Tampa Diving

[CaribQween]

My husband and I will be cruising on the Legend out of Tampa in Feburary 2010. We will be staying in the Tampa area pre-cruise for several days. We're going to take some time to go to Clearwater and then down the coast and around up through St. Petersburg on the way back up to Tampa. We've recently obtained our Open Water Diver certification (over the weekend) and are considering whether we should do some diving prior to the cruise. Does anyone have any advice for areas or dive operations that are especially good? We will hopefully be doing a lot of diving over the next couple of months (before it gets too cold to dive) so we won't be completely green, but we are going to consider ourselves very inexperienced for any diving we do so we stay very safe. It will, of course, be our first time doing any saltwater diving so it will be different anyway when you factor in buoyancy differences and currents, etc. So let's just say we'll be very, very new still to diving and will definitely want an experienced Divemaster with us. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Capt_BJ]

I do NOT recommend ANY diving out of Tampa/St Pete

 

save your bucks for dives out of the islands. st pete / tampa diving and even the local springs are more of the 'I want to get wet' dive variety rather than the 'great dive' one

 

certified in 1973 by a PADI single digit instructor number . . .

 

.....

[Middleager]

The water is not clear at Clearwater/Tampa. No good diving there.

 

However, drive a bit north, you can do very good shallow drift diving at Rainbow River. Can also go to Crystal River for snorkeling with manatees, and some diving there too. As a new diver, you'll enjoy the excellent visibility at Rainbow Rivers, and becausee it's shallow(6-25'), it'll be very safe too.

[coffeyk]

Agree, the water is not clear here in Tampa Bay. I'll go out of desperation but that's about it. The springs aren't bad but they aren't worth the price. There is probably a lot of better ways to spend your time in this area.

[crystalight33]

You might consider driving the couple hours to Orlando one day and dive in the Disney exhibit in Epcot called The Living Seas. They have a program called DiveQuest and it is a bit expensive ($125 each I think) but all the money goes towards conservation. They give you all the equipment (you aren't allowed to take your own except your mask and watch type computer) and you get around 45 mins to swim in their large coral exhibit. There are a couple huge turtles, lots of fish, and sharks!

 

The exhibit is only 27ft deep and it is very comparable to ocean salinity (saltiness). DH and I did it 2 years ago and had a great time. The sharks are sand tiger sharks and another smaller specie. The sharks have a set path that they swim 24/7 around the exhibit, so you can position yourself to have as much or as little interaction as you want. I love sharks, so I plopped myself down right in the middle of the largest sand tiger shark's path. We were told that the sharks will not deviate from their path to avoid you (when they change the fake coral around in the exhibit, the sharks actually run into it for days before they change their path), so when the 12 ft sand tiger swam very slowly up to me, I raised myself off the bottom and watched the shark swim inches below me. SO COOL!!

 

I also had a great time interacting with guests on the other side of the glass. You can swim up to the restaraunt and wave at the guests who are eating. I saw one girl who was about 7 or so get an ice cream sundae, so I pointed at the sundae and rubbed my tummy. She shyly smiled and waved back while her parents got all excited and started taking pictures. At another window, there were 2 small girls dressed in princess dresses, so I positioned myself so I raised up from the bottom of the window (where they couldn't see me coming) and played pattycake with them through the window. It was so much fun and it really made their day.

 

After your time in the exhibit is up, you have access to nice hot showers where they provide shampoo and conditioner and body soap, and they also have hair dryers you can use. Then, you get to watch a video that they film during your dive and you can purchase it for $35. The divequest price isn't supposed to include admission into the park, but there isn't anyone that escorts you out of the park, so if you decide you want to stay and ride a few rides and watch the fireworks show, go for it.

 

Like I said, we had an absolute blast when we went, and I think it would be a great experience for you as new divers because there isn't any current to worry about, visibility is great, and there are 3 dive masters and a videographer that swim around and keep an eye on everyone.

[diathoney]

In Feb when the water is cooler, it is a little clearer. We go for the spearfishing. YOu can try Mac's Sports in Clearwater. They usually have regular Gulf trips. You might have more fun spending the day at Busch Gardens though...

[Capt_BJ]

EPCOT dive +++++

 

did that years ago and it is a TRIP

 

can a St Pete dive get close???? Sorry, don't think so

 

based on dives there and

Bonair, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, Cayman Brac, length of the Keys, Dominica, Saba, St Martin, Cozumel, Bimini, West Palm, Curacao, Abuba, .... well I decided not to get the log out ...

