Under the Crystal Blue: A Scuba Diving Vacation Along Florida's Panhandle
The beaches of Florida's Panhandle are absolutely breathtaking. The sand is snow-white and it extends nearly unbroken, like a ribbon of white separating the green vegetation of northern Florida's landscape from the blue of the clear Gulf waters. Beside the Beautiful Beaches
The beaches extending from Pensacola to Panama City Beach are still virtually unspoiled by development and tourist traffic. But it is what lies beneath these crystal clear waters that may surprise you. The reefs, caves and shipwrecks off Florida's northern Gulf Coast make for a fabulous scuba diving vacation destination.
Because of Florida's mild climate, you can enjoy scuba diving year round. The water is slightly cooler in the winter, but the advantage lies in the fact that you will practically have the sea to yourself.
Along the Gulf Coast you will find dives for divers of all levels. There are long stretches of shallow sand flats for the novice diver, and complex shipwrecks for the more advanced adventurers.
Scuba Diving the "Wreck Capital of the World"
Most people know Panama City Beach as the "Spring Break Capital of the World," But divers who know call it "The Wreck Capital of the World." In his book, Great Getaways, a Floridian's Guide to Florida, Florida scuba diving expert, Greg Johnston says of Panama City, "it has always been a premier diving location in North Florida."
He also says that "you'll find plenty of historical wreck sites and artificial reefs that provide home to an abundance of marine life along with dozens of natural reefs just a few miles from shore."
A scuba diving vacation along Florida's panhandle is the perfect getaway for any diver, including the prospective diver. Diver certification courses are available in nearly every city and town along the coast, with the price depending on the level of scuba diving certification you desire. There has never been a better time for scuba diving in Florida.
About the Author
Erika Edwards Decaster is an avid international traveler and has traveled in South America, the Caribbean, Mexico and Europe. She is currently living and working in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her previous experience includes publishing, curriculum development, museum administration and as a teacher of English as a second language. She has also worked as a full-time humanitarian aid volunteer in Portugal and as an employment specialist in the Dominican Republic.
