Central Florida Coast Diving?

[PhilD]

I will be on vacation in November with my family in Orlando, but would like to get in two or three days diving and wondered what you folks could recommend?

I'm willing to drive a few hours to get to where I need to be. I'm recently certified with just under 30 dives and AOW, although I'm still very much a novice diver. Nearly all of my dives have been in the 50-80' range and I'm very comfortable at those depths. I'm just looking to see some sights and gain more experience. I won't have a dive buddy with me, so I'm guessing boat trips are going to more suitable, 2 or 3 tank dives ideally. I'll have everything with me apart from weights and a tank (I prefer Nitrox).

Any suggestions as to dive operators and locations would be most appreciated.

Thanks for your time.

 

[pdoege]

Do a search for:

Blue Spring
Sea Dog
Disney
Marineland
Ginnie Springs
40 Fathom Grotto
Blue Heron
Abernathy
Star Fish

I'm sure that others will chime in with their picks

Blue Spring is a really good choice. Very close to Orlando, you will need a buddy. Easy to find one on the board.

Peter

 

[deepstops]

Jupiter is about two hours from Orlando. Jupiter Dive Center is a good charter operation. Scuba Adventures runs a good op too but they sometimes don't return msgs.... :boom:

Just a little further down the road, you have virtual plethora of operators running in West Palm Beach. Pura Vida is another op that is bad about returning msgs (but gets good reviews if you get on their boat). Jim Abernethy runs a good op and has someone that always answers the phone.

PhilD once bubbled...
I will be on vacation in November with my family in Orlando, but would like to get in two or three days diving and wondered what you folks could recommend?

I'm willing to drive a few hours to get to where I need to be. Any suggestions as to dive operators and locations would be most appreciated.

Thanks for your time.

 

[PhilD]

Thanks for the info. Most appreciated.

 

[aihfl]

You could actually dive without leaving Disney property, at Dive Quest at Epcot. I don't remember exactly how much it is, but I do remember it is expensive.

Not to say that there is no offshore diving off the Central Florida coast, but Brevard County isn't particularly known for its offshore dives. There's more going on to the north, off Daytona Beach, and south.

 

[Virus]FSLR2[]

There are a few wrecks off Daytona Beach, which is an hour (or a little more due to traffic on I-4.


Links for the area...

The Volusia County Reef Research Dive Team
http://www.volusiareefs.org/


Here's what's offshore to the east
http://www.volusiareefs.org/reefsiteinfo.htm

Also, there the springs in the area



North Florida Springs:
Poe Springs
Ichetucknee Springs
Peacock Springs
Troy Springs
Branford Spring
Ginnie Springs
Little River Springs
Running Springs
Econfina Creek
Blue Springs (Lafayette County)
Cow Spring
Devil's Den

Central Florida Springs:
Rainbow Springs
Manatee Springs
Hart Springs
Fanning Springs
Juniper Springs
Silver Glen Springs
Rock Springs
Blue Springs
Wekiva Springs
Alexander Springs
Paradise Springs
Blue Grotto



Some of these are no more than a sink hole in someone's back yard , while others are pretty developed




I'm sure there's more, just keep looking...


-=V=-

 

[The Chairman]

Do be sure to post the exact dates you want to dive... you might find a buddy after all! :tease: Not that -I- have ever been known to blow off work just to go diving!

 

[Orlando Eric]

Orlando Area Diving.

I recently moved from Orlando to Ft Pierce. As was earlier said the diving West Palm is 60' with some profiles and ledges with tropicals and very often TURTLES. I use http://www.divingsolutions.com/ they have always given me good drops and great pickups not to mention Fresh Pineapple and M&M's. I have started diving Jupiter and in my opinion it is as good if not BETTER than the WPB dive. The profiles are larger 10- 15 feet and the ledges are huge. There are the same tropicals but the game fish are the difference. I have seen HUGE grouper and schools of jack. There is occsionally even a shark or three. The Jupiter dives are 80 - 90' though. The gulf stream is out further here and therefore requires a greater depth. http://www.jupiterdivecharters.com/ When in Orlando I found a shop that is more concerned with you as a Diver then a quick buck. Such a thing is a rareity in "Mouse town." I looked for a shop for my wife to become Certified with and did it the easiest way I knew how. I called around and told them I was in a hurry and did they offer a weekend class that I could get certified in a hurry. I was flat turned down by kissimmee professional. They told me that it is a sport that requires knowledge and skills and that they did not deviate from the standard class period. I knew that would be my shop. I higly recommend it http://www.kissdivecenter.com/ Of course there are TWO places that must be seen in Orlando. #1 is of course Divers Direct. Kinda the walmart of diving and #2 is BASS Pro Outlet. As far as best meal in town Charlies Steakhouse on S OBT. Best steaks I have ever had and I spent 13 years on a expense account
Hope your Orlando trip goes well and if I can assist in any way please just click away.

 

[Hoya97]

Recommend you check out Kissimmee Professional Dive Center (407.933.5090). They run trips to WPB and other Central Florida locations most every weekend - and it's pretty easy to hitch a ride with someone, freeing up your car for your wife and reducing the possibility of getting lost. All trips are lead by shop personnel who make sure that everything runs smoothly. Even if you don't take them up on a shop-sponsored dive, they will make reservations for you at any operation you're interested in and provide suggestions. Check them out and have fun!

 

[Orlando Eric]

Hiya HOYA! -- Opps, guess we double teamed that post. SMall world eh? - - I plugged my "alma mater" shop just don't tell on me for including DiversDirect..