Rob9876
Contributor
While I have enjoyed dive trips in Panama City Beach and Pensacola (and hear good things about Destin) I think it is important to understand that most Gulf diving (especially sites closer in-shore that would be suitable for new divers) are not anywhere near the water color of amount of visibility that you had in Cozumel or Roatan. While viz and color can be good if conditions align, I've found most near-shore diving is more green than blue, with a good bit of particulate in the water, with viz often 20-40 ft or less. The sites farther out can have nicer color and viz, but many of those may be too much for new divers. Color and viz can also be better in the colder months.
Also keep in mind that most FL panhandle dive ops I'm aware of do not put a divemaster (DM) in the water with you -- since most Gulf sites are artificial reefs, you descend down a buoy line to the wreck/structure and swim around it, and then ascend back up the same buoy line at the end of the dive. Not that difficult, and you can likely hire a private DM if you like at additional cost.
Don't get me wrong, these Gulf sites can have lots of interesting critters to see (including goliath groupers) and it is good diving -- but just a lot different from what you had in the Caribbean. I'm about an 8 hour drive from these Gulf sites, and for me they are fun for a 2 or 3 day weekend, but for any longer than that it starts to be cheaper for me to fly to Cozumel (where hotel, food, and diving are all a lot cheaper) than it costs for me to drive, dive, stay, and eat in the FL panhandle, and the diving is much better in Cozumel (and Cozumel has DMs with you on every dive in the marine park).
Also keep in mind that most FL panhandle dive ops I'm aware of do not put a divemaster (DM) in the water with you -- since most Gulf sites are artificial reefs, you descend down a buoy line to the wreck/structure and swim around it, and then ascend back up the same buoy line at the end of the dive. Not that difficult, and you can likely hire a private DM if you like at additional cost.
Don't get me wrong, these Gulf sites can have lots of interesting critters to see (including goliath groupers) and it is good diving -- but just a lot different from what you had in the Caribbean. I'm about an 8 hour drive from these Gulf sites, and for me they are fun for a 2 or 3 day weekend, but for any longer than that it starts to be cheaper for me to fly to Cozumel (where hotel, food, and diving are all a lot cheaper) than it costs for me to drive, dive, stay, and eat in the FL panhandle, and the diving is much better in Cozumel (and Cozumel has DMs with you on every dive in the marine park).