Might be in Tampa...

[Dean810]

Well, it looks like I might be in the Tampa area in February, so I of course thought about diving. I have to admit, I don't know anything about diving that side of the state. I might have only one day to do it, so I have a real newbie question. Where should I dive? I am basically a cold fresh water diver, but only dived in Key Largo in Florida. If you guys could only choose one place to dive, where would it be?

 

[diveman3]

sheridan and the blackthorn are some great dives

 

[Dean810]

sheridan and the blackthorn are some great dives

I'm all for it! But I am ignorant...any details?

 

[eandiver]

Well it all depends what day of the week you will be able to dive and how the weather is doing on that day.

Sheridan is a tug purposely sunk in 80' 21 miles off Clearwater pass. The Blackthorne is Coast Guard bouy tender that was involved in a collision with a freighter near the Sunshine Skyway bridge, sank, raised and the towed out by the Sheridan and sent back down. Both are excellent dives.

The weekends usually give you the best chance to get out in the gulf and if that fails there are always the springs.

 

[diveman3]

Yeah i think the sherdian is a great dive..It is 80 ft and is home to all kinds of fish especially my favorite, the goliath grouper..Theres no doubt you would have fun on this dive..People take trips out here all the time..But lately everyone has been going to the sugar barge for crab or venice for tooths..But adventuresunderthesea has a great dive shop and dives pretty much every weekend...Pm capt ty, but he can be hard to catch up to...If all goes wrong, there are a ton of great springs around like what ean said..

 

[Dean810]

Thanks! Now I have an idea. I'm all for wreck diving, and if there are fish on the wreck, that's a bonus!

 

[diveman3]

Yeah, im a big wreck diver too..But if you want to do a ledge are something, i know that gulfcoatsdiver has some great corrdiantes. He is around this forum a lot..

 

[eandiver]

Thanks! Now I have an idea. I'm all for wreck diving, and if there are fish on the wreck, that's a bonus!

If we can get you out to the Mexican Pride during the time you are here that would be great.

Read the other threads and do a search on Mexican Pride and you will see how cool it was last trip.

 

[Missdirected]

So Dean you are saying you'd prefer salt over fresh? If so, your my kinda guy Seriously, as EAN said the weather is the best predictor of what to do (spring or salt).

We have some good saltwater diving here. Ten Fathoms, Sheridan, Blackthorne, Betty Rose, South Jack (bull sharks), and several others. If saltwater diving doesn't look as though it will be a go we have world renowned spring diving.

Do you know when you might know for sure about a trip here?

 

[do it easy]

So Dean you are saying you'd prefer salt over fresh? If so your my kinda guy Seriously, as EAN said the weather is the best predictor of what to do (spring or salt).

We have some good saltwater diving here. Ten Fathoms, Sheridan, Blackthorne, Betty Rose, South Jack (bull sharks), and several others. If saltwater diving doesn't look as though it will be a go we have world renowned spring diving.

Do you know when you might know for sure about a trip here?

Better pack your drysuit - I hear Tampa in February can get pretty chilly!!