 

oh yea .... a few miles out of St Pete / Tampa on a sunken barge.... once.....once...no desire to return....

[CaribQween]

EPCOT dive +++++

 

did that years ago and it is a TRIP

 

can a St Pete dive get close???? Sorry, don't think so

 

based on dives there and

Bonair, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, Cayman Brac, length of the Keys, Dominica, Saba, St Martin, Cozumel, Bimini, West Palm, Curacao, Abuba, .... well I decided not to get the log out ...

 

oh yea .... a few miles out of St Pete / Tampa on a sunken barge.... once.....once...no desire to return....

 

We absolutely appreciate everyone being honest with us about the Tampa area :). We're very, very, new to this whole diving thing so we don't know where the good or bad spots would be :o. We'll have been diving in quarries in and around Indiana up until that point. Our cruise will be going to Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Belize and Roatan and we'll be diving in several of those spots, but we just thought that being able to get in some diving prior to that might be good too. You have to understand, we're anxious to get to something bigger and better and to be able to dive as much as possible on our trip because once we get back from our cruise it will be back to the quarries for a while until we can get our next trip in. But, don't get me wrong, we actually really loved diving in Gilboa Quarry in Ottawa, Ohio this past weekend so we wondered if we loved that, would we be okay with somewhere in the Tampa, Clearwater, St. Pete area? But, we'll take everyone's advice since it seems to be a concensus here :). I know we'll be ruined once we dive the Carribean and it will be hard to go back to quarries, but as much as we've loved diving so far, I think we'll dive anything and everything for a very long time. Thanks to everyone for the input.

[bajathree]

The Tampa Aquarium located directly next to the port has a program that allows certified diver to dive with the sharks. http://www.flaquarium.org/cm/templates/exhibits.aspx?articleid=55&zoneid=31

[CaribQween]

The Tampa Aquarium located directly next to the port has a program that allows certified diver to dive with the sharks. http://www.flaquarium.org/cm/templates/exhibits.aspx?articleid=55&zoneid=31

 

That sounds pretty cool. We may just have to check that out since it's so close by. Thanks.

[jkstoy]

My suggestion would be go to Scubaboard.com sign up, read the boards. You will get ENOUGH information to make your choices.

[rednose83]

CaribKing- My DH is finishing up his cert later today. We live about 1 hour or so from Tampa. I can give you the link to the dive shop we've been working with. They have been super-friendly and knowledgeable with us so perhaps they could recommend local areas that may make for decent diving. It's http://www.scubawest.net

[KJHorton]

Everyone I know who has done the dive at Epcot has really enjoyed it. I checked into it recently and the price has really gone up, it is $175. However, if you do go, make sure to see what discounts they take. With AAA discount, it brought the price down to close to $150.

 

Rainbow River is a great clear and peaceful drift dive. It's very shallow, no more than 25 feet, with lots of varience in the depth. This may make it difficult controlling your boyancy as a beginner, but it is also a great place to practice.

 

If you do go up to that area, I defintely would not do the cavern in the Crystal River, even though the dive shops in the area say it is ok for all divers.

[Dive Master]

The Gainesvile,Fl area is about 100 miles northeast of Tampa.The Florida springs offer some world class diving.Rainbow River,Paradise Springs, Devil's Den, Blue Grotto, and world famous Ginnie Springs are all in the area.The water is about 70-72 degrees year round and the vis can be unbelieveable. I got certified at Ginnie and Devil's Den years ago and make a trip every winter.

 

Spring diving is almost always in an overhead enviroment but can be a safe and enjoyable experience even for new divers. Just please make sure to obey all the rules and Never, Ever enter a cave zone without the proper gear and training. Most all Cave Zones at the commercial sites will have very clear signs telling you to go no further.Most all of the commercial springs have permanent heavy duty guide lines in place.

 

To me the springs are still absolutely amazing.Some of my buddies have gone on to Full Cave but I still enjoy just diving the springs.If I ever win Powerball, maybe I can affored to do the "techie" thing.

 

Congradulations on your Certification.

[Middleager]

We'll have been diving in quarries in and around Indiana up until that point. Our cruise will be going to Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Belize and Roatan and we'll be diving in several of those spots, but we just thought that being able to get in some diving prior to that might be good too.

