What's the dive scene like Gulf Side around Cape Coral/Fort Myers (+)

[johnny_bravo]

Hello there.

I was wondering if anyone can tell me what the diving situation is like on the Gulf Coast. I've been to the Keys several times and love it. I have some family in Fort Myers and visit a few times a year and was wondering what kind of diving is available, do dive shops offer local trips, etc.

Thanks in advance for any response.

-J.-

 

[stu_in_fl]

generally pretty poor viz and no real reefs to speak of - and you need to go out quite a way to get any depth. Separfishing is good though - if you are interested in that contact Brent at Deans Dive Center and see if he has anything planned (http://deansdivecenter.com/)

usually people drive to Key Largo or Ft Lauderdale/Pompano to see Reefs or they Spearfish from here....also an hour of so north of Ft Myers is Venice Beach where people go looking for Sharks Teeth (either shore diving or by boat)

 

[jshreck]

I am a diver from Chicago and have family in the SW Florida area. Cape Coral-Ft.Myers-Naples. I am there at least 4 times a year but haven't been diving down there yet. In fact the only places i have been diving are Lakes and Quarries in the midwest. So poor vis to me is black water and good vis is about 15 feet -- but in that 15 feet what do you see other than some sand, silt and rocks and perhaps a handful of begging fish if you're in a quarry. I'd greatly appreciate it if someone could elaborate on the diving conditions in the area off the coast anywhere from Naples north to Cape Coral. What exactly is visbility ? Are there any fish to be seen ? I hear there are some worthwhile wrecks off the coast of Naples ? Is this true ? More info would be greatly appreciated ....

Thanks and Happy Diving

 

[Walter]

The diving off shore is excellent! I love diving the Gulf. There are lots of big fish, some sites have 20+ Jewfish. There are great wrecks all along the coast as well as other artificial reefs and some interesting natural formations such as sink holes and fresh water springs.

While the viz is usually not as good as the Atlantic side, I've had better viz in the Gulf than anything I've ever seen in the Caribbean. Viz of 80 to 100 feet is not all that unusual.

 

[CBulla]

I'm with Walter on this - the offshore diving is hard to beat!