Question most decent one day diving in the Panhandle?

[diverswifey]

We visit (and are familiar with) many areas in the FL panhandle but my husband has only been diving there on check out type dives (last was a few years ago out of Grayton Beach on 30A). I am the trip planner. Has anyone had any good experiences no farther east than Panama City? I am just thinking about a weekend in September or October so that when we go on his next dive trip in November it will not have been a year since he dove. If we went it would be for him to just go out one or two times. thank you in advance!

 

[kcc6001]

We are down here every year so I’m definitely curious about responses.

 

[chaad]

Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Destin, and Panama City all have solid charter operators that take divers out to the wrecks. I'm probably missing some towns along the way there who also have dive boats. You really can't go wrong. There is decent shore diving at Ft. Pickens (Pensacola), the Destin jetty, and St. Andrews State Park (Panama City). The diving is pretty much the same all along this stretch. Personally I enjoy it, even when the viz is not great, but some people are reef snobs so YMMV.

 

[diverswifey]

most of the wrecks involve a pretty long boat ride each way though, right? That is hard for him these days with back issues. Any good nearshore boat dives? He has been to the underwater sculpture garden area off of Grayton where a few turtles hang out and that was quick to get to....

 

[chaad]

most of the wrecks involve a pretty long boat ride each way though, right? That is hard for him these days with back issues. Any good nearshore boat dives? He has been to the underwater sculpture garden area off of Grayton where a few turtles hang out and that was quick to get to....

Boat diving is going to be 45 mins out at a minimum. The shore dives could be a good idea, just be sure to time them with slack tide.