I posted this in another thread a while back...it applies here:
"The diving off Fort Myers Beach and Naples will blow you mind...but it aint easy and it aint for new divers. If you want pretty colors, blue water, and easy boat rides then the east coast is for you. However, if you head three hours out of Fort Myers I can show you giant animals: sharks, grouper the size of cars, schools of fish so thick you cannot even see the wreck they inhabit. Massive turtles are common, and at times of the giant sharks make an appearance. Maybe you would like to see a wreck brought down by a German Sub? It all off the coast of SW Florida.
Dont get me wrong, I dive more on the east coast than the west as the Gulf trips are expensive and often folied by weather, but the MOST amazing dives I have done in Florida include the Pentrel, Baja California, Fantastico and some unnamed ledges in 100 feet off Boca Grande. They were simply some of the most beautful and heart pumping dives ever.
By the way, the spearfishing is world class.
Maybe this is the best way to say it: "When I dive the east coast or Keys I pretty much know what I am gonna experience. When I dive the Gulf it is an adventure."
As for dive trips/boats...There is really no such thing, but there are fishing charters that are dive friendly. We run a trip with such once a month...mostly for spearfishing in the 70-90 foot range. Three tanks dive cost $150 as the sites are about 25 miles off shore. The wrecks are much further so the costs go up to $200. These are advanced trips as the boat rides can be miserable, the vis not so great, and help is very far away if things were to go wrong. Weather and wind often shuts the trips down. In the same amount of time it takes to travel to wrecks such as the Fantastico and Stony Point, you can be in Key Largo. This is not meant as a downer, just a fact. Also note that every charter we offer into the Gulf sells out in 2-3 days despite the travel time and price. The diving/spearfishing is that good."
Seahorse Scuba is long gone...as are most of the shops in Fort Myers. We, Dean's Dive Center (16 years and still going strong), Underwater Explorers, and Captain Pete are the three shops in town.
