Jim’s Dive Shop

Located in St. Petersburg, Florida, Jim’s Dive Shop has been a fixture of the local diving community for over 45 years. The centre provides a gateway to both the unique freshwater environments of the Sunshine State and international reef expeditions.

For those looking to train locally, the shop utilises the St. Pete Beach Aquatic Center for pool sessions, followed by dives in sheltered environments like Lake Denton and Rainbow River. These sites are specifically chosen to provide calm, protected conditions for skill development and exploration.

The centre is led by Teresa, an SSI Platinum Pro Instructor with over 35 years of experience in the industry. Having been teaching since 1994, she holds the SSI Dive Control Specialist qualification and has certified over 2,500 students.

Teresa’s expertise extends to her own diving history, having achieved the Platinum Pro Diver Award with over 5,000 logged dives. This level of experience ensures that whether you are a novice or a seasoned diver, the instruction is grounded in deep technical knowledge.

Jim’s Dive Shop offers a range of SSI certifications, beginning with the Open Water Diver course for those new to the sport. The training programme is designed to take you from your first breaths underwater through to more advanced levels.

Training sessions are structured to move from the controlled environment of the St. Pete Beach Aquatic Center pool to natural freshwater sites, ensuring a smooth transition to open water.

The shop is fully equipped for both retail and service needs, offering a complete range of equipment for hire. This includes regulators, wetsuits, fins, and masks, though all divers are required to carry their own dive computer.

For those looking to extend their bottom time, Nitrox is available on-site. The shop also provides professional equipment maintenance and air fills for divers using their own kit.

The freshwater sites of Florida offer a different kind of encounter, where you can observe large mouth bass, bluegills, and bream. Turtles are also frequently seen moving along the bottom of the lakes and rivers.

In the marine environments of the Turneff Atoll, the biodiversity increases significantly. You can expect to find over 500 species of fish and 65 species of hard corals, alongside sightings of sea turtles, manatees, and dolphins.

In the river systems, look out for Florida gar and otters, which inhabit the clear waters alongside various species of water birds.

Local training sites like Lake Denton and Rainbow River are selected for their protection against inclement weather. Rainbow River is characterised by low currents and very clear water, making it a stable environment for all divers.

International trips to the Turneff Atoll involve navigating the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef system, where conditions can vary depending on the specific site, such as the Blue Hole or the reef passages.