Panama City Wreck Trip

Over the years, Panama City has become synonymous with wreck diving. The beneficiary of an early and aggressive artificial reef program, the waters off this Florida Panhandle beach town are littered with the remains of freighters, warships, tugs, barges, OSVs — virtually any sort of vessel imaginable.

And, with wrecks, comes the inevitable boom in marine life: fish, lobsters and other crustaceans, and coral. These vessels are now ablaze with color, hosting life where there once was none. See photos from our May trip.

This September, Harry’s Dive shop will host a special, two-day trip designed to help you experience the best in Panama City wreck diving. This trip is a great opportunity for divers to take part in Advanced or Specialty Diver training. Because of the depths (many of the wrecks are in 80 to 100 feet of water), if you are not taking part in a class, some form of prior Advanced or Deep Diver training is recommended, along with Nitrox certification and use.

Other than that, you don’t have to be a big-time tech diver — or even have that many dives under your belt. Normal recreational dive gear, including two tanks and a wetsuit adequate for current temperatures, is all you need to own or rent.

On Saturday, we’ll enjoy an eight-hour, three-tank dive trip, returning in plenty of time to enjoy a delicious dinner at Captain Anderson’s restaurant. Sunday, it’s a six-hour, two-tank dive trip that returns in time for a leisurely drive back to New Orleans.

The weather generally cooperates with us; however, if we do have to cancel at the last minute, Vortex and Morrison Springs are just a short drive away — and you can either get a refund of your trip fee or apply it to a future outing. Be sure we have your cell phone number, so that we can contact you at the last minute, if necessary.

Some of Our Favorite Wrecks

Note: The wrecks dived on any given day are dictated by prevailing conditions as well as the number of vessels already in place upon our arrival.

Itinerary

Panama City is roughly five hours from New Orleans (see map below). For this reason, and because of the need to meet at the dive shop no later than 6:15 am, we have you arrive the night before. Our schedule is:

Friday, September 4: Drive to Panama City (approximately four hours). Check into La Quinta. Get to bed early.

View Larger Map

Saturday, September 5: Meet at Panama City Dive Center (PCDC) at 6:15 am to sign paperwork before going to the boat. The boat leaves at 7:00 am and should return at 3:00 am. Leave tanks at PCDC while at Captain Anderson’s for our dining experience.

View Larger Map

Sunday, September 6: Meet at PCDC at 6:15 am to pick up your tanks before going to the boat for a 7:00 am departure. We should return around 1:00 pm to pick up, pack up and head out. (Or, as an option, you can stay and additional night and return on Monday.)

Space on this trip is limited and likely to fill fast. For more information, or to sign up, call or visit Harry’s Dive Shop.

Don’t Leave Home Without DAN

DAN Accident Insurance and DAN Travel Insurance: They’re the two things no intelligent diver would ever dream of traveling without. The good news is, if you don’t have these two pieces of valuable protection, you can sign up right now, on line.

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