I have dived several places in the Caribbean, Hawaii, Pacific coast, Taiwan, a spring in PA, and in Crystal River and Rainbow River. You will be (as I was) spoiled by Caribbean diving. The air is warm before and after diving, the water is warm (don't need to wear heavy wetsuit with lots of weight). Viz is usually good (50-100') and you'll see nice colorful reefs and lots of fish (unlike quarries with much lower viz, much colder, and may see sponge/mud).

 

A few years ago, we were doing the W. Caribbean cruise, and also did Grand Cayman, Coz, Belize, and Costa Maya. So it was very similar to what you will be doing.

 

I was a "medium" diver at the time we were in Tampa, for the S. Caribbean cruise. We had a group of 5, where I was the only diver and the rest were snorkelers. We drove to Crystal River, as we got off the flight at Tampa airport. It was a leisurely 1.5hr drive.

 

That night I did the first dive at the cavern at Crystal River, as a night diver, while the others just came for the boat ride on Crystal River. (Then we had a nice dinner) The next morning we did manatee snorkeling there at Crystal River, before I went for another dive at the cavern. If it's only the 2 of you, shouldn't be a problem as beginners, if you stay with the DM. But that's if you are comfortable in a cave/overhang and dark situation. It's not very deep, and the cave doesn't get too deep/far.

 

In the afternoon, we went to Rainbow River. The pontoon boat took us about a mile away, then stayed in front of us snorkelers and divers (the DM and I), while we drifted.

 

I think Rainbow River is a perfect for beginner to "medium". The visibility was >100', more than any where I've been to. The temp was 72, and fairly constant. It shouldn't be much of a problem to control buoancy for a beginner. In fact, it's better to be overweight there, to keep you down.

 

Cozumel is a famous drift diving location. The Rainbow River drift diving/snorkeling was an excellent place to go, before we went to Coz.

[CaribQween]

The Gainesvile,Fl area is about 100 miles northeast of Tampa.The Florida springs offer some world class diving.Rainbow River,Paradise Springs, Devil's Den, Blue Grotto, and world famous Ginnie Springs are all in the area.The water is about 70-72 degrees year round and the vis can be unbelieveable. I got certified at Ginnie and Devil's Den years ago and make a trip every winter.

 

Spring diving is almost always in an overhead enviroment but can be a safe and enjoyable experience even for new divers. Just please make sure to obey all the rules and Never, Ever enter a cave zone without the proper gear and training. Most all Cave Zones at the commercial sites will have very clear signs telling you to go no further.Most all of the commercial springs have permanent heavy duty guide lines in place.

 

To me the springs are still absolutely amazing.Some of my buddies have gone on to Full Cave but I still enjoy just diving the springs.If I ever win Powerball, maybe I can affored to do the "techie" thing.

 

Congradulations on your Certification.

 

Thank you. We're just so excited about diving. We both just feel a pretty deep passion for it and want to continue diving as much as possible. We've started going to quarries to practice our skills and will continue to do so until it just gets too cold. We're scheduled to take our Advance Open Water Diver Course in October. We're trying to plan everything for our February trip now so if we find something really cool that we want to do, we can take the appropriate classes and practice those specific things prior to then. We actually have several other courses we're looking to take prior to our cruise also. But, we're extremely safe divers and follow all guidelines. We are pretty conservative and don't push any limits.

 

We appreciate your recommendations. We would just love to get in some diving during our pre-cruise few days in the Tampa area. We are already trying to book as many days of diving in all of our ports, but we don't want to have so much diving booked that we don't get to do anything else and miss out on the ports themselves altogether. We just know we're going to love diving in the Caribbean, but we love diving no matter where it is and we just want to get in as much diving as possible each time we have the opportunity. We've gotten a lot of reponses that Tampa diving isn't very good so we should pass it up. But, it has to be better than the quarries. But your suggestions sound wonderful. So, thanks again. We just may take a trip up there on one of the days.

[CaribQween]

I have dived several places in the Caribbean, Hawaii, Pacific coast, Taiwan, a spring in PA, and in Crystal River and Rainbow River. You will be (as I was) spoiled by Caribbean diving. The air is warm before and after diving, the water is warm (don't need to wear heavy wetsuit with lots of weight). Viz is usually good (50-100') and you'll see nice colorful reefs and lots of fish (unlike quarries with much lower viz, much colder, and may see sponge/mud).

