Divers coming to Panama City know that the waters offshore are home to nearly 100 shipwrecks and artificial reef sites in addition to small limestone reefs without number. Which type of dive appeals most is a matter of individual preference. Panama City is too far North in the Gulf to have the large hard corals like stag horn that divers associate with the Florida Keys. On the other hand PCB rarely experiences much in the way of current and visibility is between 30 and 40' most of the year. With the exception of diving the St. Andrews State Park Jetties and the Springs north of town, all Panama City diving is done from a dive boat.
There are numerous shipwrecks both naturally and intentionally sunk in area waters. The most popular wreck is the Black Bart, a 200' long naval tug boat that was retired and sunk. The boat is upright with its deck in 70'. Another popular wreck is the Tarpon, a steamship sunk during a storm in 1937. Currently her remains are scattered on a patch of limestone reef in 105' of water. Turtles, snapper, grouper and various jacks are common on this site and a careful observer can spot shovelnose lobster in the debris. Further offshore you can find the Chippewa, a great training dive for the beginning wreck diver. There are several swim thrus on this 200' general purpose tug laying upright in 100'. Red snapper, gag grouper and large goliath grouper are regularly seen here.
The artificial reef program is very active in this part of the panhandle, and in addition to ships there are also metal bridge spans, fish havens, reef balls, industrial pipes and retired navy "stages" quite reminiscent of oil rigs. These habitats are often quite small but are amazing fish aggregators. Alabama fishermen often site their aggressive artificial reef program as the source of the vibrant snapper fishery. They have only a tiny portion of coastline but manage to account for nearly half of the red snapper catch!
Of course mother nature is hard to improve on and area fisherman and spearfisherman prefer to target limestone hardbottom to find large quantities of game fish in small areas. Turtles and sharks are much more commonly seen on the reefs that dot the waters offshore of the West end of the Beaches. Spiny and shovelnose lobsters, snappers and groupers often grace the dinner plates of the hunting divers who venture to these types of dive sites.
Panama City has been referred to as the wreck capitol of the South. Interestingly its shipwrecks are only a small part of what it has to offer the visiting (or local) diver. Local dive operators range from full service dive shop chains to smaller owner operated dive boats, so whatever needs and preferences a diver may have... there is someone in Panama City to cater to them.
