Panama City Dive Charters
Information on scuba diving the Panama City area, our dive charters, and how we operate.
Scuba Diving in Panama City
Most scuba opportunities locally are accessed via boat. Panama City has an aggressive artificial reef building campaign to benefit local fisheries and subsequently the local economy. 17 Bridge spans, a dozen retired vessels and barges, several army tanks, oil rig like Navy Stages and the LOS projects add to the several area natural shipwrecks and limestone reef system to make Panama City a scuba divers paradise. Check out our "dive sites" page for some descriptions.
Additionally there are several shore-based scuba opportunities if the seas are too rough or you just want to see something different. Within 45 minutes of the beaches are several natural springs that are open to the public as well as a few others that must be accessed by boat from a creek or river. Vortex and Morrison springs are the most popular and easily accessed but Pitt, Gainer, Cypress and quite a few others are excellent for the more adventurous diver. Springs are great dives since they almost always offer great visibility (unless divers stir it up) and non challenging constant conditions. They are between 68-70*F year round!
The St Andrews State park also offer a great shore based dive opportunity on its rock Jetties. Just try to time your dive with peak high tide to minimze current and maximize visibility for your dive. The Jetties also offer a nice place for non divers to spend time at the beach.
Boat Diving
Whats the difference between Inshore and Offshore?
*Inshore refers to the distance traveled from the pass, 3 - 7.5 statute miles. Meaning some trips relatively close to shore but further down the coast may be considered offshore. Any such trip will be clearly marketed to prevent confusion.
Common "inshore trips" include the either;
1) the USS Strength coupled with the LOS pontoon, Chicasaw or bridge spans 1, 2 or 12.
Or 2) the Black Bart and Chickasaw, Hovercraft, Stage 2, the PCMI barge or bridge span 14.
We are happy to run to any other combination of wrecks or sites as long as it is arranged ahead of time or only a single group is on the boat. If you have already been to the Bart 300 times please tell us, we'd rather take you somewhere you want to go and haven't seen yet.
The "offshore trips" are everything else.... including the Accokeek, Chippewa, Putnam, Twin Tugs, Commander, Tarpon, Mac Reef and Stage 1.
The Boat Operation
Generally Speaking
Generally speaking our charters leave the dock at 9am in the off-season and 8am and 2pm during the high-season. Still generally speaking, inshore trips take 4 hours and offshore trips take 5. Even more generally speaking, inshore trips are an 80' table to the sand, and offshore trips are 100' tables to the sand. Some of the inshore sites are shallower, such as bridge span 1 or say stage 2. If having the option to exceed your certified depth is a problem, please let us know. Bear in mind that shipwrecks are usually 20' and more above the sand. We will not put someone in conditions beyond their certification. Panama
City is fortunate to have little current beyond the occasional wind
driven surface current that disappears past 15', our boats don't run in
foul weather or heavy seas, and the divemaster scouts the site before
anyone else splashes in, so hazardous marine life is likewise unlikely
while you are on our charter.Most scuba opportunities locally are accessed via boat. Panama City has an aggressive artificial reef building campaign to benefit local fisheries and subsequently the local economy. 17 Bridge spans, a dozen retired vessels and barges, several army tanks, oil rig like Navy Stages and the LOS projects add to the several area natural shipwrecks and limestone reef system to make Panama City a scuba divers paradise. Check out our "dive sites" page for some descriptions.
Additionally there are several shore-based scuba opportunities if the seas are too rough or you just want to see something different. Within 45 minutes of the beaches are several natural springs that are open to the public as well as a few others that must be accessed by boat from a creek or river. Vortex and Morrison springs are the most popular and easily accessed but Pitt, Gainer, Cypress and quite a few others are excellent for the more adventurous diver. Springs are great dives since they almost always offer great visibility (unless divers stir it up) and non challenging constant conditions. They are between 68-70*F year round!
The St Andrews State park also offer a great shore based dive opportunity on its rock Jetties. Just try to time your dive with peak high tide to minimze current and maximize visibility for your dive. The Jetties also offer a nice place for non divers to spend time at the beach.
Boat Diving
Whats the difference between Inshore and Offshore?
*Inshore refers to the distance traveled from the pass, 3 - 7.5 statute miles. Meaning some trips relatively close to shore but further down the coast may be considered offshore. Any such trip will be clearly marketed to prevent confusion.
Common "inshore trips" include the either;
1) the USS Strength coupled with the LOS pontoon, Chicasaw or bridge spans 1, 2 or 12.
Or 2) the Black Bart and Chickasaw, Hovercraft, Stage 2, the PCMI barge or bridge span 14.
We are happy to run to any other combination of wrecks or sites as long as it is arranged ahead of time or only a single group is on the boat. If you have already been to the Bart 300 times please tell us, we'd rather take you somewhere you want to go and haven't seen yet.
The "offshore trips" are everything else.... including the Accokeek, Chippewa, Putnam, Twin Tugs, Commander, Tarpon, Mac Reef and Stage 1.
