Help with Gulf Shores dive trip

[bbarnett51]

I have recently gotten a hall pass from my wife. She is taking the kids on a girls trip and I have a week to myself in Arkansas. Instead of diving local lakes I want to hit the gulf. Gulf Shores is closest so I would like to concentrate on that area. I just got back from a fancy resort in Hawaii and thats not what I am looking for. Its going to be me and a cooler of fish, meat, and a sack of potatoes heading to the coast for some serious diving. I know nothing about the area and i am probably not interested in the Oriskany.

What charters do you recommend? Dive sites? shore dives?Cheap hotels..etc.... I am an experienced diver but not looking for any tech stuff. Mainly want to see ocean life. Any help is appreciated!!

 

[gurnie]

Flower Garden Banks would make a good trip..

 

[Hetland]

I live in Mobile, and spend 99% of my time diving in Pensacola. It's easier, and the selection of diveable stuff is better. Spearfishing would probably be better out of Dauphin Island, but you pretty much need a private boat.

 

[bbarnett51]

Do you guys know anything about Down Under Dive Shop? They were very helpful over the phone and seem like they might have a good operation.

 

[Hetland]

Their boat had mechanical issues earlier this year. At a minimum I would ask, and make sure they're running at 100%, but..... You may also want to read this: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/de...think-i-should-start-seeing-someone-else.html

If I can't talk you into Pensacola, I'd try Gary's Gulf Divers out of Orange Beach, or even just driving over to the Niuhi or H2O Below, which is closer to Perdido Key than it is to Pensacola.

 

[TwoBitTxn]

I have dove with Down Under and they have always treated me well. Gary's is a good op too. Both boats run out of Orange beach.

I do recommend the longer day trip as they run a little deeper.

Have fun.

 

[lronhead]

There's one in every crowd.......Nothing wrong with Down Under. Check out Dr Dive or someone in Pensacola. If I were going to go somewhere for 3 or 4 days or more, it would be Panama City with Pat. You can just dive, shoot fish or hang out. You'll have a hard time getting anyone around Pensacola/Gulf Shores to take you spear fishing unless you know somebody with a sled.

 

[bbarnett51]

Thanks guys, I was leaning towards gulf shores BC my wife will be there with my kids. However, out is a girls trip so I don't want to interrupt but she is taking a 9 month and a 2 year old to the beach by herself! My plan was to get a place and dive but be able to help out with the kids also. All while staying away from the girls trip.

I might just say forget it and go to Pensacola. I really don't want to drive any further than that.

 

[paulwall]

I didn't see where you suggested spearfishing, so I'm not sure where all that came from.

Down Under has a nice boat, but it does get crowded in the summer time. If you need rental gear, it might be a pain for you. If their boat is down, they usually make arrangements for someone else to take you out.

Call REEF scuba (Reef OBA) and see if they can get you set up with someone out of Orange Beach.

Gary usually wants to do full-boat charters, now, so unless you have 5 friends to split the cost, he may not have space.

The drive from Orange Beach to Dr Dive or Viking in Pensacola is under an hour early in the AM, about 30 mins to H2O Below (which is also a great boat, btw). So, you can stay in Orange Beach/Gulf shores and still dive from Pensacola easily. The runs to the pass are generally a little longer in Pensacola, but not too bad.

I haven't been out with Nihui, but have heard good things.

Nobody's mentioned BlueWater Adventures, Capt. Dave Mucci Pensacola SCUBA Diving Charter Boat Dive the USS Oriskany Spearfishing Artificial Reef.

Viking has rental gear and tanks by the boat so that's convenient.

 

[bbarnett51]

I didn't see where you suggested spearfishing, so I'm not sure where all that came from.

Down Under has a nice boat, but it does get crowded in the summer time. If you need rental gear, it might be a pain for you. If their boat is down, they usually make arrangements for someone else to take you out.

Call REEF scuba (Reef OBA) and see if they can get you set up with someone out of Orange Beach.

Gary usually wants to do full-boat charters, now, so unless you have 5 friends to split the cost, he may not have space.

The drive from Orange Beach to Dr Dive or Viking in Pensacola is under an hour early in the AM, about 30 mins to H2O Below (which is also a great boat, btw). So, you can stay in Ora
nge Beach/Gulf shores and still dive from Pensacola easily. The runs to the pass are generally a little longer in Pensacola, but not too bad.

I haven't been out with Nihui, but have heard good things.

Nobody's mentioned BlueWater Adventures, Capt. Dave Mucci Pensacola SCUBA Diving Charter Boat Dive the USS Oriskany Spearfishing Artificial Reef.

Viking has rental gear and tanks by the boat so that's convenient.

Thanks that's very helpful info. Ill have all my gear with me even tanks. Sounds like Pensacola is the better place and I don't mind driving there. Ill call a few of these places. Thanks again!