Panama City Overnight Offshore Wreck Diving

August 13–15, 2027

Ready to go beyond the typical day charter?

Join American Pro Diving Center for an offshore wreck-diving adventure in the Gulf with Panama City Dive Center. This trip is built for divers who want to travel farther offshore, spend the night on the water, and explore some of the wrecks that make the Florida Panhandle such an exciting diving destination.

Instead of heading back to the dock after a couple of dives, we'll head offshore for an overnight dive expedition, giving us the opportunity to reach sites that aren't practical on a normal half-day charter.

And depending on its status by August 2027, this trip could have one very exciting addition to the itinerary:

The SS United States.

If the ship has been sunk, officially opened for recreational diving, and is available through Panama City Dive Center by our trip dates, we'll look at including it as one of our dive targets.

Either way, this weekend is about one thing:

Wreck diving.

THE WEEKEND

Friday, August 13 — Arrival in Panama City

Travel to Panama City, meet up with the American Pro group, get settled, and prepare your equipment for the offshore expedition.

We'll review the weekend plan, make sure everyone's equipment is ready, and cover any final details from Panama City Dive Center.

Saturday, August 14 — Offshore Departure & Wreck Diving

We'll meet Panama City Dive Center, load the boat, and head offshore.

From there, the adventure begins.

We'll spend the day targeting offshore wrecks selected according to weather, sea conditions, diver experience, and the recommendations of the captain and crew.

Rather than returning to Panama City Saturday evening, we'll remain offshore overnight aboard the vessel, putting us in position for more diving the following day.

There's something completely different about finishing a day of wreck diving, watching the sun go down over the Gulf, and knowing you're waking up offshore to do it all again.

Sunday, August 15 — More Wreck Diving & Return

Wake up offshore and get ready for another day of diving.

We'll continue exploring wreck sites before beginning our return trip to Panama City.

Once we're back at the dock, we'll unload our equipment, wrap up the expedition, and begin the trip home.

Because this is an offshore expedition, the exact departure time, return time, number of dives, and itinerary will depend on conditions and the final charter plan.

THE DIVING

This trip is designed specifically around offshore wreck diving.

Panama City's waters contain a variety of artificial reefs, vessels, and other structures that provide both interesting diving and habitat for Gulf marine life.

Unlike our July Key Largo reef weekend, this is a more adventurous trip intended for divers who are comfortable spending extended time offshore and diving wreck sites in open-ocean conditions.

Our planned experience includes:

• Offshore wreck diving with Panama City Dive Center
• Multiple wreck dives over Saturday and Sunday
• Overnight accommodations aboard the dive vessel
• Extended offshore expedition
• Professional local captain and dive crew
• American Pro Diving Center group coordination
  

THE SS UNITED STATES

One potential highlight makes our 2027 trip especially exciting.

The historic SS United States is planned to become an artificial reef off Florida's Gulf Coast.

If the vessel has been sunk, officially opened for diving, is appropriate for our group, and is available through Panama City Dive Center by August 13–15, 2027, we may attempt to include the SS United States in our itinerary.

However, the SS United States is not guaranteed as part of this trip.

Its inclusion will depend on the progress of the artificial-reef project, regulatory access, site conditions, charter availability, diver qualifications, and the judgment of Panama City Dive Center.

Our trip will remain an offshore wreck-diving expedition regardless of whether the SS United States is available.

OVERNIGHT OFFSHORE

This isn't a normal hotel-based dive weekend.

We'll spend Saturday night offshore aboard the dive vessel.

That means you'll want to pack differently than you would for one of our normal weekend trips.

Space aboard any dive boat is limited, so participants should plan to pack light and bring only what they need for the overnight portion of the trip.

Final information regarding sleeping arrangements, meals, drinking water, personal gear, storage, bathrooms, charging capabilities, and what to bring aboard will be provided once the vessel and final charter arrangements are confirmed.

WHO IS THIS TRIP FOR?

This trip is geared toward experienced recreational divers who are comfortable with offshore boat diving and want to explore wrecks.

