Historic wrecks are scattered throughout the region. Because of these and so many other artificial reefs in the area, Skin Diver Magazine dubbed Panama City Beach the "Wreck Diving Capital of the South."
Panama City Beach offers a safe haven for divers and snorkelers. You won't regret taking your family to PCB during your diving trip. Even if you and your partner are certified, it is possible to combine a diving trip with a romantic weekend in Panama City Beach.
St Andrew's Park's sugar sand beaches and Shell Island's snow-white sand are breathtaking. You can take dolphin cruises, and you'll find attractions like Pier Park and Shipwreck Island for land-lovers. Evenings are a great time to enjoy some of the most delicious fresh seafood. The Firefly shecrab soup is our favorite! You can enjoy golden sunsets with turquoise blue water.
The SS Tarpon is a shipwreck that has a long history. She sank on July 7, 1937. Her 18 crew members were killed, including Willis G. Barrow. Adley Baker survived the 9-mile swim to shore in gale force winds. It was a lengthy 25-hour battle, but Adley survived to tell the tale.
Panama City Beach suffered a direct blow from Hurricane Michael, a hurricane of category 4. It had maximum sustained winds of 154mph and a storm surge of over 10 feet. This storm was the strongest to ever make landfall in the Panhandle. Over 650 artificial islands were affected by hurricane-force winds.
A 100' long Navy hovercraft sank in 1985. The twin aluminum pontoons are still in good shape and rise 10' off the ocean floor. Although the hovercraft is unusual, it probably wouldn’t be a feature dive site, except it’s so close to the Black Bart. It’s still fun to swim laps around the structure and float up and down the stairs.
All over the region are historic wrecks. Skin Diver Magazine has named Panama City Beach the wreck diving capital of the South because of these and other artificial corals.
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.