Panama City SCUBA Diving
A dive guide to Panama City and its SCUBA operations.
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.
New Dive Shop Opening in town around April!
Panama City Dive Charters is expanding in size and scope. In addition to accepting reservations for the areas independent and owner operated dive boats they now have a classroom, retail dive gear, rental gear and air/nitrox fills.A Primer for Panama City boat diving.
It is quite common for first time ocean scuba divers to experience anxiety before they jump off a dive 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 "ok." 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 while providing guidance to the site and back to the boat.
A very important rule of thumb when boat diving locally is to avoid grabbing the lines for any period of time, rather you should "ok" them loosely with your hand, letting the down-line pass between your thumb and forefinger the diver swims along. You can get away with grabbing the line deep and on the swim line part of the Carolina rig near the dive boat's stern, but as you approach the bow it becomes more risky. 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). You will of course become more buoyant while ascending and more so as you get shallower, and this can lead to an uncontrolled ascent when you should be performing your safety stop or deco obligation. Please bear this in mind if you find yourself pulling your way down or up the line and while performing a safety stop.
Articles on Diving and diving activities in Panama City.
Anchoring your Dive Boat
Spearfishing Ethics in Panama City, Florida
SCUBA Diving in Panama City
