Divers are the ideal choice if you're looking for a memorable and unique vacation experience in Panama City Beach. A second world awaits below the surface of our turquoise waters. It is a different kind of of paradise. There are many historic shipwrecks throughout the region, including sea turtles, goliath grouper and bottlenose dolphins that frolic on the beaches.
Shore diving in Panama City Beach starts with the St Andrew’s Park Jetties for good reasons. It’s a short walk from the parking lot to the beach, and soon you’re in the water. The beach-side is shallow, with no boat traffic. Make sure you bring your dive flag if you cross over to the channel side. You’ll find plenty of tropical fish living in the rocks of the jetties. The visibility and current are much better during high slack tide, which is the ideal time for this dive. St Andrew’s Park jetties are also one of the best places for snorkeling in Panama City Beach.
So you feel more confident before you dive, take a look at our free list of diving resources, including downloads. Discover our top dive spots, as well as historical landmarks underwater.
You can see why Panama City Beach is Florida's second most visited dive site. You can also take a dive in the Gulf of Mexico, where you will find marine life and stunning underwater scenery.
Scuba Dive Panama City Beach takes you to famous shipwrecks like Black Bart. Or, you can snorkel along the beach at St. Andrews State Park. The park's amazing rock jetties make it possible to see sea creatures such as redfish, octopus, and more at high tide.
The jetties at St. Andrews State Park offer the best beach dives available along the Emerald Coast. Depth on the channel side of the west jetty hits 70 feet in spots, and the rocks attract and hold a variety of sea life, including octopus, red snapper, redfish, grouper, and other tropical fish. If you time your dive to catch an incoming tide, it doesn’t get any better.
Our instructors are committed to diving excellence and maintain the highest standards in the industry. You have many choices when it comes to your training, and your first consideration should be the same as ours, your safety. Our staff are some of the best in the world with a combined total of more than 50 years spent teaching folks just like you how to safely experience the underwater world. Our philosophy of Only The Best in Training means working with you towards your goals, and ensuring a top end experience, from our heated pool to the open water, leaving you a confident and comfortable diver.
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.