Greetings from Panama City!

[KansaiKitsune]

That's Panama City, Florida, not Panama City, Panama! Along Florida's Gulf Coast, the highest concentration of artificial reefs in the United States! And if you've been here, surely you'll remember some of our memorable wrecks... Accokeek, Black Bart, the Twin Tugs, the Putnam... hope to see you around this summer! Or perhaps in the Keys later this month, if that's your interest...

I am also on Scubaboard under the same name!

Take care...

[mike_s]

Everyone remembers the Black Bart there. the local dive shops are too lazy to go anywhere else! (sorry, couldn't resist.!). Stil lmany other great wrecks there!

Welcome to the board!

[TX1Chica]

Whats the fish life like in PC? I've been their a couple times, but not as a diver.

[mwhities]

I will be in Panama City April 12th and 13th. Want to go out on a 3 tank dive boat? BlackBart will be our first stop. The Bridge rubble (Maybe you know) for a pre-dark dive then a night dive. PM me if you are interested..

Ohh and welcome to ScubaToys forum!

[rox@ucf11]

I will be in PCB some this summer maybe we could do a dive all I have done so far there is the jetties

[mike_s]

Originally Posted by TX1Chica

Whats the fish life like in PC? I've been their a couple times, but not as a diver.

It's not going to be like the protected reefs of Key largo, but it's still good. You'll find lots of fish on the wrecks. Baracuda, spades, sharks, etc.

most of the wrecks sunk there were to support the charter fishing boat industry, which outnumbers dive boats prob 100 to 1 (or more). But there are lots of great wrecks.

Most of the dive shops have a tendancy to go only to the Black Bart and the Bridge spans/rubble (as Mwhities trip is going to). It's a shame because there are so many other great wrecks there.

Most of the dive sites are wrecks (ships, bridge materials, items sunk as reefs.). Otherwise it's a flat sandy bottom for the most part. The jetties are a good dive. Located at St Andrews state park, it's a $5/car admission to the park, but that includes having bathroom facilities and lots of parking, which is nice compared to other spots.

[KansaiKitsune]

Originally Posted by TX1Chica

Whats the fish life like in PC? I've been their a couple times, but not as a diver.

As Mike says, it's not a protected area. Offshore, you can see some amazing sealife, much more than in-shore. Last time I was on the Putnam, I saw a huge number of red snapper, and the Accokeek was swarming with big amberjacks. You may even see big grouper, but they are becoming rarer these days on the popular dive sites.

When I dove on Stage II, it was filled with triggerfish, spades, and queen angelfish.

You may occasionally get buzzed by dolphins (as I was on the Accokeek) or see a shark (I haven't, but everyone else seems to have).

[mike_s]

you'll see sharks more often in Panama City/Destin when there are spearfishermen on your dive trip. They hone in on that 'fish in distress' signal in the water....

[EuphoriaII]

Originally Posted by KansaiKitsune

That's Panama City, Florida, not Panama City, Panama! Along Florida's Gulf Coast, the highest concentration of artificial reefs in the United States! And if you've been here, surely you'll remember some of our memorable wrecks... Accokeek, Black Bart, the Twin Tugs, the Putnam... hope to see you around this summer! Or perhaps in the Keys later this month, if that's your interest...

I am also on Scubaboard under the same name!

Take care...

Hey, I've dove, Black Bart, the Twin Tugs, and you can see me in my avitar picture at Bridge Span #14. I've been diving there (PCB) twice and going back again this July.
I love PCB. My brother worked there as an airbrush artist (Heatwave, Purple Haze and some others) for many years.

Welcome aboard

[EuphoriaII]

Originally Posted by mike_s

Most of the dive shops have a tendancy to go only to the Black Bart and the Bridge spans/rubble (as Mwhities trip is going to). It's a shame because there are so many other great wrecks there.

The first time I went there, thats exactly what they did- Bart and Bridge Span. When I went last year, I deliberately found a different operator and verified we were going somewhere else.