Pool & Ocean only scuba training in FL?

[bellasunny]

Hi guys,

Anyone know of any places that have scuba certifications that only do OW dives at a pool and the ocean? My sister wants to get scuba certified but she is deathly afraid of getting in a fresh water lake, spring or river because of gators and snakes. She lives in Central FL but would be willing to drive to find a place that only does pool and ocean dives for OW cert.

Thanks!

Bella

 

[CuzzA]

I'm assuming her concerns are stemming from the two recent (non scuba) alligator deaths here in Florida.

I can assure you there is an extremely small chance she would encounter a gator in the many popular crystal clear springs many dive shops use to train. There is so much traffic at some of these locations that a gator would not like it one bit. Blue Grotto and Devils Den are two examples.

That said, just about any dive shop will be happy to take her to the ocean for check out dives, but it will usually come at a higher cost and scheduling issues since marine weather dictates when we can dive. For both my OW and AOW courses we intended on diving in the ocean yet were forced to dive freshwater. Alligators were that last thing I was concerned about.

 

[KevinNM]

There is an charming/annoying turtle at blue grotto, but no gators.

 

[CuzzA]

And there used to be koi fish, but they were gone last time I was there. Exploring caves I suppose?

 

[Theflyingdiver]

There are great spots in central FL with no gators like mentioned earlier. I used to train students at several springs around there. Where in central FL does she live? I worked at a few different shops out there from 2010-2013 and I will say I never saw a gator (maybe a few garfish but they don't care about you) at any of the springs I visited. Blue springs has manatees, Deleon springs has a few brim and turtles, blue grotto didn't see much there, paradise springs just a bunch of divers and some fossils in there. Call around if your close to Daytona (not too central) call Dave at Atlantic scuba. New Smyrna call Sea Dogs scuba (they can take you off shore after your 3rd training dive). Orlando call Dayo. Each of those shops will have instructors that will help her and ease her fears!

 

[Steve_C]

Go to Key Largo. For the 4 dives after the pool they usually do ocean, but in case of bad weather on the reef there is Jules. Jules is saltwater tucked at the end of a canal that goes to the ocean. They do training dives there. I have dove there a few times when things got blown out. It is not a reef but it is not a spring or lake. You will see some saltwater fish. I have seen parrotfish, couple kinds of snappers, hogfish, lobster, horseshoe crabs, etc. Once in a while they may dive canon beach at Pennekamp. Personally for training in OW I would request "Jules Undersea Lodge" as the backup.
Key Largo Undersea Park Home of Jules Undersea Lodge

 

[bellasunny]

There are great spots in central FL with no gators like mentioned earlier. I used to train students at several springs around there. Where in central FL does she live? I worked at a few different shops out there from 2010-2013 and I will say I never saw a gator (maybe a few garfish but they don't care about you) at any of the springs I visited. Blue springs has manatees, Deleon springs has a few brim and turtles, blue grotto didn't see much there, paradise springs just a bunch of divers and some fossils in there. Call around if your close to Daytona (not too central) call Dave at Atlantic scuba. New Smyrna call Sea Dogs scuba (they can take you off shore after your 3rd training dive). Orlando call Dayo. Each of those shops will have instructors that will help her and ease her fears!

Thanks so much! She is in Orlando. I mentioned maybe finding a place that does dives at DeLeon, Blue Grotto or Lake Denton. I know she is very scared of freshwater driving so it might be a lot of convincing on my part for her to agree to do a freshwater dive.

 

[bellasunny]

Thanks so much for the suggestions guys! I know I will have to work hard to convince her to get in freshwater. Hoping I can sway her.

 

[sheeper]

That is the way we teach...especially if most of your diving is going to be ocean! Our non-pool dives are first at the Blue Heron Bridge (one of the TOP shore dives in the US), then on one of our world-class dive boats.
Check out www.stuartscuba.com and give us a call. Tell the shop that Paul S sent you
(i don't actually work there...i just spend way too much time there!)

 

[tbone1004]

if she's in orlando, have her consider going up to Cave Country Dive Shop and have her do her course in Ginnie. The water is much more clear than the ocean and there are no gators or snakes in the water....