Tampa dive Aug. 27? Where to stay pre-cruise?

[Torontonian]

Hi.

My wife and I are going on a cruise (Carnival Miracle) starting at Tampa on Aug. 27. I'm the diver and she can come together to snorkel or not.

I keep on hearing Tampa/Clearwater area doesn't have good visibility, and so-so diving. The cruise ports we'll going are Cozumel, G Caymon, Belize, Costa Maya. All should have good diving/snorkeling. This is our first time to Tampa and to those ports.

While in Tampa, I can go diving on Sun. Aug. 27 morning. We're thinking to fly down on Sat. Aug. 26. Is it worth it to fly down one more day early (on Fri. Aug. 25, taking one day off, staying one more day at hotel), to get some more dives on Sat. Aug. 26?


Any recommendations on the dive ops and sites for Sunday morning? Or should I not bother to dive in Tampa since the upcoming cruise ports will have much better diving? (living in Toronto, I am a vacation warm water only diver)


As for the hotel, should we try to stay near the Tampa port (downtown), or close to the dive op? Or are there other considerations to where we stay?

Thanks a lot.

 

[Kray_Z]

if you dont mind a little drive there are plenty of sinkholes around, but as far as the gulf goes, its iffy on how it will be that day depending on how far you go out. hope you have fun

 

[frogman_5]

There is good diving in the gulf, if you know where to go. I'd recommend a charter in the Clearwater area, as Pinellas county has done the most work on their artificial reefs (especially in the north), and there are also a few genuine wrecks and ledges in the area. Visibility is very weather dependent, so in that respect it is a roll of the dice.

Hope that helps.

Rich

 

[Torontonian]

There is good diving in the gulf, if you know where to go. I'd recommend a charter in the Clearwater area, as Pinellas county has done the most work on their artificial reefs (especially in the north), and there are also a few genuine wrecks and ledges in the area. Visibility is very weather dependent, so in that respect it is a roll of the dice.

Hope that helps.

Rich

Ha, I don't know where to go (diving). Any recommendation for dive ops? Also would you know what time the diving starts? I supposed it should finish by noon, to get back to the hotel and get on the cruise ship in early afternoon.

Would it be better to stay near the Clearwater area vs downtown near the Tampa port? Or is driving fairly easy and I can rent a car to get around compared to taxi rides?

Thanks.

 

[Kray_Z]

taxi isnt real big here but you can always call for one and being at a port im sure there are probably some just lined up to take you places.
usually it will take longer than just than noon but i guess depending on where you go and what time you leave will make a difference. check out the florda divers section and see what people say in there.. you can probably run across a list of charters or even in the dive spots sticky there are plenty of shore dives, charters and sinkholes... let me know if you still cant find anything

 

[DiveBandit]

Narcosis divers (no relation) is the only operation I know of near Tampa that goes out every day on the gulf. They are located in Tarpon springs probably 20 or so miles from DT Tampa. They hit a wide variety of reefs, and wrecks. There may be others closer to Tampa but I don't know. I've never dove with them, but I hear people say nice things about them. Other than that, as said previously there are plenty of springs to choose from.

Tampa, and Florida in general is a tourist haven, so there is a hotel at every corner, just pick a chain and a price point and hit the corporate web sites for reservations. I'm sure you can find something decent in the area.

If you do decide to come in early (the 26th) add me to your buddy list and PM me a few weeks before hand, maybe we can get together and I can take you up to a spring if you don't do a gulf dive. At least at the springs the other half can snorkel.

 

[eandiver]

Ha, I don't know where to go (diving). Any recommendation for dive ops? Also would you know what time the diving starts? I supposed it should finish by noon, to get back to the hotel and get on the cruise ship in early afternoon.

Would it be better to stay near the Clearwater area vs downtown near the Tampa port? Or is driving fairly easy and I can rent a car to get around compared to taxi rides?

Thanks.

You wont be able to do a charter dive and still make it to the cruise ship in time. You'll see what I mean when you get to the port of Tampa.

If you have a full day to devote to diving that would be best. Do a scubaboard search for Clearwater/Tampa/St.Petersburg/St.Pete and the links to local charters will show up.

 

[Torontonian]

You wont be able to do a charter dive and still make it to the cruise ship in time. You'll see what I mean when you get to the port of Tampa.

If you have a full day to devote to diving that would be best. Do a scubaboard search for Clearwater/Tampa/St.Petersburg/St.Pete and the links to local charters will show up.

Are you saying the Tampa port area is very congested on Sun. afternoon cruise ship loading time? Our ship leaves at 4pm, so we need to be on by 3pm.

I did book the cruise today, and also flights into Tampa early afternoon of Sat. Aug. 26. I'll search for possibilities tomorrow.

Thanks.

 

[Torontonian]

Narcosis divers (no relation) is the only operation I know of near Tampa that goes out every day on the gulf. They are located in Tarpon springs probably 20 or so miles from DT Tampa. They hit a wide variety of reefs, and wrecks. There may be others closer to Tampa but I don't know. I've never dove with them, but I hear people say nice things about them. Other than that, as said previously there are plenty of springs to choose from.

Tampa, and Florida in general is a tourist haven, so there is a hotel at every corner, just pick a chain and a price point and hit the corporate web sites for reservations. I'm sure you can find something decent in the area.

If you do decide to come in early (the 26th) add me to your buddy list and PM me a few weeks before hand, maybe we can get together and I can take you up to a spring if you don't do a gulf dive. At least at the springs the other half can snorkel.

Thanks for the info and offer. We're flying down Aug. 26 early afternoon, and will only have mask/snorkel/fins. I'll need to rent other gears to dive, but wife can snorkel.

Are you talking about spring diving on Sat. Aug. 26 or do you mean Sun. morning Aug. 27?

Thanks.

 

[eandiver]

Are you saying the Tampa port area is very congested on Sun. afternoon cruise ship loading time? Our ship leaves at 4pm, so we need to be on by 3pm.

I did book the cruise today, and also flights into Tampa early afternoon of Sat. Aug. 26. I'll search for possibilities tomorrow.

Thanks.

Yes it is congested. Lots of cruise ship.