The Boat Operation
Since many of our customer have little experience with boat diving or boat diving in the States, what follows are some tips and procedures that may make the experience go smooth and be without any surprises. Our 36' vessel the Steel Slinger has racks for 46 tanks and deck storage under the bench seats for gear. There is plenty of cabin space for gear that needs to stay dry and plenty of space in our cooler for any extras you want to bring to snack on, please do not bring your own cooler. Remember we offer snacks (snickers, nuts and chips) and beverages (gatorade, water, sodas) free of charge.
It usually takes about 30-40 minutes from the dock to the first dive site. When we arrive over the site the Divemaster will dive down with our tie in chain and line to attach us directly to the site. Once we have been tied into the site and the DM has returned and given his conditions briefing the "pool" is open. The staff will supervise and help as needed while customers gear up. At the stern of the boat, divers will enter the water wearing all their gear, no waiting to put fins on in the water. Likewise, fins are only put on on the swimplatform immediately before the dive as walking in fins on a boat at sea is a good way to fall over. Once divers have oriented themselves in the water they are encouraged to descend with their dive-buddy to 15' on the line and wait for their group there if necessary. The tie in line is always at the front (bow) of our boat. Buddy pa
irs should be entering the water at roughly the same time and divers who take longer to gear up are asked make way for divers who are quicker. Divers who are quick to gear up are encouraged to take the slots nearest the swimplatform to facilitate the smoothest operation.
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 after signaling the crew. We provide a Carolina line system (pictured left) 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 and off the surface.
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
Always leave the surface and return to it by the tie in line, and please make sure you note where the line is tied into on the dive site as you will want to be heading that way as your bottom time runs out or gas runs low. Ascending the wrong line to the wrong boat can be embarrassing! The old school policy was that you owed the Capt of the other dive boat a six pack if you got on the wrong boat's line!
Once you are back at our boat and it is your turn to climb the ladder; deflate your BCD and grab the ladder with one arm keeping it stiff and extended, the other arm will take off your fins and hand them to the staff on the swimplattform waiting to assist you. Once your fins are off then and only then stand on the ladder and climb out. Only once you are on the boat should you take your mask off or remove your regulator. This is sound boat policy regardless of which operation you are on and we really wish more instructors would teach this in class (hint hint). The ladder of dive boats cause far more injuries than all the sharks, jelly fish, barracudas, lightning strikes, moray eels and Chuck Norris combined, please understand and practice these procedures religiously, for your own safety and our piece of mind.
Unless you have a dive computer you should have a timing device of some sort to help you calculate your tables to insure your safety from DCS. If you don't have such a device for whatever reason please speak up so that we can arrange to time your dive for you. Don't worry about asking for help with tables or to see our tables if you need to, we understand and are happy to help. In fact please ask us to help you with anything you need assistance with as we are more than happy to help at all times.
Please note it is both customary and appreciated to tip the Divemaster based on the cost of the boat trip.
It usually takes about 30-40 minutes from the dock to the first dive site. When we arrive over the site the Divemaster will dive down with our tie in chain and line to attach us directly to the site. Once we have been tied into the site and the DM has returned and given his conditions briefing the "pool" is open. The staff will supervise and help as needed while customers gear up. At the stern of the boat, divers will enter the water wearing all their gear, no waiting to put fins on in the water. Likewise, fins are only put on on the swimplatform immediately before the dive as walking in fins on a boat at sea is a good way to fall over. Once divers have oriented themselves in the water they are encouraged to descend with their dive-buddy to 15' on the line and wait for their group there if necessary. The tie in line is always at the front (bow) of our boat. Buddy pa
irs should be entering the water at roughly the same time and divers who take longer to gear up are asked make way for divers who are quicker. Divers who are quick to gear up are encouraged to take the slots nearest the swimplatform to facilitate the smoothest operation.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 after signaling the crew. We provide a Carolina line system (pictured left) 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 and off the surface.
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
Always leave the surface and return to it by the tie in line, and please make sure you note where the line is tied into on the dive site as you will want to be heading that way as your bottom time runs out or gas runs low. Ascending the wrong line to the wrong boat can be embarrassing! The old school policy was that you owed the Capt of the other dive boat a six pack if you got on the wrong boat's line!
Once you are back at our boat and it is your turn to climb the ladder; deflate your BCD and grab the ladder with one arm keeping it stiff and extended, the other arm will take off your fins and hand them to the staff on the swimplattform waiting to assist you. Once your fins are off then and only then stand on the ladder and climb out. Only once you are on the boat should you take your mask off or remove your regulator. This is sound boat policy regardless of which operation you are on and we really wish more instructors would teach this in class (hint hint). The ladder of dive boats cause far more injuries than all the sharks, jelly fish, barracudas, lightning strikes, moray eels and Chuck Norris combined, please understand and practice these procedures religiously, for your own safety and our piece of mind.
