Destin, Florida Scuba Diving : Emerald Coast Scuba Divers | Sandbar Sharks and Lionfish Hunting

Spent the July 4th week in Destin and wanted to get in some Scuba diving. Picked the shop that was closest to our AirBnB that also offered a Lionfish Hunter certification. I chose Emerald Coast Scuba and could not be happier! These folks run a top notch dive shop that makes you feel like family the minute you walk in. While the costs may seem a bit pricey - let me assure you that you ABSOLUTELY get what you pay for (Destin is pricey to begin with) and the value you get with ECS is unbeatable! Their communication is top notch! I started calling them weeks in advance and they were not just friendly, they were flexible and helpful. My son and I showed up day one for our Underwater Hunter/Collector class and were immediately introduced to our Instructor/DM Sean Coppedge. This guy is one of the coolest, most laid-back humans I have ever met. He was a true pleasure to hang out with. Whether he was providing instruction during the classroom portion, or just talking with us on the dive boat, he made the whole experience comfortable and FUN! He also took very good care of my 17 year old son and made us both feel safe. I brought my eldest son back the next day and we were lucky enough to get Sean as our DM/Guide for our trip to the Big Dawg wreck. The weather (Elsa was on her way) was a little stormy that morning and the rain/waves made for an interesting ride (90 minutes) to the site. We entered the water and headed down to the wreck. The first 30ish feet were normal conditions, after 30 feet - things got a little interesting. The underwater currents were the strongest I have ever encountered. They were strong enough that both my sons were showing signs of panic/fear. Sean picked up on the situation and stepped in to keep us all safe and focused. The currents made it hard to even leave the anchor line, much less navigate the wreck. We hung out on the anchor line and looked at the wreck from a distance. At the surface, Sean was very apologetic and went above and beyond to make it right. In the end - there was nothing to “make right”, Mother Nature was in control, not ECS. Both my sons agreed that it was an excellent learning experience and we are committed to coming back to The Big Dawg under better conditions. The second dive more than made up for the first dive! We speared 9 Lionfish, had great viz and even saw two Sandbar Sharks! It was one of my all time favorite dives. We booked two more days with ECS and each day brought awesome dives, more Lionfish and more sharks. The boat Captain, Tom Schmitz, was incredible. His “captaining” skills, his dive briefings, and his equipment assistance were all wonderful - a true man of the ocean! His first mate, Danny Kirkland, was also wonderful. From his safety briefings to his onboard conversations - he was a real pleasure. He works his BUTT off throughout the day swapping gear, helping folks on/off the boat, and making sure everything runs smooth. Julia and Scott were the other DMs during the week and, while they were not our DMs, they made the trips that much more fun and informative. Anna, the shop owner, was there in the mornings making everyone feel welcomed and informed. Lou, the shop manager, deserves a special shout out for being one of the friendliest human beings in industry - literally. Whether he was confirming your next-day dives or taking your payments, he has a unique way of making you feel “seen” and important. All in all, my four days of diving with ECS was fantastic thanks mainly in part to the people that we encountered. I will be back to Destin soon and I will only dive with this outfit! Thanks ECS!!!!
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Music: Royalty Free Music from Bensound (www.bensound.com)

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