Looking for Florida diving advice

[ShayFlowers]

Hello all,

We are thinking about relocating to Florida. We currently live in a small town in central Pennsylvania - not much diving in the winter up here. My husband loves to dive and does the quarries and such. I'm much more a fair-weather diver and prefer shallow dives with lots of colorful fish.

We vacationed in the Florida Keys a while ago and the diving was great. But the cost of living is out of our budget.

I'll be bringing my job with me - so that's not a huge concern... but we need some advice on the best areas...

Considering the Panhandle/Emerald coast. Looks to be great diving in that area - but hubby thinks it would be better to be further south - where we could drive to the keys for a weekend trip.

The Space Coast looks great as far as cost of living and good schools (we have an 11 year old) - but I haven't found a lot of diving news for the area.

Also considering the Treasure Coast - only a couple hours to the keys - but are there local dive spots as well?

I'd appreciate any advice - diving and/or general area information.

 

[metaldector]

Buy a copy of Ned DeLoach's book "Diving Guide to Underwater Florida". It list many of the diving spots all across Florida. Prices for home are down now and you could move to almost anywhere and find a good deal. I'm in Central Florida, 1 hour to the East Coast, 1 1/2 hours to the West Coast, four hours to West Palm Beach, 6 hours to the Keys, 5 hours to Panama City. There is a lot to do in most larger cities and little to do in rural areas except camping, hunting, fishing, and spring diving YEAR ROUND. Come on down and never look North again!

 

[deadkat7]

@ShayFlowers
I've been living in Palm Beach County for just over a year now, presently in Jupiter (South end of the Treasure Coast). Just over one hours drive from Miami.
The diving here is great all year round and presents many varied divesites. The intercoastal provides lots of sheltered shallow water dives, look at Jupiter inlet, singer island (blue heron bridge), there are many wrecks in the area and the offshore drift diving is great for laid back diving.

There are also a large number of dive shops and boats all over the area that are really well priced.

 

[ShayFlowers]

Just ordered a copy of the book - tried to pick it up at the store over the weekend but had toorder online. Thanks for the advice!

 

[ShayFlowers]

Gave the book to hubby for Christmas - it is awesome. Thanks for the advice Metaldector!

 

[PatW]

I live in Central Florida. Jupiter is the closest decent diving for me. Just south of that is Palm Beach which I think has better driving and is still within a day's drive and back. A bit farther south, the diving is better yet... that is Pompano Beach. It has more mix of depths ... deep to shallow and better soft corals.

In my opinion, the best marine diving in the state is Key Largo, which you are familiar with.

I think that if you lived on the Space Coast, you could run down a bit farther south for short dive trips. I am not familiar with the diving opportunities on the Space Coast but DeLoach's book is about the best resource I know.

Another thing to do before relocating is identify your prospects and come down and look them over. Go into the local dive shops and talk to people about the local diving.

 

[SC_Hoaty]

Others can probably provide more data to confirm this, but after enjoying the Keys on a few occasions, I had the opportunity to dive the Gulf from the panhandle. The viz was very different - apparently due to the silt dumped into the gulf by all the rivers. Just something to consider if diving is driving where you relocate to.

You may also wish to browse the Florida Conch Diver area here on SB. There are some "sticky" threads (they always are at the top of the list) about dive locations.

 

[DebbyDiver]

I'll be renting or selling my 3/2 2-car-garage house starting in July...in Broward County, a mile from the beach and conveniently located near I595, I95, the Turnpike, A-1-A, Fort Lauderdale Airport and the cruise port. I bought it because it's 80-90 minutes from Key Largo, Jupiter, and Naples. PM me if you have any interest.

 

[moneysavr]

If your thinking of relocating and have a job you bring with then northern Florida is great, I love the High Springs area to Cedar Key and I will tell you why.You have tons of dive opportunities the local springs but with outstanding visibility and opportunity to do other training cave, cavern, High Springs is old Florida and the locals are laid back & friendly for jobs (none) if you like the small town feel this is the area.

The Atlantic off Palm Beach offers the Gulf Stream as it comes the closest to the USA at this point bringing with it the warm waters and nutrients rich mix for fantastic reef diving but this area has many major down falls in high crime,no job's,schools are hit or miss best bet private,traffic,overcrowding ,housing at this time can be had at bargain prices! no small town feel here!

 

[The Chairman]

Central Florida is the best for it's diversity. ALL of Florida is available to me to dive. 2+ hours and I am in Jupiter hunting, add a bit and I am in the best diving in Florida: Boynton Beach. Add another hour and a half, and I am in Key Largo for some fun diving.

Switch coasts, and I am 2+ hours from Venice Beach and hunting for Meg teeth. I also have all sorts of Gulf diving and hunting options as well as Hudson Grotto and Buford Sink.

Shift my focus north, and I am in Cave Country with a number of holes that are open to even non-cavers.

Plus, I live in a city with Disney, Sea World and Universal Studios. Lots to do compared with the rest of Floriduh!