Pensacola Area Shore Diving Feb 27, 28, and 1st?
- Thread starter sontek
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bamamedic
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SuPrBuGmAn
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Convenience and quality... 
I'd be bored as hell if I dove conveniently.
I'd be bored as hell if I dove conveniently.
Texfrazer
Guest
Wear a hood! I've done winter dives at St. Andrews, and a hood makes all the difference!
St. Andrews is an awesome place to dive!
You can do the shallow water dive, but for me, the best dive is to enter over the jetties (70-72'), then swim around the point (right side if you are looking at the jetties from the beach) and exit on the beach.
Bring a dive flag and use it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (trust me on this one!!!!!!!!!!) $$$$$$$
Learn what slack tide is! Start your dive just before it and end just after it.
Enjoy!
Also, if you camp at St. Andrews, you can do dusk and night dives!
St. Andrews is an awesome place to dive!
You can do the shallow water dive, but for me, the best dive is to enter over the jetties (70-72'), then swim around the point (right side if you are looking at the jetties from the beach) and exit on the beach.
Bring a dive flag and use it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (trust me on this one!!!!!!!!!!) $$$$$$$
Learn what slack tide is! Start your dive just before it and end just after it.
Enjoy!
Also, if you camp at St. Andrews, you can do dusk and night dives!
Hetland
Contributor
As much as I love NW Florida, I have to admit that Joe is right. Ft. Lauderdale beats the crap out of the Panhandle for shore diving, but it's also more crowded, and more expensive to stay there. (charters are cheaper though ).
I disagree on the 7mm though. I can get by with a 5mm and a hood, and will be mostly toasty in a 5mm + hooded vest. Different people have different tolerances for cold though (Bamamedic) and surface temp means a lot to me (I don't like exiting 55 degree water for 35 degree air)
).I disagree on the 7mm though. I can get by with a 5mm and a hood, and will be mostly toasty in a 5mm + hooded vest. Different people have different tolerances for cold though (Bamamedic) and surface temp means a lot to me (I don't like exiting 55 degree water for 35 degree air)
aowdan
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cold is cold. even at NASA the water was 86 degrees. after 2.5 hours under, it doesn't matter what wetsuit you have, you just get cold,with or without a hood!!!
joe8mofo
Contributor
Can you explain entering over the Jetties? So do you mean entering around Buoy #5 and swimming around the point and ending up on the beach?
Hetland
Contributor
Look on the map for "Lagoon (kiddie pool)" There is a break in the rocks about where the "k" in kiddie is. It might not be 100% apparent at a very high tide, but it's there, and you can see it when you get close unless the water is total crap.
I make my entry there and usually swim South along the wall. I've yet to round the wall, and probably won't attempt it unless I'm with a diver that's done it before (perhaps overly cautious, but wth?) There are tons of things to see from 20-70ft. I wouldn't feel comfortable much less than 20 because of the boat traffic, and I would definitely tow a dive flag.
Keep in mind that sometimes the viz is one way at the surface, and another at depth (same for current direction). You may have a South Current and 0 viz at the surface, and a North Current and 30 viz at 40ft. I've yet to hit a current that worried me there, but it's a good idea to stick close to the rocks in case one sneaks up on you and you have to hand-over-hand it.
I make my entry there and usually swim South along the wall. I've yet to round the wall, and probably won't attempt it unless I'm with a diver that's done it before (perhaps overly cautious, but wth?) There are tons of things to see from 20-70ft. I wouldn't feel comfortable much less than 20 because of the boat traffic, and I would definitely tow a dive flag.
Keep in mind that sometimes the viz is one way at the surface, and another at depth (same for current direction). You may have a South Current and 0 viz at the surface, and a North Current and 30 viz at 40ft. I've yet to hit a current that worried me there, but it's a good idea to stick close to the rocks in case one sneaks up on you and you have to hand-over-hand it.
Texfrazer
Guest
Can you explain entering over the Jetties? So do you mean entering around Buoy #5 and swimming around the point and ending up on the beach?
Effectively, yes. I usually go over the jetties at the shortest point between the jetties and the end of the walkway (less distance to haul gear).
Be warned, however, that the local fisherpeople seem to enjoy trying to hook your flag as you tow it past them. Always fun to have a tug-of-war when you're at depth.
Hetland, I've never been through that way. I'll have to check that out next time I'm down there.
bamamedic
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Convenience and quality...
True, but what's a broke college student to do?
Hopefully, I'll be able to budget in a quick trip to Marianna at the end of March
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