Destin Beach?

[deepsouthdiver]

Will be taking the Family to Destin next week, usually on those vacations I just dive the jetties. This year both kids want to go snorkeling with me. What is the water quality there right now? Also do you think driving to Panama City and diving the jetties there is worth it or should we just stay in Destin?

 

[Skeptic14]

Back at the end of February the visibility was pretty poor, 8-12' and water temp was 67.

However, a few divers in our club dove the St Andrew Jetty (PCB) last weekend and had great visibility and water temp about 65.

You can check out these live beach camera links to get an idea of what the water looks like, how green it is etc:

Destin Beach Web Cams - Destin Chamber,FL

http://www.navarrebeachlife.com/live-hd-1080-zoom-cam/
http://www.navarrebeachlife.com/live-hd-1080-zoom-cam/
The St Andrew Jetty dive is definitely a better dive than the Destin Jetty, if a good high tide happens while you are here, I would try to make the drive over to PCB. Also, for snorkeling if conditions are good (calm and good visibility) try the Navarre artificial reef, it's a 15' max depth and usually there are a few octopus and resident turtles.

 

[deepsouthdiver]

Thanks man that's the exact information I was hoping to get.

 

[deepsouthdiver]

Not looking good for Navarre right now but Destin dint look bad.

 

[Skeptic14]

Yeh, looks like a strong west wind... really can mess up Navarre beach, if that shifts to an east wind and calms down it might improve after a few days.

 

[deepsouthdiver]

How far from the beach is the reefs? And where is the best entry?

 

[Skeptic14]

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.381338,-86.8570027,1441m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

You can see the reef using google maps, three lines of 10 pods. They start about 100 yards off shore, pretty easy swim unless there are high winds kicking up surf.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Check out this other recent thread here, which discussed the general Emerald Coast area, not just Pensacola as in the thread title:

Pensacola Shore Dive trip: a new diver seeks advice