If you are looking to train, seek out Scuba Dive Panama City Beach, a full-service dive center and aquatic training facility. Their expert instructors have over 50 years of global diving experience, parlayed to students in both their heated pool and range of open-water courses.
The SS Tarpon is a significant shipwreck. She went down in 1937 killing 18 crew members, including Willis G. Barrow who was her captain. Adley Baker, a member of the crew, was able swim the 9 miles to shore in gust-force winds. It was a difficult 25-hour race, but Adley Baker survived.
Panama City Beach offers an abundance of excellent dive sites for both beginners and experienced divers. Within miles of the World’s Most Beautiful Beaches there are over 50 artificial reefs to explore, including ships, barges, bridge spans, and hundreds of natural limestone reefs, ranging in depths of 18 feet to 110 feet.
Our threshold to offshore diving is greater than 8 miles from St Andrew's Pass. These sites require advanced certification. A Nitrox certificate would also be an option due to the depths and open water. These trips aren't available every day because of the distances involved. It's best to check with your dive shop to find out when the next trip is scheduled. If you plan to go with friends who are well qualified, they may be able to schedule one for you.
At Scuba Dive Panama City Beach we limit dive trips to just 14 scuba divers to ensure comfort and space for everyone. All of our charters are open to the public if there is space and we usually run 2 trips a day during the season.
Scuba Diving Magazine identifies Scuba Dive Panama City Beach as the best dive operation. Scuba Diving Magazine listed Scuba Dive Panama City Beach as one of the Top 100 Readers Choices in 2011.
The El Dorado is Panama City Beach’s newest wreck. Hurricane Michael blew the ship ashore in October of 2018. She sat derelict off the Hathaway Bridge as a constant reminder of the storm’s deadly wrath through winter and spring. In May of 2019, she started her life as a premier dive site.
Never hold your breath
As every good entry-level dive student knows, this is the most important rule of scuba. And for good reason — breath holding underwater can result in serious injury and even death. In accordance with Boyle's law, the air in a diver's lungs expands during ascent and contracts during descent.
As you become a qualified scuba diver, you learn the basics of an essential scuba system. A cylinder, weights, an exposure suit, regulators, BCD gauge and timing device, mask and fins are the bare essentials.