Panama City, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
The “Cap’n Scuba” House
c. 1890’s
Photographed By Brandon D Cross
1. The “Cap’n Scuba” House Marker
Inscription.
The “Cap’n Scuba” House. c. 1890’s. The land was purchased during the 1886 "land boom" when the St. Andrews Bay RR Land and Mining Company sold this lot for $9. The home was constructed shortly thereafter and housed the J.R. Thompson Store from 1901 - 1915, Over the years the property was owned by several people with familiar St. Andrews names including Gainer, Welch, Harries, and Fletcher Black. It was purchased in 1960 by Bill and Eloise Tant, founders of Southern Skin Divers Supply, Inc. (1953) from Birmingham, Alabama. The Tants "bunked" hundreds of divers in the house over the years, taking them for some of the earliest dives on local historic wrecks such as the SS Tarpon, the Empire Mica, and others. Thus, the foundation for diving in this area was established here in St. Andrews.
The land was purchased during the 1886 "land boom" when the St. Andrews Bay RR Land & Mining Company sold this lot for $9. The home was constructed shortly thereafter and housed the J.R. Thompson Store from 1901 - 1915, Over the years the property was owned by several people with familiar St. Andrews names including Gainer, Welch, Harries, & Fletcher Black. It was purchased in 1960 by Bill & Eloise Tant, founders of Southern Skin Divers Supply, Inc. (1953) from Birmingham, Alabama. The Tants "bunked" hundreds of divers in the house over the years, taking them for some of the earliest dives on local historic wrecks such as the SS Tarpon, the Empire Mica, and others. Thus, the foundation for diving in this area was established here in St. Andrews.
Erected by Historic St. Andrew’s Waterfront Partnership-Panama City.
Location. 30° 10.1′ N, 85° 42.151′ W. Marker is in Panama City in , Florida. Marker is at the intersection of Bayview Avenue and West 11th Street, on the right when traveling north on Bayview Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1100 Bayview Ave, Panama City FL, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 27, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 26, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 21 times since then. Photos:1, 2. submitted on April 26, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
