freedive the gulfcoast

[beemes]

Hi all,
I'm moving to St. Pete area when I graduate from Hawaii and I was wondering if there is a healthy freedive scene out in the gulf? I know most seem to hunt while on scuba, and I can do that too, but I really enjoy freediving. Am I out of luck?

[matt888]

Originally Posted by beemes

Hi all,
I'm moving to St. Pete area when I graduate from Hawaii and I was wondering if there is a healthy freedive scene out in the gulf? I know most seem to hunt while on scuba, and I can do that too, but I really enjoy freediving. Am I out of luck?

Hey man, when you get in the area, PM me. I only freedive and the Gulf is perfect in my opinion for it. When you get comfortable up to 80ft of water, you have about 30 miles of bottom available to you from shore... that's pretty much unheard of anywhere else in the states.

I have a loyal freedive crew but I think a spot or two will be opening up soon due to dive buddies graduating and moving on with their lives. We go whenever the weather is decent on weekends.

[jonesin]

Hey guys,

I am in the same position. Love to freedive and am out in Hawaii right now but will be heading back to the Tampa Bay area next month. I'm very interested getting out and doing some spearing in the area, and even though I grew up over there, I've never been diving there. I definitely can't get down to the 80 ft range comfortably yet, but have been doing some training with some guys out here in a pool and go diving as much as I can.

Would be good to be able to meet up with either of you over there.

Beemes, you still in HI right now?

[matt888]

Jonesin,
Don't even sweat the 80ft remark. I was just trying to put the depths in perspective at a distance of approximately 30 miles from shore. We mostly hit the 65ft and less areas. Plenty of great freediving available.

[jonesin]

No problem, but the 80 ft. will give me somthing to work up to! Looking forward to doing some diving out there.

[Jspear57]

I may try to go to Fort Myers over spring break in April. Is there any place to go from land or is all the diving you do from a boat?

[overhead]

Originally Posted by Jspear57

I may try to go to Fort Myers over spring break in April. Is there any place to go from land or is all the diving you do from a boat?

There really isn't anything notable to dive on off the shore. The slope of the gulf is very gentle--it is like 30' 5 miles offshore, 80' 30 miles offshore. It is pretty much sand bottom off the shore. That's not saying no one knows of any special spots off of certain beaches though....

[Spearo Kev]

I Live in ft. myers and do alot of freediving but not from shore, its not like the east coast!