Boat dives near Orlando

[av8er23]

I have posted another thread trying to get more information about the flordia springs near Orlando but am also thinking about getting in the ocean. Where should I go for a good boat dive near the Orlando area? Gulf or Atlantic? I will probably be getting up around the devils den area.

 

[Scuba_Dad]

I have posted another thread trying to get more information about the flordia springs near Orlando but am also thinking about getting in the ocean. Where should I go for a good boat dive near the Orlando area? Gulf or Atlantic? I will probably be getting up around the devils den area.

I'll give you my opinion... not to start a fight with the Gulf divers... :flame: I'd go to West Palm Beach... but.. if you want to chase sharks teeth... go to Venice...

Al

 

[av8er23]

Those locations are pretty far sout of orlando. Are there any options in the new smynra melbourne area? Or what about somewhere north of Tampa?

 

[av8er23]

I have talked to two people that highly recommended West Palm Beach. My LDS recommended a shop called Force E located in Rivera Beach, Fl. Can anyone tell something about this location or operation?

 

[Tom Winters]

The Riviera Beach Force-E is run by Skip Commagere. They'll take good care of you there.

 

[av8er23]

Yea, I called that place today and it seemed like a good operation but i will be there on a tuesday and wed. They only took one boat out during the week. I was hoping that I would find someone that would take us on two boat dives a day.

 

[Tom Winters]

Running dive charters during the week is a little problematical in West Palm Beach. Traffic is a nightmare on I-95, so anyone coming up from Fort Lauderdale would be stuck in some absolutely hellacious tie-ups.
So the dive ops usually leave a little later - Narcosis leaves at 10am so most anyone misses rush hour and just has to deal with the normal highway construction slowdown. Leaving that late though pretty much excludes an afternoon dive - just not enough business to justify a run.

 

[cudachaser]

Abernathy's runs a 10AM 2 tank dive during the week. They are another great operation in WP. Your best bet to get WP is take the turnpike to Jupiter, then latch onto I-95 to Blue Huron Blvd...that'll bring you into downtown WP. Traffic isn't really that bad going that route. I tend to avoid traveling on I-95 as much as possible

Joe

 

[HowardE]

av8er23 - what are the dates you're looking for? Just a little FYI... the Ft. Lauderdale boat show is oct 27-31. I imagine the coast will be busier than usual with boat traffic then.

 

[av8er23]

The dates that I am considering is Sept. 26-28