Divers should be comfortable with:

• Boat diving
• Open-ocean conditions
• Descents and ascents away from shore
• Wreck diving
• Maintaining excellent buoyancy control
• Following depth and time limits
• Deploying a surface marker buoy
• Managing their own equipment
• Spending an extended period aboard a dive vessel
  

Because the exact wrecks may involve deeper profiles, Advanced Open Water certification may be required or strongly recommended, depending on the final itinerary.

Additional certification, experience, or equipment requirements may apply to individual wrecks.

American Pro Diving Center and Panama City Dive Center reserve the right to determine whether a diver has the appropriate certification, experience, equipment, and comfort level for a particular dive.

WRECK DIVING VS. WRECK PENETRATION

Participating in a wreck-diving trip does not automatically mean entering wrecks.

Unless a specific dive is planned otherwise for appropriately trained and equipped divers, our dives will be conducted as recreational wreck dives with no overhead-environment penetration.

Divers should never enter a wreck beyond the limits of their certification, training, equipment, or the established dive plan.

EQUIPMENT

Because we'll be offshore overnight, equipment preparation is especially important.

Divers should arrive with properly maintained equipment appropriate for the planned dives.

Recommended equipment includes:

• BCD
• Regulator
• Dive computer
• Mask and fins
• Appropriate exposure protection
• Surface marker buoy (SMB)
• Reel or spool
• Audible signaling device
• Dive light
• Backup dive light
• Certification cards
• Appropriate personal overnight gear

Additional equipment may be required depending on the final dive sites and charter requirements.

A detailed packing and equipment list will be provided before departure.

PLANNED PACKAGE INCLUDES

The final package is expected to include:

• Offshore dive charter with Panama City Dive Center
• Saturday and Sunday wreck diving
• Overnight aboard the dive vessel
• Tanks and weights for scheduled dives, subject to final charter arrangements
• Professional captain and dive crew
• American Pro Diving Center group coordination

Final inclusions will be confirmed once our charter arrangements are complete.

NOT INCLUDED

Unless specifically stated in the final package, participants should plan for

• Transportation to and from Panama City
• Friday-night accommodations
• Personal scuba equipment
• Scuba equipment rental
• Nitrox or other breathing-gas upgrades
• Meals not provided aboard the vessel
• Gratuities
• Parking or marina fees, if applicable
• Personal purchases
• Travel or dive accident insurance
• Any expenses not specifically listed as included

RESERVATIONS & PAYMENT

Space on this trip will be very limited.

An overnight offshore charter has significantly less capacity than many of our traditional dive weekends, so early reservations are strongly encouraged once booking opens.

A deposit will be required to secure your reservation.

The deposit amount, payment schedule, final-payment deadline, cancellation policy, and participant-substitution terms will be provided with the final trip package.

A reservation is not considered secured until the required deposit has been received.

WEATHER & OFFSHORE CONDITIONS

This trip is particularly dependent on weather and Gulf conditions.

Because we'll be traveling farther offshore and remaining aboard overnight, the captain must consider wind, waves, storms, visibility, currents, and the overall forecast when determining whether the expedition can safely operate.

The captain and Panama City Dive Center have final authority regarding vessel operations and dive-site selection.

Specific wrecks, the number of dives, departure and return times, and the overnight itinerary may change due to conditions or other operational considerations.

No individual wreck—including the SS United States—can be guaranteed.

Safety always comes first.

GO FARTHER OFFSHORE

This isn't just another weekend of diving.

It's loading the boat and heading into the Gulf. It's descending onto wrecks miles offshore. It's spending the evening on the water with fellow divers and waking up the next morning knowing there are more wrecks waiting below.

If you've been looking for something a little more adventurous on the American Pro travel calendar, this is it.

August 13–15, 2027

Contact American Pro Diving Center to reserve your place on our 2027 Panama City Overnight Offshore Wreck Diving Expedition.

American Pro Diving Center
821 SE US Hwy 19
Crystal River, FL
352-563-0041
[email protected]
AmericanProDiving.com