 

A few years ago, we were doing the W. Caribbean cruise, and also did Grand Cayman, Coz, Belize, and Costa Maya. So it was very similar to what you will be doing.

 

I was a "medium" diver at the time we were in Tampa, for the S. Caribbean cruise. We had a group of 5, where I was the only diver and the rest were snorkelers. We drove to Crystal River, as we got off the flight at Tampa airport. It was a leisurely 1.5hr drive.

 

That night I did the first dive at the cavern at Crystal River, as a night diver, while the others just came for the boat ride on Crystal River. (Then we had a nice dinner) The next morning we did manatee snorkeling there at Crystal River, before I went for another dive at the cavern. If it's only the 2 of you, shouldn't be a problem as beginners, if you stay with the DM. But that's if you are comfortable in a cave/overhang and dark situation. It's not very deep, and the cave doesn't get too deep/far.

 

In the afternoon, we went to Rainbow River. The pontoon boat took us about a mile away, then stayed in front of us snorkelers and divers (the DM and I), while we drifted.

 

I think Rainbow River is a perfect for beginner to "medium". The visibility was >100', more than any where I've been to. The temp was 72, and fairly constant. It shouldn't be much of a problem to control buoancy for a beginner. In fact, it's better to be overweight there, to keep you down.

 

Cozumel is a famous drift diving location. The Rainbow River drift diving/snorkeling was an excellent place to go, before we went to Coz.

 

We've gotten several recommendations for Rainbow Springs now. We'll have a rental car during our pre-cruise time so we could easily take a trip up there. We originally were planning to just spend a few days driving over to Clearwater Beach, down the coast to North Redington, down to St. Pete beach and then over and up through St. Petersburg on our way back to Tampa. But we didn't have any specific plans. We've just never been there before so we were going to do some sightseeing and spend some time on the beaches. But now that we've taken up diving, it opens up a whole new world of opportunities.

 

We've read a number of posts about drift diving in Cozumel. But we don't know much about it. Could you give us a little info on drift diving in Coz? I know there is a class on drift diving, but that's about all I know. Is all of the diving in Cozumel drift diving (I would have to assume it is not)? If you don't do drift diving in Cozumel is regular diving more difficult because of the heavy currents or is it still a great place for diving? Any info would be appreciated.

[CaribQween]

We've gotten several recommendations for Rainbow Springs now. We'll have a rental car during our pre-cruise time so we could easily take a trip up there. We originally were planning to just spend a few days driving over to Clearwater Beach, down the coast to North Redington, down to St. Pete beach and then over and up through St. Petersburg on our way back to Tampa. But we didn't have any specific plans. We've just never been there before so we were going to do some sightseeing and spend some time on the beaches. But now that we've taken up diving, it opens up a whole new world of opportunities.

 

We've read a number of posts about drift diving in Cozumel. But we don't know much about it. Could you give us a little info on drift diving in Coz? I know there is a class on drift diving, but that's about all I know. Is all of the diving in Cozumel drift diving (I would have to assume it is not)? If you don't do drift diving in Cozumel is regular diving more difficult because of the heavy currents or is it still a great place for diving? Any info would be appreciated.

 

Oops, that's Rainbow River, not Rainbow Springs (sorry:o).

[Dive Master]

We've gotten several recommendations for Rainbow Springs now. We'll have a rental car during our pre-cruise time so we could easily take a trip up there. We originally were planning to just spend a few days driving over to Clearwater Beach, down the coast to North Redington, down to St. Pete beach and then over and up through St. Petersburg on our way back to Tampa. But we didn't have any specific plans. We've just never been there before so we were going to do some sightseeing and spend some time on the beaches. But now that we've taken up diving, it opens up a whole new world of opportunities.

 

We've read a number of posts about drift diving in Cozumel. But we don't know much about it. Could you give us a little info on drift diving in Coz? I know there is a class on drift diving, but that's about all I know. Is all of the diving in Cozumel drift diving (I would have to assume it is not)? If you don't do drift diving in Cozumel is regular diving more difficult because of the heavy currents or is it still a great place for diving? Any info would be appreciated.

 

 

Pretty much any boat dive in Cozumel is going to be a drift dive. The current is responsible for a large part of that wonderful vis-(100 to 250 feet).I call it "riding the underwater wind".Just get bouyant and watch the beautiful reef and wall float by. The boats follow the bubbles and the DM's surface marker.I always carry my Dive Alert (air horn) and a safety sausage for any ocean dive just in case, but there are so many boats off Cozumel I would not worry about an "Open Water" experience.Someone will pick you up if you lose the group.

