ScubaMarine
Do you recommend any particular boats or groups to dive with up there? I may drive up in June or July as I have a lot of free time. Let me know:
I you are coming from SE Florida I can't recommend anyone keeping a straight face. Dive operations around Panama City Beach are less than optimal.
With that said.
Dive Locker runs 2 boats, both 6 pack, both are crowded if there are 6 divers, both boats are trailered to a ramp, and it takes forever to get things going. I use only one of these 2, because I don't think the capt. of the other one has a clue about maintaining a boat in working condition.
Divers Den has a very comfortable boat, well maintained already in the water at departure time. I can't used it because I hate to limit my dives to match anyone elses, and don't give a hoot about the rest of the divers waiting for me to complete my 50 to 60 minute dive.
There is another nice boat, forgot the name, the Capt is Rosanne (different spelling probably) I hear good things about the operation but not spearfishing with that boat.
Never used the big boats of Hydrospace, too many divers in them for my taste, I think they run 3 trips a day. Considering the average time to the dive sites around here, they either take you right out of the pass or seriously limit your dive time.
And that's about it (unfortunately) seems like locals have their own boats, I wish I could say the same.
Be prepared to have your dive cancelled, not just for weather which is reasonable. Around here you can sign up for a dive during the week, and then the morning of the dive just call and say you can't come, or don't even say anything just don't show up. Appears that is perfectly normal as far as the dive shops go, they don;t charge your card, they even ask you to go to them again, next time you are town. Of course if you have 1 or 2 spots and the only other 2 don't show up, it is not worth for the boat to go out.
Besides that, the diving is good. Not colorful as south florida, but lots of life, maybe because the water is so stinking cold, seems like the creatures are bigger. For example a typical mantis shrimp is about 1.5 to 2" diameter. This past weekend I saw a couple of live tritons that where as long as a fin.