Dive Conditions in Panama City Beach for april 22nd?

[gajeep94yj]

wife and I are dying to get wet, thinking about heading down to PCB for the weekend of April 22nd & 23rd for the weekend.

I haven't been down there this early before, how are the conditions, water temp, vis, aquatic life?

I tend to be a more warm weather diver, but can't pass up a free weekend.

any suggestions?

Thanks,
Seth

BTW: will the spring breakers be out of there by then?

 

[sandshaker]

That is where I live. Right across the street from the beach. The Vis is perfect the water still cold. Off shore about 69 deg. I hope you guys have a great time.

Spring breakers started around two weeks ago and will end around the end of April.

 

[gajeep94yj]

then you are a good person to ask this to. what is that dive shop that is near the east end of the beach? not hydrospace is the one right on the strip, kind of the last thing you get to before you go to the jetties. I am asking b/c there is a hotel right behind there that seems to cater to divers.

68 deg??? wow that is cold. much colder then I typically dive in. how thick of a wet suite do you usually wear during that time?

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

Diving Vortex Spring, which is a constant 65F, year round, I wore a 5mm wetsuit and I was quite comfortable.

 

[jokeborn]

I did PCB today, the vis was okay, about 35 feet. I've done my dives in warmer, WPB waters and springs, so the 62 degrees on the second drop was COLD!!! Other than that, once I acclimated to the temp, the dives were great. The seas were glass, saw numerous pods of dolphins, both inshore with the spring breakers and out at the site, the BIG bull shark (for some odd reason, he hung around the hunters in our group. Go figure) and numerous other fishies.

 

[gajeep94yj]

Just rub it in....

where did you dive and with who?

thanks for the info. I think I can suck it up long enough to go diving. It may give me an excuse to go buy a better wet suite though

 

[Matteo]

gajeep: the hotel you're thinking of is the Aqua View Dive Inn, www.aquaviewinn.com , I've stayed there before and had no issues....nothing fancy, but certainly clean, comfortable, and convenient

 

[jokeborn]

Just rub it in....

where did you dive and with who?

thanks for the info. I think I can suck it up long enough to go diving. It may give me an excuse to go buy a better wet suite though

I chartered through Dive Locker. We hit the Accokeek wreck and the Warsaw reef. Both spots were great.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

Awesome! Glad you had a good dive.

Last March, I was wearing a 3mm farmer john and we dove Bridge Span 14 and the Black Bart. The thermocline was a nasty shock, but once I adjusted to it, it was no big deal.

 

[mike_s]

Off shore about 69 deg.

wow.. that's a lot warmer than it was this time last year.

not hydrospace is the one right on the strip

Hydrospace went out of business a few months ago. PCDC bought out their boats. FYI.