Recent Dive Conditions

Recent Dive Trip Conditions and Updates
From Panama City Dive Charters and Panama City Diving
12-29-09 Our divers reported Vis of 25' and bottom temps of 58*F on the Twin Tugs and DuPont Span 1. Max depth 101'.

12-15-09 Diving Spans 9, 10, 14 and several offshore limestone reefs. Vis during our dives was as low as 8' inshore and as good as 30' offshore on the spans. Water temps were all in the low 60's and the hot water heater really made a big difference in our ability to keep diving all day. The flounder are still thick inshore if abit small.

11-15-09 Vis is returning to normal after the storm! 25' inshore with water temp around 67*F. Divers, break out those wetsuits!

September 20th 2009- We are happy to report that SUDS raised over $8,000 this year during the Panama City Divefest. Tommy and Capt Pat had a blast taking everyone out and Capt Pat even crawled out of his cave and socialized with the divers at Limes!
We had a mixed bag of conditions and visibility this weekend but the water was warm and the jellies weren't too bad.


August 25 2009- Another Whale Shark spotted on Span 2!


Visibility has been 60' on the inshore sites all of July through mid August! Whale sharks are continuing to be seen on the Inshore spans and wrecks. This is the best Summer for Divers in Panama City in recent memory.

Dive Boat Etiquette

I have noticed over the past couple of years that some people seem to intuitively grasp the most efficient way to get all gear they need for a dive on a boat and store it while many others don't. As a child, my dad would flay the skin from my bones if I left my toys strewn about the house, mainly because he tended to step on the sharp ones. I find that a rolling dive boat is a more crucial area for order than a living room. What follows is my take on how to be a good boat diver. While I am writing these based on my dive boat operation here in Panama City, Florida I think these tips hold up pretty well everywhere. (FYI We have flayed very few passengers on the boat to date)

Be early. It is best to know where you are going ahead of time and how to get there. No one wants to be that guy that 10 other people had to wait for because they missed the left turn at Albuquerque.
Be prepared. Know what gear you will need and make sure you have it before leaving the dive shop, hotel room or house. This should include cash to tip the divemaster if appropriate, more on that below.
Pack light. Only bring what you will need. Having 3 sets of dive gear and 50#s of spare lead weight "just in case" is overkill. Your dive gear and a small save-a-dive kit is all you need. I carry my gear to the boat by putting my arm through BCD and attached regs and all the rest of my gear goes in a 5 gallon bucket. The BCD immediately goes on a tank and the bucket slides underneath the tank rack or bench seat. Its the cheapest gear bag available.
Be organized. Try to keep all of your gear in as small a place as possible. This keeps your gear from walking off as well as prevents you from walking off with someone else's gloves or booties and leaves an uncluttered deck free for the other divers to move around on.
Listen! The Divemaster and/or Captain will give briefs on what to expect and what to. It is for the diver's benefit that they are speaking. On my boat this is also because we are lazy and nothing seems more like work than having to rescue swim a diver back to the boat, and don't even get me started on the paperwork the Coast Guard makes you fill out. ;) In my experience more divers are hurt by ascending the dive ladder improperly than by barracudas, sharks, rabid dolphins and giant squid combined.
Tip as appropriate. In some areas it is not customary to tip the Divemaster, but it is both customary and appreciated in others. Panama City, Florida is one of the latter. Gratuity on the dive boat is just like eating out and the same percentages are the norm. Rental gear and tanks should not be included in the total just the actual boat trip. Since this varied from location to location don't be afraid to ask the Capt or the dive shop what the local custom might be.