Panama City Beach Diving

[Diveaholic]

Need some advice by anyone who has dove in Panama City. Dive operations and dive site info would be great. Thanks!

[monant]

St. Andrews jetty is a nice and easy shore dive. It's located at St. Andrews state park. Check the tides before you go. One hour before high tide is good.

[Rockhound76]

The jetties are great. Dittoes on the one to two hours before high tide (slack in the pass). DO NOT try it when the tide is running.

Plan for a max depth of 70'.

As for charter ops, Dive Locker has a great rep. We were there a few weeks ago and made dives with both Dive Locker and Panama City Dive Center. We had no complaints about either.

PCDC uses converted crew boats. They handle rough water better and are a bit faster. Exits are giant stride off the side, but not too bad. Dive Locker uses custom dive boats. Entries and exits are a lot easier on these smaller boats and the setup is more dive friendly.

Plan on depths from 80 to 110' max on the offshore runs and 60-85' on the inshore. Second or final dives are always on one of the shallower wrecks (60-70') or the bridge spans (60-75').

Neither op provides tanks or weights for free.

The dives offshore are pretty good. Fair viz (usually) and LOTS of big marine life and huge schools of baitfish/jacks. Look for the Goliath Groupers on the Strength or the Accokeek (sp?) and on the bridge spans.

[divinginn]

The dive locker is a first class outfit,always enjoy dealing with them.The jettys are a great dive too.

[mike_s]

just a note your tyical dive there is an inshore wreck, such as the Black Bart, and then a "bridge Span". Nothing wrong with these dives, but you'll get tired of them if you do them every day or your trip.

research your boat charter a little and ask them where they plan on going. They might give you the "line" of we'll determine that the day of the charter, but let them know you don't want to dive the same sites over and over again every day. Dive operators in PCB are infamous for this.

just FYI.

[moosicman]

When I dove PCB I used Dive Charters in Panama City Beach : Wreck Raider and had a good time with them. I think they are somehow affiliated with the Dive Locker. I would recommend them highly!

[FishFood]

The Dive Locker and PCDC are good... but cattle boats in the dive season.

The Wreck Raider has gotten some great reviews, and is only a 6 pack.

Also, these folks just got a brand new Newton Dive Special: (same as the dive locker's two boats)

Panama City Dive Charter's Current Fleet of Dive Boats

[Diveaholic]

Thanks for the info guys!