Panama City Diving
Panama City, Florida Dive Charters
Please note that it is both customary and appreciated to tip the deckhand/divemaster (like in a restaurant). If you don't feel they worked for it then I am sure the Captain would like to know about it so that the next trip will be better!
The Steel Slinger based out of the Bay Point Marina. This boat is a custom made 36' Newton dive boat. She is USCG inspected for 30 regular passengers but they will not run with more than 15 to insure comfort and space for everyone. They pride themselves on their "big boat" comfort and personal "small boat" service. Discounted group rates are available as are discounts for instructors. They are also the only boat to run dedicated spearfishing trips regularly in the area.
Better Bottom Time charters runs a 30' Island Hopper inspected for 14 divers out of Sun Harbor Marina. Capt John is also highly flexible with dive sites and runs out of his way frequently to make sure everyone sees what they want to see, or more to the point... don't see the same site over and over again.
Wreck Raider is an excellent 6 pack charter. Capt Rod's 28' Parker is hands down the fastest dive charter in Bay County. He can get you to those offshore sites and back again as quickly as conditions dictate. Despite his quick boat his is one of the more laid back operators in town and although speed is an option you won't feel any pressure to hurry from him or his crew. 850-249-DIVE
DownTime Dive Charters Capt Pat Kennedy runs a 27' Sportscraft the Down Time. His trips are also 6-packs (no more than 6 allowed) Pat has been doing this longer than most of the other Captains and some people have claimed he can get to the Black Bart blindfolded! Capt Kennedy is as personable as he is experienced and his DM Jess Cook is one of the livelier characters in the PC diving community.
Dive Boat Etiquette
If you are new to area boat diving there are a few things you may want to know to prevent making a faux pas.
It is generally frowned upon to bring a massive gear bag full of a complete dive shop onboard. They take up too much space and on boats every pound takes away from the performance of the vessel.
Similarly, most boats have a large cooler and provide drinks and snacks for their customers. If you have drinks and snacks or your own they should go in the boat cooler do not bring your own.
When the Captain and crew are addressing the boat, listen! They know far more about diving off their boat than you do and more divers are hurt trying to climb dive ladders in a manner contrary to instructions than by all the angry bullsharks and barracudas in the world.
Dive planning should take place on the boat, once divers are in the water they are subject to wave action and surface currents making communication hard and anxiety much worse.
The only way to get to the wreck is to follow the line from the boat down to the site, and the only way back to the boat is to slowly ascend the line. Please note the spot on the wreck the line is attached to as you will have to come back to that spot. If you find a line at another spot its going to the wrong boat. Divers ascending the wrong line are expected to buy their new friends on the other boat a 6 pack!
Bananas are considered bad luck on boats and mariners are a superstitious lot. Please ingest your potassium with your breakfast while on shore.
Gloves and knives are a must due to fishing line and rusty metal. Likewise 2 lights are required gear on night dives while chemical lights (glow sticks) and safety sausages and whistles are always a good idea for saltwater dives.
It is customary to tip the divemaster/deckhand 15-20% of the trip cost (not rental gear and air) provided they worked for it, just like in a restaurant.
A Primer for Panama City boat diving.
It is quite common for first time ocean divers to experience anxiety before they jump off a boat into the unknown. If these divers are then stuck bobbing on the surface (unaccustomed to wave action) their anxiety is made quite abit worse, it is therefore import to be ready to get under the surface and out of the wave action as quickly as possible. We do not recommend trying to use your snorkel to reach the front of the boat on the surface and switching to your regulator. It is far more prudent to enter the water, make sure you are ready to descend and do so immediately after signaling the crew. Most local charters provide a Carolina line system (pictured below) from the stern angled down to the anchor line so that divers are slowly descending as soon as they splash in. This keeps everyone away from the bow, off the surface, out of the wave action and below the strongest surface current.
A very important rule of thumb when boat diving locally is to avoid grabbing the lines, rather you should "ok" them loosely with your hand. Boats tend to bob up and down in even small seas and subject the lines to some movement as well, which will subject you to some movement if you have a firm grip! This becomes more pronounced the closer you come to the bow of the boat (the closer to the surface). Please bear this in mind if you find yourself pulling your way down or up the line and while performing a safety stop.
