Saturday, I had to take a class to the Panama City Jetties for some checkouts, and had also set up a club trip there, so 10 or so people would also be coming for diving. We got there at about 9:30 EST, got everything set up, then headed to the beach side. It was myself, a DM student and 5 OW students. Once at the water, visibility looked great, and tide would be coming in till about 12:30. I breifed on compass skills, had them do some surface stuff, then headed in along the rocks. We did some mask and hovering skills, and continued farther on. We had some issues with current, but otherwise had a good dive, and I finished up with some CESAs.
For the second dive, we headed over to the channel side around 12:30 and tide had slacked off. Visibility was blue and about 40ft. I heard even better vis towards the point. I finsished off the skills with the students, and we had a leisurly dive up and down the channel side of the jetties.
Sunday, a few of us in the Tallahassee Scuba Club headed out to Panama City for a couple of offshore dives. We booked with Dive Locker, and went out on the Sea Hunter with Capt Logan. This is a six pack boat, so he trailers it and launches from St Andrews. We loaded everything at the shop, followed him to the park, where he put in and we got on. Heading out, seas were super calm, and we went first to the Strength, and minesweeper that had been sunk for demo practice. Oddly enough, the divemaster said, "I know some guy from scubaboard who is in the scubaclub, with an odd last name j-v-i or something". I said, "that would be me", at which point she identified herself as our very own Darcy! She was a great DM!
Anyway, we headed down to find 60ft vis on the surface, which dropped to about 30ft on the bottom. That was when you could see through the baitfish! We did a nice dive, 35mins, max depth of 73ft. Saw the usual Gulf Fish, and a new one for me was seeing the schools of catfish off in the distance, that would never come close to you.
Dive 2, we went to bridgespan 1, which is one of my favorites at it is more torn up. My buddies decided to spear some flounder, and we otherwise just swam around looking at all the life. Vis was about 30ft again, bottom temp about 75f, and 80 on the surface. After 40mins and 2 flounder we headed out back to the dock. But that wasnt the end! Capt Logan gave us a special treat by taking us to where the Dolphins usually hang out and they cam right up to us all but being able to touch them!
So, we had a great time with Dive Locker and Sea Hunter and Capt Logan and Darcy. I should have some pics later.
For the second dive, we headed over to the channel side around 12:30 and tide had slacked off. Visibility was blue and about 40ft. I heard even better vis towards the point. I finsished off the skills with the students, and we had a leisurly dive up and down the channel side of the jetties.
Sunday, a few of us in the Tallahassee Scuba Club headed out to Panama City for a couple of offshore dives. We booked with Dive Locker, and went out on the Sea Hunter with Capt Logan. This is a six pack boat, so he trailers it and launches from St Andrews. We loaded everything at the shop, followed him to the park, where he put in and we got on. Heading out, seas were super calm, and we went first to the Strength, and minesweeper that had been sunk for demo practice. Oddly enough, the divemaster said, "I know some guy from scubaboard who is in the scubaclub, with an odd last name j-v-i or something". I said, "that would be me", at which point she identified herself as our very own Darcy! She was a great DM!
Anyway, we headed down to find 60ft vis on the surface, which dropped to about 30ft on the bottom. That was when you could see through the baitfish! We did a nice dive, 35mins, max depth of 73ft. Saw the usual Gulf Fish, and a new one for me was seeing the schools of catfish off in the distance, that would never come close to you.
Dive 2, we went to bridgespan 1, which is one of my favorites at it is more torn up. My buddies decided to spear some flounder, and we otherwise just swam around looking at all the life. Vis was about 30ft again, bottom temp about 75f, and 80 on the surface. After 40mins and 2 flounder we headed out back to the dock. But that wasnt the end! Capt Logan gave us a special treat by taking us to where the Dolphins usually hang out and they cam right up to us all but being able to touch them!
So, we had a great time with Dive Locker and Sea Hunter and Capt Logan and Darcy. I should have some pics later.
