Is this True?

[fmw625]

Looking on NOAA it says the water temp in Pensecola is 78.4 deg. F. The reason I want to know is because on March 24, 25, and 26 I will be in Pensecola, FL. If the water is this warm I'd love to make a dive or two if I could find a dive buddy. Will have to go by MBT to rent a couple of tanks. If any one is willing to take on an unknown basically nuby diver as a buddy let me know. Shore or boat dives are great with me. Thanks in advance.

 

[sandshaker]

I live on Panama City Beach and was born and raised in Pensacola. The water temp. right now is very cold. 68 deg. It is a little warmer than normal for this time of year, but not warm enough to dive wetsuit-less...

 

[The Kraken]

I think the NOAA temperatures published come from buoys and are surface temperatures.

I could be wrong . . . as usual.

the K

 

[Jethroish]

I just checked the weather channel's web site. It shows water temp of 66 at Panama City.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

That's not cold. A 5mm wetsuit and you'd be fine. I dove colder than that, in a rented Farmer John.

 

[scubagal28]

I was in Pensacola a few weekends ago and dove in a 3mm Henderson and was just fine. The water temps were in the upper 60's.

 

[Primdrumma]

I was in Pensacola last week. I didn't go to Pensacola Beach, but I did go to Navarre. I did a little snorkeling by the pier and didn't have on a wetsuit. It was a little chilly, and maybe for a dive a thin wet suit would be a good idea. I think Navarre is about the only shore dive available in that area right now, but it maxes out at about 20ft. I talked to a couple divers while I was there and they saw one puffer fish and I think that was about it. I ended up diving in the springs.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Water temps off P'Cola beach are in the mid-60sF.

 

[fmw625]

I still would like to do a dive just need to find a local dive buddy. We will be staying real close to Pensecola Beach.

 

[rainmaker]

NOAA's National Data Buoy Center site shows the water temp at Panama City Beach, FL to be 65.3. The site is located here:

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=PCBF1