Dancing on the Beach

By Pat Green

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.

- Capt Pat Green

Pat is a Panama City native with 16 years dive experience. He is an FSU graduate, 100 ton Master Captain, Emergency First Response Instructor, AAUS Science Diver and PADI Divemaster (#235260) with over 1000 logged dives in the Panama City area. He currently runs a dive operation catering to wreck divers. His website is listed below;

http://www.PanamaCityDiveCharters.com
A reliable, owner operated and customer service oriented dive operation.

http://www.squidoo.com/PanamaCityDiving
Another related article on squidoo by Pat Green.

Excerpt
“Since so many people enjoy this activity in so many different places, quite a few norms have evolved from one location to another. What follows is a guide for my part of the world here in the Florida panhandle….”

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pat_Green
http://EzineArticles.com/?Scuba-Diving-in-Panama-City-Beach,-Florida&id=1708611

By Sydney Garrison

Beach volleyball is one of those wonderfully versatile sports that can be a strenuous and exciting game to play and watch, or, on the other end of the spectrum, can just be about some friends getting together to have a great time. It’s really easy, all you need is sand, a net and a bunch of people, of any age or fitness level, that want to have fun.

Beach volleyball can be played with as little as two people on each team, making a total of four people. However, if you are less skilled and experienced in the game, it will be easier to play with a larger team. The more players you have, the less ground each person will be responsible for covering and the more time they will have to recover in between shots. If you only have a few players, you will each get quite a workout running for the ball after each volley. If you are looking for that relaxing, fun, low key experience, opt for larger teams. This will also give you more of an opportunity to socialize.

Beach volleyball is similar to regular volleyball in its rules and execution. However, even seasoned volleyball players do not realize how much more difficult it is to run and jump on sand. Since it is harder to move quickly on sand than a hard surface, play will be much slower than regular volleyball on a court. When an athlete trains for beach volleyball, they will focus on building lower body strength as well as upper body. While they need to be able to hit the ball with a great deal of power and accuracy, strengthening their legs is extremely important. This improves their ability to move quickly and accurately in the sand despite the resistance. Powerful legs are important in regular volleyball, however the ability to jump high and land without injury is imperative to the game of beach volleyball.

Injuries are very common among new and seasoned beach volleyball players. Misjudging the resistance of the sand can lead to skinned knees and elbows. Often, a player will dive for the ball and forget that they must protect themselves from the impact and the resistance of the sand.

Whether you are in it for the competition, or just to have a great time with your friends, beach volleyball can be extremely exciting and fun. You may even start out with friends and fall in love with the sport.

Sydney Garrison is an avid cyclist and sports enthusiast. She is also a partner in an online bike rack store.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sydney_Garrison
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Game-of-Beach-Volleyball&id=2876158