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Scout - 10/03/2008 5:59 AM
Two operators I like:
Narcosis - Maybe five miles north, just over the bridge at Riviera Beach. Captain Van Blakeman and his crew are well the worth the $85 for two tanks. The boat is clean and well-maintained. Has a big video screen that shows underwater topography with a GPS overlay. This is classic drift diving on the Breakers Reef and other special locations. I know you can get tanks and weights, but you’d better check first to see if there are BCs, regulators, etc. for rent.
The Scuba Club - This is a pretty famous place, as it was set up by local legend Noreen Rouse. It’s about two miles north of the center of WPB. This is kind of like a country club for divers - there are special rates for members, a nice pool and an apartment you can rent. Full dive shop with rental gear, instructors and repair specialists. The club boat is a few steps from the pool. Perfectly nice, but I remember the captain and crew as being pretty standoffish - probably because I was the only one on the boat that afternoon who wasn’t a club member. Went to the wreck of the Eisenvache and did the Breakers Reef drift.
I’m sure there are more - search the DiveBuddy.com site and send a few messages to people who live near zip code 33407. Also, check the Dive Sites database for Florida - there are almost 300 entries, and it looks like about 50 are in the general area of WPB. Click History to see who posted the details and contact them - Then blog it up for all of us!
Dive Safe - Dive often
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www.hypnauticaldivecharters.com A small six pack boat running out of Riviera Beach, Hypnautical can pretty much take you where you want. The captain and mate are both divers and hunters if you enjoy spearfishing. Very knowledgeable in the local waters.
http://www.force-e.com/areas_served/west_palm_beach_florida.shtml This is a local shop in West Palm that can also help you out with anything you may need, from equipment rentals to refills. They also have several boats they work with, so there’s always someone going diving.
Enjoy the trip, almost all of the diving in the West palm Beach area is drift diving. If you haven’t been there before, just jump in and away you go, lots of fun, just remember to stay with the dive flag...
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Bill Walker’s Dive Charters does an amazing job. They go out of North Palm Beach Marina. The boats are never too jammed pack, and the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. I know they have trips that go out once everyday M-F, and then twice a day Sat-Sun. I have done almost a hundred dives with them this year, and its the only charter my husband will take his students out on when we are in WPB.
http://www.walkersdivecharters.com/
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