Unless you have a dive computer you should have a timing device of some sort to help you calculate your tables to insure your safety from DCS. If you don't have such a device for whatever reason please speak up so that we can arrange to time your dive for you. Don't worry about asking for help with tables or to see our tables if you need to, we understand and are happy to help. In fact please ask us to help you with anything you need assistance with as we are more than happy to help at all times.
Divemasters
We will always have a certified Divemaster on our
trips, they do not however, lead the divers as a group around the site.
Their duties consist of tying our down line to the wrecks, delivering a
dive briefing at the site and supervising the dive topside in addition
to trouble shooting gear problems and being generally helpful and
entertaining. This is a marked departure from the norm for people who
are used to diving in the Caribbean where DMs lead you around and guide
you on a tour. It is our belief that all divers who posses C-cards
should be able to handle the conditions and sites without this type of interaction or they should not have been certified. Remember these are clearly defined sites in little to no current, not live boat wall dives in current you can't swim against. If however it has
been awhile or you would like to have a local point out some highlights
you might not see otherwise a Divemaster is an excellent idea for you.
DMs usually get $75 for what PADI calls a "Discover Local Diving"
Divemaster led trip excursion. If that sounds like what you want
please let us know and we will try to make sure a second Divemaster is
available for this. We have to have 1 keeping an eye on everyone and we feel that DMs conducting tours cannot as effectively keep track of everyone. Since the primary divemaster has to do 2 dives per
site to tie us in and untie us, its is safer for them to have 2
divemasters split all that nitrogen as well.Please note it is both customary and appreciated to tip the Divemaster based on the cost of the boat trip.
Generally Speaking
If you are concerned about the weather, please call us. Capt Pat has no desire to be struck by lightning either and he will not run the boat if it seems in the cards that a thunder storm will be in our future. This is Florida and the weatherman will have a little cloud with a lightning bolt and 40% of rain on the forecast for everyday from late May to October. Do not be alarmed, is just how it works here, small single cell thunder storms always build inland in the afternoon but seldom hit the beaches, leading to our dismissive phrase...."Its a land storm."
We will have plenty of refreshments and snacks available to keep everyone hydrated and comfortable. Please make use of them as dehydration is the number one cause of DCS. Part of staying hydrated is avoiding seasickness, and we recommend that you take some sort of anti-nausea pill if you are unsure of how you will react to being at sea. Ginger pills work great too, but please take whichever medicine you choose far enough in advance to have it fully in your system before you get to the boat.
Seasonal variations
Other than the weather described above Summer time has few other changes worth mentioning. The bait fish show up in massive shoals and take up residence on our artificial reefs. These shoals can be exhilarating to be inside of and sometimes alittle disorienting as visibility can drop to a foot or less. Wetsuits generally become unnecessary in late June through October. Daily air temperature is commonly around 90*F so wear sunscreen and drink lots of water. It is typical of the Summer weather pattern to be calm in the morning and windier in the afternoon as the sun heats the land faster and a sea breeze builds. This is why we schedule morning dives primarily.
Fall has fewer visitors but the larger gamefish become more abundant, a great time for spearfishing. Flounder will begin to move to the Wrecks near the pass around November in great numbers and they will remain until April or May if you know how to spot them! The weather starts to become more associated with frontal boundaries and calm afternoons and evenings make for great night dives.
Winter's North winds make heading offshore abit more troublesome, but plenty of fish move into the shallower inshore spots, and due to the orientation of our coastline even blustery days can't generate large waves within 5 miles of the coast. The weather is quite predictable 5 days out. The visibility is somewhat better on average in the Winter, especially offshore 60' becomes average.
Spring is perhaps the most challenging time of year to dive in Panama City but is also quite rewarding. It is constantly windy enough to keep the seas around 3-5' and the water is still chilly despite the warming air temperatures. Great vis though keeps it worth your while. Staying warm between dives is the key to diving in the Spring. The full cabin on the boat pays for itself during this time of year and the hot water shower really helps. We provide hot cocoa on those chilly days to keep everyone smiling and warm.
Fall has fewer visitors but the larger gamefish become more abundant, a great time for spearfishing. Flounder will begin to move to the Wrecks near the pass around November in great numbers and they will remain until April or May if you know how to spot them! The weather starts to become more associated with frontal boundaries and calm afternoons and evenings make for great night dives.
Winter's North winds make heading offshore abit more troublesome, but plenty of fish move into the shallower inshore spots, and due to the orientation of our coastline even blustery days can't generate large waves within 5 miles of the coast. The weather is quite predictable 5 days out. The visibility is somewhat better on average in the Winter, especially offshore 60' becomes average.
Spring is perhaps the most challenging time of year to dive in Panama City but is also quite rewarding. It is constantly windy enough to keep the seas around 3-5' and the water is still chilly despite the warming air temperatures. Great vis though keeps it worth your while. Staying warm between dives is the key to diving in the Spring. The full cabin on the boat pays for itself during this time of year and the hot water shower really helps. We provide hot cocoa on those chilly days to keep everyone smiling and warm.