Deep Dixie Divers Kayak Club

[Lone Frogman]

In our local lakes a cell phone works. In the ocean or the gulf it's VHF radio. I carry a hand held GPS and the kayak is rigged with a depth finder. I have a flag pole with a orange flag and a strobe on top of it I put up when navigating with boat traffic or at night. A bright colored kayak helps and diving in pairs or a small group will increase odds of being seen.

 

[Mark Michaud SELAUSAR]

You would definitely have to go east of Pcola to hit deep water without going many miles. In PC Beach I thinkl everything is five miles or so, but I haven't been offshore there since 2004. I would worry about boat traffic, myself, in something that small. A mile or more paddling would be trouble if there was an emergency or if a squall came up. I, personally, wouldn't use this in the gulf. In the Atlantic or Pacific where it gets deep fast I would consider it, or maybe inshore stuff. But, that's just me.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Destin gets deep faster than PCB.

Depth shouldn't matter much, as long as their something to see... I'd rather a wreck in 30' of water than 130' of water. 2 hours of bottom time without any risk of deco is awesome.

 

[Mark Michaud SELAUSAR]

Destin gets deep faster than PCB.

Depth shouldn't matter much, as long as their something to see... I'd rather a wreck in 30' of water than 130' of water. 2 hours of bottom time without any risk of deco is awesome.

Good to hear. I watch the seadoo crackpots and watch the weekend boaters and think...................this is gonna hurt.

 

[Lone Frogman]

Weekends may not be the best time.

 

[jhayes75]

The intake and the Ms Louise are pretty close to shore in Destin. The Massachusetts would be doable out of Pensacola although you would need a good size group as metioned to keep from getting run over.

 

[wjefferis]

I was checking out the Pensacola fishing forum last year and saw that alot of people were buying a Pelican Castaway sit on top kayak to use for offshore fishing. These guys are taking these things way out on a regular basis with nothing but great reviews. They of course added a GPS and have a VHS radio. I bought one and like it very much. I have thought about using for diving and have been looking for a reason (and someone do try it with). Even though the Pensacola Pier Rubble is an easy of enough swim, I wanted to try diving it as a test run. This way if there were problems they could be easily managed.

The cost of a Pelican Castaway is far better priced than what you may already be looking at. By saving some money on the kayak, it would make it easier to afford the GPS and VHS radio. Here is a link to where I bought my Castaway PELICAN CASTAWAY SIT-ON-TOP KAYAK

 

[jhayes75]

Here is a link for the X-Wing slider console

Malibu Kayaks X-Wing Sliding Console

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

The Massachusetts would be doable out of Pensacola although you would need a good size group as metioned to keep from getting run over.

You could always tie up to the bouy with the bell on it.... or close to the wreck itself. MOST people know not to run over the exposed turret.

 

[Hetland]

You could always tie up to the bouy with the bell on it.... or close to the wreck itself. MOST people know not to run over the exposed turret.

I know you can't tie up to navigation buoys. Not sure about marker/danger buoys though. The turret would be Ideal.

Most folks motor around the Mass with caution. I would think the most dangerous part would be crossing the pass, as surf, current and traffic will be worse there than in any other part of the trek. I'd want a flag up on my yak for that crossing.

I wonder how far it is from the West side of the Jetty??? That would save you some nail biting, and might actually be less of a paddle....