Captain John L. Russell 3's Florida Diving and Dive Sites

West Coast Gulf of Mexico-- Diving is available from the Florida pan handle, Pensacola to the Florida Keys. The best sites are Pensacola, Panama City area in the pan handle; Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tarpon Springs and Port Richey in mid state; The Dry Tortugas, Marquesas and Keys are southwest favorites. The Gulf of Mexico is shallow inshore. Boat trips are the usual method of diving the Gulf. Because of the shallower depths, greater bottoms times are obtained. The Gulf has very diverse sites composed of ledges, reefs, scattered rocks, soft corals and sponge gardens. The Gulf has an abundance of bottom fish and is a fisherman's delight.

Current Conditions West Coast Gulf of Mexico, Tampa Bay FL Area-- For info on Local Diving Conditions go to: Newsletter

Sea Hunt TV Title

Shortly after the 9/11
attacks the FBI began
requesting dive records
from Florida Dive Shops
in a search for "Scuba
Terrorists"

Terrorist Hose Cutter

Mike Nelson, Free Lance
Underwater Investigator,
freed Florida waters of
"Hose Cutting Terrorists"
forty years ago

Mike Nelson
from TV Guide

Forty years ago Mike Nelson, Freelance Underwater Investigator, freed our coastal waters of terrorists.

In the 155 episodes of "Sea Hunt", Lloyd Bridges as Mike Nelson was under constant attack by "hose cutting terrorists". The terrorists usually hid behind rocks and attacked the unsuspecting Nelson while he went about his business of underwater investigating. Their favorite target was Mike's air hose which they often cut with a dive knife . Why Mike continued to dive every week in waters so infested, we'll never know. Some of the attacks took place at Silver Springs in Ocala, Florida.

I studied carefully Mike's method of dealing with these hose cutters and am happy to pass them on to you should you encounter an "underwater hose cutting terrorist".

First, the attackers do not seem to understand the function of a double hose regulator, the type used in the sixties. There were two hoses; the right hose was the air supply hose the left was the exhaust hose. All attacks were on the exhaust side, the left hose. This still allowed the attacked to breathe, but the bubbles coming out of the exhaust side seemed to cause the attaked to panic and rush to the surface. Should a terrorist attack your double hose regulator, they will always go for the exhaust side... don't panic continue to breathe! Modern regulators use only one hose that is steel reinforced it would take a long time to saw through with a sharp knife. Use a modern regulator!

Second, these terrorists can not function with out a mask! Mike's best defense was to remove the attackers mask. The rapid rush of water to the eyes caused severe panic and the terrorist fled to the surface. Remove the mask of any attacker!

As I said before, Mike Nelson eliminated most of the underwater terrorists in Florida waters 40 years ago. I only bring this up as the diving industry has been slow since the attacks on 9/11/01. I have personally checked the Springs and the Gulf in the 100 mile radius of Tampa and am pleased to report that there have been no sightings of "underwater terrorists". So fear not and go diving!

Bonus for Sea Hunt Fans download the Sea Hunt theme (David Rose 1958) at: http://www.scubatampa.com/sound/seahunt.wav

With 3000 rivers, lakes, springs and two oceans, Florida has it all, world class terrorist free diving at American rates. Check out FAQs on Gulf diving in the Tampa area at: http://www.scubatampa.com/faqsgdive.html

East Coast Atlantic-- The eastern coast of Florida's sites are from Jacksonville Florida to the Keys. Ft. Pierce, Jupiter, West Palm Beach, Riveria Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Del Ray Beach, Miami, and the Keys are the most popular. Jacksonville and Daytona Beach also offer fine diving. The east coast has deeper diving and abounds in tropical fishes and elaborate reefs. Because of over fishing, bottom game fish are far and few south of West Palm. East Coast diving is usually reef systems that hug the outline of the Florida Coast.

Visibility Visibility 25' to unlimited vis depending on the area and time of year in the Gulf of Mexico. On the Atlantic in deeper waters the vis is 50' to unlimited depending on the area and time of year. Unlimited visibility is the norm in most of Florida's springs.

Water Temperature-- As cold as 55 degrees in the winter months (January to March) mid state to north Florida. 70 to 77 degrees south of Palm Beach in the winter. Summer waters are warm from 74 degrees to 90 degrees north to south. Florida springs are 72 degrees year 'round.

Dive Charters & Prices-- Contact Me for charters, rates, bookings and specific information for diving anywhere in Florida. We have been diving Florida for over 25 years and know the best dive operators, sites, rates, etc. I am headquartered in West Central Florida (Tampa Bay Area) and have charters diving the Gulf every week, weather permitting. Boat charter fees for day trips usually run from $50.00 to $65.00 per diver, per day, depending on area and number of tanks-- two tank or three tank dive trips. Rental gear is between $30.00 to $45.00 per person, per day.

Dive Site of the Month -- Pinellas County Artificial Reef #1 (Anclote #1), heading of 270 degrees, 6.5 nautical miles from N. Anclote Island Marker # 4, 27' of water.

The Barges -- 4 barges sunk by the Tarpon Springs JCs -- great fishing and diving.

The "Barges" have been a favorite diving and fishing site of mine for years. I have caught just about every species of fish here at one time or the other, from cobia to african pompano. Barge 1 & 4 run North and South. Barges 2 and 3 run East and West. All of the barges are approx 110' X 40'. All can be penetrated, Barge 2 being the most intact. Jewfish, grouper, snapper, hog fish, cobia, spade fish, cuda, all can be found here at one time or another. If the current is mild, it is possible to run a compass heading of 205 degrees from Barge 2 to Barge 3, about 75 yards, start at the east end of Barge 2. There is another steel hull here that I found by accident, but I do not have the numbers on it. Best diving here is when there is good viz and gentle currents.

Best Wrecks in Florida The USS Spiegel Grove, Key Largo Florida ~ additional information here.

Rocks Culverts 14275.6 450001.3	~ Barge #1 14276.6 450001.1 ~	Barge #2 14276.2 45000.5
Barge #3 14276.2 45000.3 (.04)		Barge #4 14275.5 44999.5