Just passing thru

[editmojo]

Hello all,

I'll be in the Tampa area early February and would like to do a few dives. I am not familiar with the region or winter conditions so I could use some local knowledge.

Are there some "must do" dives? Thermal protection? Are there shops where I could rent gear and get a charter?

I'm a new diver (NAUI OW this summer) so I'm not looking for a 150ft wreck dive. I would like to experience what is unique to the area.

Thanks.

joe

 

[diveman3]

Where in Tampa?

 

[editmojo]

Staying in Ocala but would like to spend a day in Tampa and do a tank or two. I assume some of the LDSs could offer a charter or excursion of some sort. I'll be by myself, so going out with a group of local divers is appealing. I see there are a lot of springs in the area. That could be interesting, but I don't get close to salt water very often so I would prefer something in the Gulf.

Any recommendations on a dive shop that could help me? I've found Narcosis Scuba online. They seem to be what I'm looking for. Trip prices seem high but I'm not sure about local pricing. Are they a decent operation?

joe

 

[geoff127]

Any recommendations on a dive shop that could help me? I've found Narcosis Scuba online. They seem to be what I'm looking for. Trip prices seem high but I'm not sure about local pricing. Are they a decent operation?

joe

I'm just about to leave the Tampa area after a week of vacation here. I did a Nitrox course and a two tank gulf charter with Narcosis while I was here. It wasn't too bad, everyone there is fairly friendly, and most of the people diving and going through the shop seemed to be fairly new divers, mostly on vacation.

That being said I wasn't super impressed with the charter. It wasn't bad, but they didn't really seem to go above and beyond or be overly concerned with safety or customer satisfaction. The dive sites we went to were nice, but the divers on the charter with me were just awful divers, awful buddies, and unaware or unconcerned with safety, this coming from a new diver myself. On my first dive my buddy had no navigation skills, no buoyancy control, and after 20 minutes drained an Al80 at 45 feet, looked at his pressure gauge, signaled that he wanted to surface and before I could even respond he was floating on the surface. I was also the only diver doing safety stops.

This was only my limited experience, and I'm sure others have much more information and could provide better input that I can.

I did however go up to Hudson Grotto with a few SB members and really liked that. The prices were very reasonable, the staff was friendly, and the dives were not bad at all, actually rather enjoyable, and it had a nice atmosphere. But, I'm coming from low vis cold water diving, so anything warm with clear-ish water was nice by my standards.

-Geoff

 

[K Mejean]

You should get with Capt. Ty here on the board. I have never personally been out with him but he has a reputation that is second to none. Most of the other charters I know are down in Bradenton which is about an hour south of Tampa. If you get with Capt. Ty and set something up depending on the day I'm sure you could fill the rest of the boat with local members from the board. There is always something going here and always someone willing to dive. Hudson Grotto is deffinately worth doing if you have time. I found it to be quite enjoyable. If you do decide you want to head south of Tampa down to the Bradenton area there are a couple of good shore dives down there that have good life on them. Hope this helps. When you get something set up post it here and I'm sure you will have some takers.

 

[editmojo]

Thanks Geoff. Too bad. They have a nice website and I could rent and charter at the same shop. Oh well.. I did Cozumel this last summer with our LDS; great crew and DMs and all-about safety. We had 1 air hog and the DM pulls out an AL100 for the second dive. Thats service.

git-r-dun, I PMed Capt Ty and will try to set something up with him.

Thanks gentlemen.

joe

 

[427Dave]

The springs in Florida are well worth at least one trip. Ginnie is almost a must, you will not believe the visibility. Also sometimes we hit Alexander Springs, very clear.

We have a rock crawler on the board who loves to show people around Ginnie and is a super diver and person. Just don't listen to her Dylan singing

 

[geoff127]

Thanks Geoff. Too bad. They have a nice website and I could rent and charter at the same shop. Oh well.. I did Cozumel this last summer with our LDS; great crew and DMs and all-about safety. We had 1 air hog and the DM pulls out an AL100 for the second dive. Thats service.

git-r-dun, I PMed Capt Ty and will try to set something up with him.

Thanks gentlemen.

joe

If it's the most convenient (or only option) I would still have no problem booking with Narcosis. That was my limited experience, but it wasn't so bad as to not give them a second chance. But, I would keep that experience in the back of my mind if I dove with them again.

-Geoff

 

[eandiver]

Narcosis is one of the more expensive dive boats and based on what other divers have told me they don't offer the more personal level of service that is wanted.

Capt. Ty in St.Pete, Tanks a Lot and Sea Fox in Clearwater are the best in my opinion for this area.

Being in Ocala you also have the chance for east coast dives.

 

[eandiver]

I did however go up to Hudson Grotto with a few SB members and really liked that. The prices were very reasonable, the staff was friendly, and the dives were not bad at all, actually rather enjoyable, and it had a nice atmosphere. But, I'm coming from low vis cold water diving, so anything warm with clear-ish water was nice by my standards.

-Geoff

It was a good day. Next time you come down we'll go out on Ty's boat and or hit a real spring.