On our last trip you could still see the "Happy Holidays", unidentified townsfolk on her deck, for all the cars passing by the bridge. Our definition of inshore diving includes less than 8 miles from St Andrew's Pass. Open water divers are generally safer. Red Sea, an 125-foot tugboat, was built in 2009 and is a notable dive.
They offer dive training, equipment rentals, and repair. Dive Locker - our newest dive shop - is another asset. It's also an excellent location to become certified through PADI (the largest scuba certification organization in the world). Their knowledge and experience will make you a more competent and confident diver.
he stunning Shell Island and St Andrew's Park's snow-white sugar-sand beaches are breathtaking. There are plenty of dolphin cruises. Ripley's Believe it or Not is another attraction that will delight land lovers. Firefly's she-crab soup, which is the best seafood we've ever had, is available at night.
Under the turquoise waters lies a second universe, a paradise like no other. Many historic shipwrecks can be found throughout the region, including goliath grouper, bottlenose dolphins and sea turtles. You will find many historical wrecks throughout the area. Skin Diver Magazine named Panama City Beach the "Wreck Diving Capital of the South" because of this and other artificial reefs. You've never tried scuba dive before? You don't have to worry.
The St Andrew's Park Jetties are the best place to start shore diving in Panama City Beach. You can walk only a few steps from the parking lot to get into the water. There is no boat traffic on the beach-side. If you decide to cross the channel, make sure you have your dive flag.
The initial level of diving training involves 3 days of training in water and some eLearning. Dive Locker limits dive trips to 14 divers to ensure comfort and safety. If there's space, all charters are available to the public. We usually offer 2 trips per day during the season. We offer Technical Scuba classes from TDI.
We offer charters to experienced spearfishers, as well as closely supervised Introduction to Spearfishing classes. Here we teach the basics and lead you on a spearfishing trip. There are many classes available for divers of all levels. Dive Locker provides daily dive charters. We have a 40 foot boat that can accommodate up 18 divers. All of our charters include safe, friendly, and professional diving. The place is ideal for beginners and has a wide selection of diving gear. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable.
An Average Diver, at an Average Depth, With an Average Tank
Based on personal experience, an average open-water certified diver using a standard aluminum 80-cubic-foot tank on a 40-foot dive will be able to stay down for about 45 to 60 minutes before surfacing with a safe reserve of air still in the tank.
So just to reiterate: don't grab animals, don't hold them for photo ops, don't go for rides on dolphins or turtles, and don't force puffer fish to inflate (it can be fatal to them).