Need Dive info for Panama City Beach FL

[Mimac]

I was on the dive with Pam on Dive Locker trip - ask for Chris as dive master and Capt. Joe Bob. I had an issue of some kind and they took great care of me. We also had new boat divers and they really tried to help them. The Newtons are the best boats especially for older folks like me that have bad knees trying to come back on board. PCDC is really good but their boats are so high out of the water - I wish they would get a Newton. For smaller groups, Dive Locker, Pat Green, Divers Den are your best bets - I don't think you'd go wrong with any of them.

We are planning the St. Andrews jetties next week end but will be on Sunday. Good diving to you.

 

[Mopar]

One of the deck hands at PCDC told me a few years back there boats were from a petroleum company from Louisiana. They were not made to be dive boats like the Newtons are. They just made them into dive boats. Besides you can pack more divers on the big blue bobers than you can a Newton. At least that is what a local called PCDC boats. Again not saying or implying anything bad about PCDC I will use them again if need be as I said in an earlier quote .

 

[kalik]

I personally think that PCDC is a fine establishment and have known Gomez for 15 years. The shop, captain and crews knowledge and safety record are far more of a consideration to me than if there boat sits a little higher of the water or not. If you measure the distance from the entry point to the water on the Scuba 2 or Reef Runner ( which I have) it is the same height as jumping into a swimming pool. The difference is you cannot see the bottom.

 

[Mopar]

I agree. No one question PCDC knowledge or safety. I still will dive with them. I was just stating that Dive Locker's boats are not as crowed like other dive operations. From a business outlook I would pack people in to make all the money I can. But from a comfort outlook I dont like being packed in like cattle.

 

[mike_s]

One of the deck hands at PCDC told me a few years back there boats were from a petroleum company from Louisiana. They were not made to be dive boats like the Newtons are. They just made them into dive boats. Besides you can pack more divers on the big blue bobers than you can a Newton. At least that is what a local called PCDC boats. Again not saying or implying anything bad about PCDC I will use them again if need be as I said in an earlier quote .

you are correct. They are converted oil crew boats.

PCDC didn't convert them though.... I'm not really sure who did. But PCDC bought them from HydroSpace when they closed 4+ years ago (during early 2006)

Lots of dive operators use converted oil supply/crew boats. It's pretty common as they hold up well. (they were built for seas a lot tougher than a normal dive cruise)

even several Liveaboard's use them. (I've done two that do).

 

[pamawi]

I definitely wasn't saying anything bad about PCDC. I dove with them and with Hydrospace on the same boats for my first 5 years of diving and never had a problem (other than the anchor rope snapping once after PCDC bought the boats). My LDS uses PCDC and I'm sure I'll use them in the future especially when diving with my LDS. I do prefer the entry platform and ladders on the Newton's. I had been on this type of boat in the carribean and the keys and liked it and was pleased to discover Dive Locker and Capt. Pat had them. I didn't go seeking out a Newton. I dove with Capt Pat for the SUDS event and dove with Dive Locker for the first time because the PCDC trip that day was off-shore and my buddy wasn't advanced, so we needed to find an in-shore trip. It was just a pleasant surprise to find those boats. I also like the wheelbarrows and nice bathhouse they have at the Pirate's Cove marina that Dive Locker uses.

 

[Snuff]

My wife and I will be diving the Jetties Tuesday, Wed and Thursday. High tide is 12:30 or so on all 3 days (don't have the tidal charts handy) so we will be in the water around 10:30 - 11:00. We'll probably drive up to Morrison on Wednesday after we dive the jetties. The water is supposed to be clear, but the Walton Co website hasn't updated since the 21st. I've been to Vortex three times now, once for my checkouts and once for my wifes checkouts, and once for a tune up dive. Don't care too much about going back. If you've never been, the diving is always clear, and you should go so that you can say that you went, but if you have any experience whatsoever, you might not be impressed. Send me a pm if you want to meet up on the Jetties.

 

[Conan3]

We Dove with Panama City Dive Charters on the Black Bart and Span 12.

Capt Pat and Tony we great.

Look forward to going out with them again.

David

 

[Conan3]

Here are a couple of pictures of the boat.

We had a great time.

 

[Mopar]

They have gotten new boats since I have dove with them last. It has been a few years because have been diving with the Dive Locker. I will try to check them out in a month or so if the oil does not come in.