Dive Buddy near Orlando 9/28-9/30 ?

[whale.shark]

I'm coming into Orlando for a conference and hoping to get some diving in beforehand. I'll have a car and my own equipment (minus a tank). It seems like Blue Grotto isn't that far away but I'm willing to drive anywhere under 4 hours from Orlando.

As a backup plan it looks like there are some Guiding operations that dive the springs.

 

[GR8FUL]

Four hours from Orlando gives you lot of different options, including some good diving in the Jupiter / West Palm Beach area. FYI the goliath grouper aggregation is happening in southeast FL during that time, something you might want to look into. Additionally you could snorkel with the manatees in Crystal River which imo should almost be a bucket list-type of thing.

Regardless, I live in a little over an hour north of Orlando and would def. be willing to do some diving with you--send me a PM and we can work out the details.

 

[whale.shark]

Those sound like amazing recommendations!

 

[ScottFL78]

I would drive 2 1/2 hours to Jupiter and hop on a charter. World class diving. I do it every weekend.

 

[Slate]

Me and 2 dive buddies are diving Boynton that Friday, West Palm on Saturday, and Jupiter on Sunday, mostly drift diving on wrecks and hopefully seeing a lot of Goliaths during the latter part of the seasonal aggregation. You're welcome to contact me and meet up with us that weekend if you're so inclined. PM me for for more info if you like.

You need AOW and Nitrox and be familiar with the intricacies of drift diving from a live boat, including descending and ascending without a line and you need an SMB preferrably one that can be deployed from depth but that's not mandatory.

-Slate

 

[GR8FUL]

I would drive 2 1/2 hours to Jupiter and hop on a charter. World class diving. I do it every weekend.

While I second your recommendation and agree that the diving in Jupiter is very good, imo "world class diving" is a bit of an overstatement.

That said, if you're inclined to share I'd be interested to read which are your favorite dive sites in the area and your preferred dive OP.

Do you stay in a particular hotel or do you airbnb?

 

[James-Merritt]

Hey if you come up to Ginnie Springs area or Devils Den, I would be happy to go dive with you. I do not live far from either and I dive Ginnie way more times than I can count

 

[whale.shark]

I'm likely diving Devil's Den either the 30th or 1st with GR8FUL. If you can weekday dive let me know.

 

[The Chairman]

I'm likely diving Devil's Den either the 30th or 1st with GR8FUL. If you can weekday dive let me know.

Sept 30, Oct 1???

 

[Squirm88]

Just throwing out another option. You can also dive in Epcot in Orlando at the Living Seas. Pretty neat experience but pricey. Only need to bring a mask, everything else is provided. Epcot Seas Adventures – DiveQuest No buddy needed.