Scuba Dive Panama City Beach Under Water

Why do scuba divers dive backwards



Panama City Beach was directly hit by Hurricane Michael in October 2018. It is a Category 4 storm. It was the most powerful storm ever to hit the Panhandle, with sustained winds of 154 mph. Hurricane-force winds affected over 650 artificial reefs.



St. Andrews State Park offers the best beach diving along the Emerald Coast. The channel side of the west jetties has a depth of 70 feet. In spots, the rocks also attract and keep a variety of sea creatures, such as octopus and red snapper. The best part about diving is when you catch an incoming tide.

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The Black Bart is a 180' vessel sunk in 1993 as an artificial reef. Christened Vulcano del Golfo in 1977, the site commemorates Charles’ Black Bart’ Bartholomew, Navy Supervisor of Salvage Captain, who died while diving off Panama City Beach in 1990. His exploits include heading up the recovery of the Space Shuttle Challenger and leading the Navy’s cleanup of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, which is poetic since the Black Bart is an oil rig supply ship.

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What is the best time to scuba dive

What is the best time to scuba dive


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.

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The site's structure is extraordinary. Divers are able to explore the wheelhouse 40 feet down. The deck is located at approximately 66' below sea level and contains accesses to cargo holds. The ship's toilet (head) rests on the sand outside the wreck. It has a smiley skull. The Warsaw Reef, which is nearby, has plenty of marine life.

Places to Scuba Dive in Panama City Beach

Places to Scuba Dive in Panama City Beach



With water temperatures between the 60s and 80s in winter, visibility can be expected to range from 30'-50'. To protect yourself from sharp edges and to prevent you getting into fishing lines, gloves are a must. A safety sausage is also a good idea since you will be on a boat trip.

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Panama City Beach is a paradise for both divers as well as non-divers. You won't want to go to the beach or feel guilty for taking your family out to PCB while you dive. If your partner is certified, you can make a diving trip part of a romantic weekend in Panama City Beach.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.