 

I highly recommend you guys spend a day at beautiful Ginnie Springs at High Springs,FL before your cruise.A great palce to practice your skills with no waves,current,or salt water.Jacque Cousteau described Ginnie as "Visability Forever" and it is often called the world's best fresh water dive.Ginnie Cavern is beautiful and has a max depth of 55 feet or so at the entrance of the cave zone----the cave has a large metal grate covering the entrance.Devils Eye and Ear are another good dive along a spring run out to the beautiful Santa Fe River.Try to go on a week day to avoid the crowds.I have often had Ginnie Cavern all to myself on a weekday--so peaceful just diving the beautiful cavern for 75 minutes or so.Ginnie has a full service dive shop on site for tanks or any rental needs.They also have world class cavern and cave instruction if you want to try that---but I would get some experience before I tried the cave thing (100 dives or more is the recommendation).

 

Blue Grotto also is a nice cavern for new divers--- just dont go past 60 feet without the proper gear or training.There is plenty to see at 10-60 feet.

 

As far as quarries and lakes go, one of my favorite dives is still the Mt. Carmel Church Cemetery 138 feet down in beautiful Lake Jocasse,SC.It's twilight,cold, your narced and swimming amongst the headstones---it just don't get much better.I just love getting my "Jocassee High" every weekend.

Hope this helps and have a great trip.

[CaribQween]

Pretty much any boat dive in Cozumel is going to be a drift dive. The current is responsible for a large part of that wonderful vis-(100 to 250 feet).I call it "riding the underwater wind".Just get bouyant and watch the beautiful reef and wall float by. The boats follow the bubbles and the DM's surface marker.I always carry my Dive Alert (air horn) and a safety sausage for any ocean dive just in case, but there are so many boats off Cozumel I would not worry about an "Open Water" experience.Someone will pick you up if you lose the group.

 

I highly recommend you guys spend a day at beautiful Ginnie Springs at High Springs,FL before your cruise.A great palce to practice your skills with no waves,current,or salt water.Jacque Cousteau described Ginnie as "Visability Forever" and it is often called the world's best fresh water dive.Ginnie Cavern is beautiful and has a max depth of 55 feet or so at the entrance of the cave zone----the cave has a large metal grate covering the entrance.Devils Eye and Ear are another good dive along a spring run out to the beautiful Santa Fe River.Try to go on a week day to avoid the crowds.I have often had Ginnie Cavern all to myself on a weekday--so peaceful just diving the beautiful cavern for 75 minutes or so.Ginnie has a full service dive shop on site for tanks or any rental needs.They also have world class cavern and cave instruction if you want to try that---but I would get some experience before I tried the cave thing (100 dives or more is the recommendation).

 

Blue Grotto also is a nice cavern for new divers--- just dont go past 60 feet without the proper gear or training.There is plenty to see at 10-60 feet.

 

As far as quarries and lakes go, one of my favorite dives is still the Mt. Carmel Church Cemetery 138 feet down in beautiful Lake Jocasse,SC.It's twilight,cold, your narced and swimming amongst the headstones---it just don't get much better.I just love getting my "Jocassee High" every weekend.

Hope this helps and have a great trip.

 

Thank you very much for all of the info. I've already started doing some research and I think we'll more than likely follow your advice. The gulf coast beaches sound nice, but diving in the springs and caverns sounds just magnificent and frankly, just too good to pass up. I would actually really also love to do a Manatee snorkel/dive tour while we're there too. I just want to take advantage of it all while we're there and have the opportunity. Once my husband sees the pictures, I don't think he'll be able to pass it up either.

 

I have to say, the Mt. Carmel Church Cemetary sounds very cool also. I hope to make it there someday to check it out too.

[Middleager]

The gulf coast beaches sound nice, but diving in the springs and caverns sounds just magnificent and frankly, just too good to pass up. I would actually really also love to do a Manatee snorkel/dive tour while we're there too.

You can snorkel with the manatees, but not dive with them. They are scared of the bubbles. When we drove from Tampa airport to Crystal River, we stayed at Best Western for a night. There were snorkel/dive ops within walking distance or a few minutes drive.

