking "well ahead of time" - maybe a month? - in the summer season May-Sept.
This thread includes references to most of the dive ops that go out to the Oriskany and other local dive sites.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/deep-dixie-divers/198536-all-inclusive-oriskany-thread.html

 

[S&V]

Walter, you got on the trigger 5 microsecs before me...

 

[jupitermermaid]

That's great! I definitely want to do the Oriskany, so I'll book that as soon as I have my definite dates for being in the area. That would be a cool way to celebrate my 100th dive if I don't hit it before then (which the way I've been diving lately I'll probably hit it before then.....oh, well). Thanks for the heads up on price, too. Diving charters down here run about $60 for a two-tanker, so I'll budget for the higher price up there so I won't be limited in my explorations. That's a great thread you attached. I bookmarked it for future reference. You guys are the greatest!!