If Daniel is referring to the bloom of bacteria that kills off fish and
mollusks along ocean shorelines, then I have two questions:

What made him think I'd never heard of red tide?

What does red tide have to do with Florida's west coast?  Their arrival
can't be predicted, and if one is happening there now then it'll be long
gone by the time I arrive.

I did get some helpful responses.  I'm looking at the Lee Island Coast area
for diving.

I'm not a marine biologist, but isn't it some kind of algae bloom?  Its pretty
disgusting.  They often have it in that dirty old Gulf.

Due to the fact that the West or Gulf Coast of Florida has grown so much in population
-- it seems that everyone has some relative or knows someone who invites them to "come
down" and spend a few days.  Or, it could even be a business trip that calls visitors
to the West coast of Florida.  Invariably, those who are divers often think, "why not
do some diving?"

My advice is ...."forget about it!"

I suppose that "fresh water" diving up near Ginny Springs is a possibility or nuzzling
up to a manatee -- but isn't that forbidden?

Frankly, I think the poor things deserve some privacy, don't you?