 

Feb. is a good time to see many more manatees, than the Aug. time that we went to.

 

If you go on a weekday, it won't be as crowded. OTOH, there may not be as many people to go diving, at Rainbow River. If not enough people, you might still be able to make arrangement by paying a little more, for the 2 of you.

 

Cozumel is all drift diving. It'll be like flying. Depending on where you go, there could be some swim throughs, and can see rays, big groupers, and I saw a 7' nurse shark. At some places the current is stronger and I had to hang on to a rock in order to see more at one place.

 

Just checked my notes for that trip. In Crystal River, we booked with Adventure Diving (for manatee snorkling, King Spring diving, and Rainbow River diving/snorkeling).

 

At Cozumel, we booked diving/snorkeling with Blue Angel.

 

At Tampa, we stayed at the Doubletree airport. Got an upgrade to exec level, which included breakfast. They have free shuttle to/from airport, and to/from cruise port. At the end of the trip, they pick up at the cruise port to go to the airport.

 

In Grand Cayman, you can either try diving the wall, or go to Stingray city, to play or "snorkel" with stingrays. Then can do some shore diving at Eden Rock. Eden Rock is only 200 yards walk from the cruise terminal. It'll be a very good cheap, shallow, diving experience.

[CaribQween]

You can snorkel with the manatees, but not dive with them. They are scared of the bubbles. When we drove from Tampa airport to Crystal River, we stayed at Best Western for a night. There were snorkel/dive ops within walking distance or a few minutes drive.

 

Feb. is a good time to see many more manatees, than the Aug. time that we went to.

 

If you go on a weekday, it won't be as crowded. OTOH, there may not be as many people to go diving, at Rainbow River. If not enough people, you might still be able to make arrangement by paying a little more, for the 2 of you.

 

Cozumel is all drift diving. It'll be like flying. Depending on where you go, there could be some swim throughs, and can see rays, big groupers, and I saw a 7' nurse shark. At some places the current is stronger and I had to hang on to a rock in order to see more at one place.

 

Just checked my notes for that trip. In Crystal River, we booked with Adventure Diving (for manatee snorkling, King Spring diving, and Rainbow River diving/snorkeling).

 

At Cozumel, we booked diving/snorkeling with Blue Angel.

 

At Tampa, we stayed at the Doubletree airport. Got an upgrade to exec level, which included breakfast. They have free shuttle to/from airport, and to/from cruise port. At the end of the trip, they pick up at the cruise port to go to the airport.

 

In Grand Cayman, you can either try diving the wall, or go to Stingray city, to play or "snorkel" with stingrays. Then can do some shore diving at Eden Rock. Eden Rock is only 200 yards walk from the cruise terminal. It'll be a very good cheap, shallow, diving experience.

 

Thank you for all of the information you provided, especially on the dive ops you've used. That willl be very helpful.

 

In Grand Cayman, we definitely wanted to do the swimming with the stingrays at Stingray City but we were trying to figure out how to squeeze in a dive there also. The shore diving at Eden Rock is a great idea. We had been slightly leary of shore diving until we get a little more experience just because we haven't gotten any experience yet in the ocean or any saltwater bodies of water, and we weren't sure how difficult shore diving would be with the currents and all.

 

After I wrote the last post, I figured out that the "Manatee Snorkel/Dive Tour" was only snorkeling with the manatees, and the dive is a cavern dive afterwards". But that's okay, I'm happy with just the opportunity to see them and get in the water with them. And the dives look so cool. We were looking at Devil's Den last night and I would really love to give that a try. Of course all of those you mentioned look really cool. We'll have to figure out how to just pick a couple, at least for this trip :D. Thanks again for the info. Every little tidbit helps.

[rednose83]

Also, you could try Weeki Wachee River. It's also about 1.5 hours north of Tampa. Simply gorgeous.

[CaribQween]

I think we've decided on diving Blue Grotto and Devil's Den on our first afternoon with possibly a night dive. Then the next day we'll do the morning Manatee tour at Crystal River with the Cavern dive afterwards. And in the afternoon, we're going to take the drift diving specialty course at Rainbow River so we'll have some experience when we get to Cozumel. We are considering using either American Pro Diving Center or Adventure Diving. We certainly do appreciate everyone's recommendations. We're so excited about adding all of this in prior to our cruise.

[rednose83]

Devils Den looks beautiful. It will be my first dive after certification. Can't wait for class to start. lol