Oriskany Divemaster
I want to welcome you to the Oriskany Divemaster website. I know you had thousands of choices on where to spend your dive vacation, and I appreciate that you took the time to check out our diving opportunities. If you're a diver, you know it's the job of the Divemaster to make sure the divers see everything they can and have a great time while below the surface. But with this site, I've taken it a step further, and want to see that you enjoy some of my favorite places along the Gulf Coast after the diving day's done. Just click on any of the bold key words for more information.
But first, let's get you in the water. You can either
dive the Oriskany or you can experience it. I've been diving these
Gulf waters for almost 20 years, and have made countless dives on the
Oriskany. If you go with me, I'll
show you all the cool swim-throughs and marine life you might have missed if
you went it alone. I'll also be on hand to help in case there's any
in-water situation. Finally, I'll promise a worry-free dive so you can
maximize your enjoyment while diving the Oriskany. Let me do the
planning, and you just sit back and enjoy the experience.
(photo by Captain Jim Meyers)
Pricing: For a No Worries, Hassle Free
Oriskany Experience, my
Divemaster fee runs $50 per diver and includes up to two dives. Book
now and "earn" your authentic Oriskany Divemaster T-shirt! Charter boat fees are going to be
extra and generally run around $150 per person.
To arrange a trip with me on a Fast Boat click here, or feel free to call 850 341.7467 and speak with me directly to plan the perfect day for you and your group. (photo by Captain Jim Meyers)
Check out a sample of what to expect on your Oriskany Experience.
About the Area
So far this area has been known to only a few people such a beautiful place to dive. We have an outstanding Artificial Reef program with hundreds of sites in less than 100 feet. The visibility hovers around 75-100 feet, with 200+ on some of the deeper dives. As a Professional Divemaster, I can plan your entire day for you so you'll see everything possible during your stay. It's an honor to get in the water with you and show you the highlights.
One of the best parts about diving in Pensacola is the quality of marine life you'll see. It's not uncommon to come across sea turtles, sharks, mantas,--hell there's even a Whale Shark that shows up from time to time. And we always have the snapper, grouper, amberjacks and cobia. I've seen what swims around the wrecks and reefs of the Caribbean, and I usually see more varieties of fish in one dive in Pensacola, than I do in a week down there.
Surface Interval
If you're like me, you like to have something to do during your surface intervals. And because I only dive from the fastest, most stable boats on the Gulf, we're usually back at the dock by 1pm, so you'll have plenty of time to check out everything available Top Side.
We're blessed with dozens of great courses around here, but my favorite has to be Lost Key Golf and Beach Club. It's just reopening after a recent redesign, and it's the perfect place for a little guilt-free golf. With the beach club and all its amenities, it's perfect if you're traveling with families.
For me, nothing beats a cold beer and a great meal after a dive. And in Pensacola, there's no shortage of good, quality food. If you want seafood, you have to check out The Fish House. For little culture, Pensacola Museum of Art constantly secures some incredible exhibits. And the Pensacola Naval Aviation Museum is by far the most comprehensive aviation museum I have ever seen in my travels.
If you forgot your Romance Novels, of if you're in need of some Pulitzer Prize winning fiction, I can't help you there. But I can you offer some beachside reading material on the Divemaster Tales page. Feel free to print what you'd like and take it to the beach. I know it's shallow self-promotion, but for a nominal fee, I'll even autograph the manuscript for you. In my case, a nominal fee is a cold beer...Okay, I'll even buy the beer. Hell, you deserve it for getting through the book. And to to make it sweeter, if you can answer a few key questions on either story, I'll give you a free T-shirt.
This area won't be a diver's best kept secret much longer. With the Oriskany being scuttled, the city's reputation as a dive friendly location will get out. It's already easily accessible whether you drive, or fly. Five hours by car from Atlanta, six from Nashville, and three from New Orleans, you could be in your car at 6am and be here in plenty of time for an afternoon dive, an ice cold beer, and a great dinner. And if you're flying in, the airport is right in town, only 10 miles from the beach.
I'll admit it, I love to travel. But I think I enjoy being a host as much. And that's what I hope you'll take a way from this. I'm here to help make your trip much more enjoyable for you. All of these places I mentioned are the places I hang out. They are the restaurants where I eat. The hotels where I put up out of town guests. And they are the attractions I still go to, even after 20 years of living here.
So why not come on down for a few days? Don't worry about anything. We've taken care of all the details. The water's clear, the food's great, and the beer's cold. So drop me a line, and let's go diving.
Hope to see you soon.
To enter, click on the area you'd like to stay, then follow the links to the hotels, restaurants and dive shops and make your plans.
