Texas/FLORIDA Gulf Coast diving?

[Da real diver]

Hey guys, new diver here too. I've been diving in Cozumel and the Dominican Republic. I'm glad I got into it.

Here is my problem. I am just a regular blue collar guy so I cannot afford more than a couple of trips to Mexico and where ever else out of country a year and was waiting some recommendations on other Gulf Coast diving close and in around H-TOWN.

I know there are the Flower Gardens out of Galveston, but was thinking about the Florida panhandle?

Any thoughts, experiences, or recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[jlcnuke]

I'm hoping to get some diving in here in Pensacola this week (down here for work this week). I may be getting out for an inshore or midshore dive trip Thursday afternoon and another dive Friday morning. There are a bunch of dive sites over here (a bunch of wrecks including the Oriskany as well as reefs) of varying depths. Unfortunately, I've only been able to do some shore dives here (and they weren't worth traveling to here to do). I did dive Vortex Springs which is not bad and is in the panhandle still, but chilly at 68F and doesn't have that much to see if you're not a cave diver going to explore.

Hopefully by this weekend I can give you my experiences with some of the off-shore dives here.

My brother's working in Houston and did his OW dives there at a lake (I can't remember which one) with crappy vis and cold temps, but his AOW dives were better vis (30+ feet he said) and a bit warmer over in Austin somewhere at Lake Austin (he ate at a bbq joint there but I couldn't say the exact dive site without checking with him).

There are forums for the states as well FYI down the forum index page at Regional Forums and Dive Clubs | ScubaBoard

 

[flyingDiver75]

TL-DR; on Florida:
Pensacola for deep wrecks, big wrecks, all day trips (most of the best diving is 15+ miles out). Expect to pay $125 - 150 for 2 tank mid-shore and offshore trips. Multiple dive boats to choose from, I like Reef Cleaner and Niuhi the best.

Destin for 70 - 90' natural reefs that are within 8 miles of the pass. Scubatech Sea Cobra is the best boat to dive from.

Panama City for generally shallower wrecks and artificial reefs. I've had good trips with Panama City Dive Center.

 

[TMHeimer]

Check out my long post on the Introductions and Greets forum under "Florida Panhandle Diving?" (page 1). I describe pretty much everything from Panama City to La.

 

[sealark]

excellent dive spots off Pensacola within 7 miles from the pass 3 miles offshore Kayacs access them on calm days all the time 3 barges, Tex Edwards Barge, Liberty ship and tons more of public reefs being built as I type. Call Dive Pros 850 456 8845, no I don't work there just recommend them.

 

[Da real diver]

Wow folks thanks a lot! Any other experiences and opinions are appreciated.

 

[nolatom]

Don't overlook Orange Beach, Alabama. I"ve enjoyed diving off the MV "Down Under" and the shop of the same name. Plenty of good wrecks, some of which are the same ones you could reach from Pensacola. New bypass highway makes less crowded exit on a Sunday afternoon.
Nice beaches as well. It's just west of the Florida line, so it's virtually the "panhandle".

But don't pass up the Flower Gardens and Stetson, off the MV Fling. They're docked in Freeport as I recall, not Galveston. If you get good weather, it's great diving and great visibility. Also a fun experience on the boat, in a summer-camp sort of way.

 

[jlcnuke]

Dived an inshore wreck this afternoon, (the Patti). Visibility wasn't great at 20' or so but TONS of fish, a barracuda, one octopus, and pretty nice temps for this time of year at this latitude imo (74f at 50'). No sharks, not many lionfish, and my instant buddy wasn't great, but still a really good time overall. We got out late so just diver the same spot twice so I didn't get a second wreck in Pensacola yet, but I plan to in the future...

 

[diversteve]

There's the Destin Jetties - a shore dive.

I'm not recommending it because I know someone who has dove it and he optimistically put the viz at 20' but at least it's getting wet. Not a lot of current references here but - Scuba Shore Diving Site Page for: Destin Jetties of Florida, USA East

Another option I know nothing about - but there's a recent favorable review:
Scuba Shore Diving Site Page for: St. Andrews Jetties, Panama Beach of Florida, USA East

seems like either is about an 8hr. drive from Houston.

My buddy lives near Galveston - he's mentioned fishing off his boat at the rigs - IDK where or if you can dive them. It's not a very big boat so is very weather dependent.

 

[TMHeimer]

At the jetties in Destin and St. Andrews there is a ripping current at any time but slack tide. I've only dived St. Andrews 3 times and twice the viz was awful, the other time great. I would put the Destin viz at either the jetty or bridge as usually better than 20'--I've dived there dozens of times. The currents are so strong because the inlets lead to big bays -- St. Andrews in Panama City and Choctawhatchee in Destin.
Best time to start diving these inlets (or others in the area or probably anywhere) is, of course, about an hour before high tide. The viz is better at high tide and if you do wind up in the current you'd wind up in the bay, not half way to Cuba.