Divers reach Panama City knows that the coastal waters are home to about 100 wrecks and artificial reef sites in addition to the limestone reef no small number. What kind of diving more resources is a matter of individual preference. Panama City is too far north in the Gulf of having the large hard corals such as staghorn divers partner with the Florida Keys. On the other hand PCB rarely encounters much in the way of the current and the visibility is between 30 and 40 'most of the year. Diving With the exception of St. Andrews State Park jetties and North Springs in the city, all of Panama City Dive is made from a dive boat.

There are numerous shipwrecks naturally or intentionally sunk in the waters of the area. The most popular wreck is that of Black Bart, a long 200 'naval tug was removed and sank. The boat is upright, with her deck at 70 '. Another popular wreck is the alewife, a steamship sunk during a storm in 1937. Today his remains are scattered on a piece of limestone reef 105 'of water. Turtles, snapper, grouper and jacks are common at this different site and a careful observer can detect the Shovelnose lobster in the rubble. Away from the coast you will find the Chippewa, an immersion training for the first shipwreck diver. There are several swim in this thrus 200 'of general use on the vertical strip at 100'. The snapper, gag and Goliath big honcho regularly see here.

The artificial reef program is very active in this part of the strip, and in addition there are also ships metal crosses the bridge, fish havens, reef balls, industrial piping and retired navy "stage" is very reminiscent of oil platforms. These habitats are often very small, but they are amazing fish aggregators. Alabama fishermen often the site of its aggressive artificial reef program as the source of vibrant red snapper fishery. They have only a small portion of the coast but they manage to account for almost half of the red snapper catch!

Of course, Mother Nature is hard to improve and local fisherman and spearfisherman limestone hardbottom prefer to target to find large fish in small areas. Turtles and sharks are much more common on reefs that dot the waters off the western beaches. And Shovelnose spiny lobsters, snappers and groupers often grace the dinner plates of hunting divers who venture into this type of dive sites.

Panama City has been named as the shipwreck capital of the South. Curiously its shipwrecks are only a small part of what we have to offer the visitor (or local), diver. The local dive operators complete range of chain stores to small dive owner-dive boats, so that the needs and preferences of a diver may have … there is someone in Panama City to meet them.

- Capt Pat Green

Pat is a Panama City native with 16 years dive experience. He is an FSU graduate, 100 ton Master Captain, Emergency First Response Instructor, AAUS Science Diver and PADI Divemaster (#235260) with over 1000 logged dives in the Panama City area. He currently runs a dive operation catering to wreck divers. His website is listed below;

http://www.PanamaCityDiveCharters.com
A reliable, owner operated and customer service oriented dive operation.

http://www.squidoo.com/PanamaCityDiving
Another related article on squidoo by Pat Green.

Excerpt
“Since so many people enjoy this activity in so many different places, quite a few norms have evolved from one location to another. What follows is a guide for my part of the world here in the Florida panhandle….”

Aion – Under the water KOBT