Niuhi Dive Charters runs recreational and technical scuba diving trips out of Pensacola, from Southwind Marina at 10121 Sinton Dr, Innerarity Point, — which puts it a good deal closer to Perdido Key than to Pensacola Beach proper. The crew specializes in wreck diving, including the USS Oriskany aircraft carrier, as well as spearfishing, lionfish hunting, and diving natural and artificial reefs across the Gulf of Mexico. The tagline is “your diving style is our specialty,” and the trip list backs it up.
What it is
The boat is the Niuhi, run by Captain Andy. Trips span beginner-level reef dives up through technical profiles, with night dives, photography-focused outings, and junior diver programs on the menu. The Oriskany — a 904-foot carrier sitting off Pensacola — is the headline, and it is a real dive, deep enough that your certification level and recent experience matter. Natural-bottom reefs and the artificial reef system fill in the shallower days.
Good to know
Captain Andy holds a federal reef fishing permit, which means spearfishing is allowed in both state and federal waters on his trips — not every dive boat can say that. Lionfish hunting is a specialty; the boat’s own line is that Pensacola is ground zero for it in the country, the fish are invasive, and nobody will mind if you bring a bag home. Bring your certification card, be honest about your experience, and ask about gear if you are traveling light.
Before you book
Gulf diving is weather-dependent. Summer mornings are usually the calm window; fronts and afternoon storms can cancel trips, so build a spare day into the plan. Check beach today for sea state on the morning of, and see the charters page for how dive boats fit alongside the fishing fleet out of Pensacola and Perdido Key. Confirm current rates on their site.
