Panama City Diving; scuba charters, dive sites and dive shops of the Panhandle's Emerald Coast.
Your Subtitle text
This page is dedicated providing information about local dive sites, shops and scuba charters in Panama City Beach, Florida. Panama City is well known for its wreck diving, artificial reef program and offshore spearfishing. There are many dive sites to choose from, no matter what level of experience and training you have. Additionally there are a number of dive boats and scuba operations to choose from to get you there.
Recent Dive Trip Conditions and Updates
6-06-09 Night Dive on the Black Bart- Vis 20', Temp 77*F, Max Depth 78'. Jim "shoots" a red snapper... with a camera.
6-01-09 Red Snapper Open for Spearing!- Vis 30', Temp 78*F, Max Depth 146'. Snapper for everyone!
5-17-09 Black Bart and Span 14- Visibility 40-50' Minimum Temp 72*F, Max Depth 78' Goliath Grouper Everywhere!
5-09-09 Twin Tugs, Accokeek, Black Bart- Visibility 40-80'!! Minimum Temp 70*F, Max Depth 102'
4-18-09 Spearing Trip Pyramids Reef- Visibility 20', Minimum Temp 66*F, Max Depth 80'. Strong Current, Big Bull Shark!
4-04-09 Stage 1, Commander and several limestone reefs- Visibility 40+', Minimum Temp 65*F, Max Depth 110'
600# Goliath Grouper on Stage 1!
3-16-09 St Andrew's Jetties- Visibility 15' Minimum Temp 66*F, Max Depth 61'
Portuguese Man-O-Wars in the kiddy pool!
3-13-09 Deep Reef Dives- Visibility 15-60'+, Minimum Temp 68*F, Max Depth 149'
We saw a massive 11'-14' shark (mako?) just before the first dive and turtles all day long.
3-07-09 Tarpon and Black Bart- Visibility 45', Minimum Temp 60*F, Max Depth 95'
3-06-09 USS Strength and Span 12- Visibility 30', Minimum Temp 60*F, Max Depth 71'
2-16-09 Spearfishing Sea Grove Reef- Visibility 30', Minimum Temp 57*F Max Depth 79'
Reports Courtesy of Panama City Dive Charters
6-06-09 Night Dive on the Black Bart- Vis 20', Temp 77*F, Max Depth 78'. Jim "shoots" a red snapper... with a camera.
6-01-09 Red Snapper Open for Spearing!- Vis 30', Temp 78*F, Max Depth 146'. Snapper for everyone!
5-17-09 Black Bart and Span 14- Visibility 40-50' Minimum Temp 72*F, Max Depth 78' Goliath Grouper Everywhere!
5-09-09 Twin Tugs, Accokeek, Black Bart- Visibility 40-80'!! Minimum Temp 70*F, Max Depth 102'
4-18-09 Spearing Trip Pyramids Reef- Visibility 20', Minimum Temp 66*F, Max Depth 80'. Strong Current, Big Bull Shark!
4-04-09 Stage 1, Commander and several limestone reefs- Visibility 40+', Minimum Temp 65*F, Max Depth 110'
600# Goliath Grouper on Stage 1!
3-16-09 St Andrew's Jetties- Visibility 15' Minimum Temp 66*F, Max Depth 61'
Portuguese Man-O-Wars in the kiddy pool!
3-13-09 Deep Reef Dives- Visibility 15-60'+, Minimum Temp 68*F, Max Depth 149'
We saw a massive 11'-14' shark (mako?) just before the first dive and turtles all day long.
3-07-09 Tarpon and Black Bart- Visibility 45', Minimum Temp 60*F, Max Depth 95'
3-06-09 USS Strength and Span 12- Visibility 30', Minimum Temp 60*F, Max Depth 71'
2-16-09 Spearfishing Sea Grove Reef- Visibility 30', Minimum Temp 57*F Max Depth 79'
Reports Courtesy of Panama City Dive Charters
About Panama City Beach Diving
The vast majority of Panama City
diving is done via dive boat to shipwrecks or artificial reefs. PCB
does not have the warm tropical water temperatures year round to
support the large coral formations prominent in the Keys. Local
visibility is about 30' on average and there is seldom any current to
speak of. The shore based diving opportunities are limited to the
several springs north of town and the jetties at St Andrews State Park.
It is very important to catch the tide correctly at the jetties or low
visibility in high current may be in store for you!
Local dive shops and dive charters expect divers to be able to dive without needing assistance beyond a site and conditions briefing. They also offer escorted dives with a Divemaster for divers who may be a little rusty.... provided they are notified ahead of time. This a marked contrast with many dive operations in the Caribbean where divers are led in a single file line by a Divemaster and everyone surfaces when the first person gets low on breathing gas. This has caught some divers from out of town off guard so a self evaluation of your dive skills should be done to decide if you want a divemaster to accompany you or if a refresher course may be in order. It is also worth noting that the vast majority of Panama City Dive industry employees are fun loving and love a good prank as much a good dive. Case in point would be the fake skeleton that has been seen on the Black Bart for the past several years wearing "new" gear every couple of months!
If you have local diving questions like what conditions will be like while you are here, feel free to call a local dive shop (listed on the dive shop page) or email Capt Pat Green of Panama City Dive Charters at CaptPat@PanamaCityDiveCharters.com. Pat has logged over 1000 scuba dives in local waters and is always happy to get more people to see what he loves about diving out of Panama City.
Local dive shops and dive charters expect divers to be able to dive without needing assistance beyond a site and conditions briefing. They also offer escorted dives with a Divemaster for divers who may be a little rusty.... provided they are notified ahead of time. This a marked contrast with many dive operations in the Caribbean where divers are led in a single file line by a Divemaster and everyone surfaces when the first person gets low on breathing gas. This has caught some divers from out of town off guard so a self evaluation of your dive skills should be done to decide if you want a divemaster to accompany you or if a refresher course may be in order. It is also worth noting that the vast majority of Panama City Dive industry employees are fun loving and love a good prank as much a good dive. Case in point would be the fake skeleton that has been seen on the Black Bart for the past several years wearing "new" gear every couple of months!
If you have local diving questions like what conditions will be like while you are here, feel free to call a local dive shop (listed on the dive shop page) or email Capt Pat Green of Panama City Dive Charters at CaptPat@PanamaCityDiveCharters.com. Pat has logged over 1000 scuba dives in local waters and is always happy to get more people to see what he loves about diving out of Panama City.
Summertime bait fish evading (mostly) hungry spade fish over Bridge Span #14.
Question- What can we do when we aren't diving?
Answer- Learn and experience the history of diving!
