Tampa

[vetdog]

I have completed my class room portion and pool diving portion of the PADI certification. I am traveling to Tampa for three week sand would like to complete my open water down there so I can maybe squeeze in a cool dive while down there. Any suggestions?

Thanks!!

 

[Grunt]

Tampa diving is poor imo. I lived there for 20 years. The continental shelf is all of about one foot or two and a ton of sand. You can drive 3-4 hours to Jupiter/West Palm for some awesome diving. Another few hours to the Keys. There's a freshwater dive site called "Devil's Den" north of tampa; very cold and alot of catfish.

Also you can drive alittle north to Crystal river do the manatee experience and the cavern dive there was amazing. Forgot the name of the Operator but they are in all hte dive magazines and sport diver.

Personally I'd drive to Jupiter for the drift diving.

Cheers

 

[vetdog]

I'm really looking for something in Tampa as far as open water dives are concerned to finish my PADI certification....anybody?

 

[streetjudge79]

There is no good diving in Tampa. The gulf coast is horrible for diving. It's just a lot of sand and sea grass.

 

[rps042657]

True, the diving around Tampa is not the greatest. But, you can drive 45 min west of Tampa to St.Pete or Clearwater. There you can find many dive shops that do local trips.
We have many artifical reefs located not far off shore they go to.
One dive I took was in site of Madeira Beach. 15' of water and so many fish you had a hard time seeing.
Do a search of dive shops in the area and give them a call.

 

[rps042657]

Oh, and if you want more info send me a PM

 

[brad2048]

I did my open water dive in the gulf for my PADI certification. We dove a 40ft or so barge (cant remember what the name was) and also an old shrimp boat wreck. We also dove on tuesday and clarity was 15-20 ft, pretty good for this time of year.

 

[davidryder]

There are some freshwater springs around here but as far as ocean diving goes it's not great.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/fl...y-diving-around-tampa-st-petersburg-area.html

 

[tbar]

You can go out on a dive boat from St. pete or clearwater and do your openwater dive for certification. Sounds like that is all your looking for at that time. Make sure you tell them that is what you what in advance. I never heard of doing the exam and pool drills with one outfit and the open water cert. with another. Guess if it's coordinated between the two dive shops all is good as long as they are the same certifing agency like PADI or whatever.