The water is great.

I’m doing better but I can’t really get in the water for a few more weeks. Still, I am thankful that it is not a permanent injury.
I have been watching this season of diving and sad to say that several of the dive charters in Panama City Beach say that their customer base has dropped by around 35-40%. The local dive shops there are feeling the same pain.
That’s a shame because the water is very warm and much clearer than it has been in a couple of years. The water temp is 87-88 degrees and visibility has been 45-90 feet.
The other issue is because the economy has been bad the prices have had to increase due to insurance cost, fuel cost, and low amount of divers going on trips.
I fully understand because since my retirement a couple years ago we have been on a fixed income so for me to go diving it has to be planned and saved for. When we had our daughters at home diving was an extreme luxury and well planned. The only other way was to have a dive class because most dive shops/charters will comp an instructor for bringing their students. Since Wakulla Diving Center has been closed and the building sold I have only done advanced classes because I have nowhere to conduct my classroom sessions.
Diving season for the tourists who come to Florida is almost over so that means for us locals that our season is getting in full swing. The skinny is the water is great and so far several of my spearfishing buddies are telling me that they are doing great in terms of getting their fill. With the water getting so warm so early a lot of the big fish are heading to deeper water, 60-100+ feet, so if you are going please watch your saturation levels. There is not a fish out there that is worth a very expensive chamber ride.
If you’re into spring diving, the water at Morrison Springs seems to be at a visibility of level of 1 which means crystal clear. The other springs seem to be the same for now. The only issue will be all the non divers going to the same springs that we love diving in and that is not good for divers. If you do go spring diving to save money and want to still make bubbles then make sure you keep your equipment that you’re not using on some of your dives locked up in your vehicle because it will disappear. Please be careful because of the pop up thunderstorms we have been having with all the lightning dancing around.
Be smart and be safe.

Russell Miller NAUI #59999