Diving Advice for Trip to Bonita Springs?

[DiverMo]

Hey All! Looking at taking my first trip to Florida since becoming certified a few years ago. Mostly all of my diving has been in Cozumel, or in a few local lakes here in MI. Anyway, will be staying in the Bonita Springs area, and was wondering if I were to sneak in a one day dive trip - were would you recommend that I go? South to the Keys? East to W. Palm? Or is there some half way decent diving right in the Ft. Myers or Naples area? It wouldn't have to be the best dive in all of FL, but I would want it to be nice and interesting. Anything that you have to offer would be much appreciated! Thanks!

Mo

 

[njd3rph]

for a quick fw trip try any of the inland springs in Citrus county (Devils Den, etc), the keys are a great location for sw (reef's arn't that great, esp. compared to Coz, but the wrecks are, ie Spiegel Grove, the Dwany, the Eagle)

 

[EDCS2]

Check out Florida West Dive School. Steve Thatcher out of Venice Beach will take you out for shark tooth hunting dives. Venice is 70 miles north of Fort Myers. The dives are less than 30 feet, scenery is non-existant but the adventure of searching for prehistoric shark teeth is fun. I am in the Bonita Springs area vacationing from Michigan also and enjoyed the day trip last week.

Ed

 

[CBulla]

It's still surprising to see that folks don't realize there is some fun diving right off of Ft Myers.

Question is, are you looking for diving in a fish tank or are you looking for diving. We've got tropicals on the little artificials and ledges right off the beach, but since its a shallow slope here with slower moving waters, the water has less visibility than most non-local divers are looking for. Our problem here is a finite amount of dive boats.. umm.. I can't even remember the name of any that may be local and going out.

Shore dive wise, you can head north to Venice Beach or Ft Lauderdale. The insider information thread can help with directions and dives that some of us Conchs have done or go to regularly. Personally, if I had a choice of dives and a day to work with for time, I'd be hitting Venice Beach. Less drive time, more opportunity for nice long dives and the chance to take home some great souvineers. If you head to KL, your going to have 8 hours in the car driving just to and from, and after diving, thats a dangerous proposition - I've done it and it left me wiped for 2 days. Fort Lauderdale is nice, but this is "Season" and you'll need to be there at friggin sunrise to get a parking space and load the meter with quarters then set your timer to go off before the meter expires so you don't get ticketed.

Venice, you can shore dive or catch a ride on Florida West's sleigh. I've yet to take a ride on the sleigh yet, I just can't justify the costs to go a mile off shore. I have had dives that are insanely long and found lots of great fossils off the beach.

 

[DiverMo]

Well, I'm just looking for diving - but want to make the best of it. Recently picked up some new equipment (computer and regs) and want to break them in, and also just finished up my nitrox course and need two dives to get my card. Just "getting wet" will suffice, but if I can get in some killer dives instead, I'd prefer that. I think the wrecks seem interesting, or possibly West Palm. I'll check into the Venice area, as well. As for driving, my wife will be doing chauffeur duty - no falling asleep at the wheel for me! I'm not sure what the Florida West sleigh is. Is it a boat???

 

[johnny_bravo]

Give West Palm or Jupiter a shot...you can make it there in about two hours and 15 min from the Fort Myers/Bonita area. The diving is fantastic (mostly drift diving on ledges 50-80' deep) and you will see lots of big animals sharks, turtles, goliath groupers, etc.

Cheers.

-J.-