Where to dive in Florida Keys ?

[CADiver 2]

Please recommend location and operator. I am thinking of a 3, 4 days dive trip in FL.

What do you recommend or should I go somewhere else totally ?

Thank you !

Dominic

[TheRealDrew 0]

Please recommend location and operator. I am thinking of a 3, 4 days dive trip in FL.

What do you recommend or should I go somewhere else totally ?

Thank you !

Dominic

 

 

As to where to go on a trip, alot of that depends on your budget and time frame. It sounds like you are aiming for a short trip, so I would guess you would not want to get on a airplane and travel way out in the Pacific(?)

 

As to Florida I was diving down there about 5 years ago. We stayed up in the Key Largo area and I had a good time with the diving itself, the amount of marine life and coral was good and I had no expectation of going in how it would be - it was a trip that my friend was going on and decided to hop in on it. Also The Spiegel Grove and Duane were nice wreck dives, even without going into them. I may go back at some point, but often find myself choosing other destinations because it is often less expensive to go to other places (Mexico for instance) than going to Florida.

 

The place I stayed and the operator are both no longer in business though, and truthfully that was the down side of that trip. It seems the operators in the Keys will have the cattle boats/taxi cabs more than smaller boats, though I am sure there are smaller operators, but I do not know any. There are many people from Florida on the board so I am sure they can add alot more than that.

 

I guess the other destinations in the Carribean are also possibities for you(?) There are some nice places to dive there that may be in the same range of days/travel time.

[rodriguezfelix 0]

Do a search for "Key Largo" on the forum. I can recommend you Captain Slate´s and Silent World. Both are fine. Spiegel Grove, The Duane as mentioned before are the wrecks. Creature Feature (Cap. Slate´s nurse shark feeding) only on fridays morning.

 

Been in California I rather going Guadalupe island on Mexico for cage diving, but that´s me. For a dive destination you can pick lots of places on the caribbean or if you insist on going to the east coast, go bahamas.

[ce4jesus 1]

If you're a warm water wimp..WWW like me then you'd love the Yucatan Peninsula, Cozumel, Belize, Roatan. Flights to Cozumel and Cancun are fairly cheap on Frontier. If you end up going to Florida it really depends on what type of diving you like to do. The Florida Keys Dive Center (Tavernier) usually does a 100ft+ wreck dive in the mornings followed with shallower reef dives in the afternoon. Pennekamp State Park is a must visit. Old Spanish Galleon in the snorkel area is pretty cool. Their dive operator is a no-frills operator who usually just visits the reefs. Christ of the Abyss, Molasses, French and the Wreck of the Benwood are all really shallow (1hr dives!!!!) and well worth a visit.

[CADiver 2]

The motivation here are

1, Looking for something relatively inexpensive but not backpacker style.

2, 5 to 7 days around Memorial weekend

3, Warm 72F+ water temp

4, Minimum hassle on flights, direct flight :-)

5, Stuffs to see big or small.

 

I love to go Sipada Mabul but 7 days is not going to justify, may be I should combine it into 2 weeks and go on July 4th week instead and forget the Memorial weekend. But this is like drug, I don't think I can handle without a warm water fix until July Warm water withdraw is very painful

 

Being in the West coast, perhas I can go striaght south from SFO to Mexico coast, what would be ideal then ?

La Paz ? Dove Hawaii several times, so Mexico should be at a higher priority.

 

Keep sending me ideas please and thank you !

Thank you & a shot from the cold to express my appreciation

[loftus 42]

If you do go to Florida and want small boats, I recommend Quiessance on Key Largo. They only do small boats. (Six packs)

[ornate_wrasse 0]

Being in the West coast, perhas I can go striaght south from SFO to Mexico coast, what would be ideal then ?

La Paz ? Dove Hawaii several times, so Mexico should be at a higher priority.

 

It's not a direct flight, but I'll throw out a suggestion for you, especially since you're on the West Coast.

 

I used Mexicana Airlines to fly to Cozumel last summer. Cozumel is inexpensive, has warm water with great viz, great diving, lots of WA opportunities and great food. I flew south from Portland to Guadalajara, Mexico City and then to Cozumel. Flying on Mexicana, you get the higher baggage allowance (it was 70 lbs per checked bag as I recall) and free food. In Cozumel, you have your choice of low budget all the way up to high budget acccomodations.

 

It's not Florida, but it sure has great diving and lots of photo opportunities.

 

Ellen

[TheRealDrew 0]

It's not a direct flight, but I'll throw out a suggestion for you, especially since you're on the West Coast.

 

I used Mexicana Airlines to fly to Cozumel last summer. Cozumel is inexpensive, has warm water with great viz, great diving, lots of WA opportunities and great food. I flew south from Portland to Guadalajara, Mexico City and then to Cozumel. Flying on Mexicana, you get the higher baggage allowance (it was 70 lbs per checked bag as I recall) and free food. In Cozumel, you have your choice of low budget all the way up to high budget acccomodations.

 

It's not Florida, but it sure has great diving and lots of photo opportunities.

 

Ellen

 

 

I was actually thinking of Coz myself when I mentioned Mexico, I try to there at least a couple of times a year. Love that whole area (Isla, Coz, Tulum etc.)

[ce4jesus 1]

It's not a direct flight, but I'll throw out a suggestion for you, especially since you're on the West Coast.

 

I used Mexicana Airlines to fly to Cozumel last summer. Cozumel is inexpensive, has warm water with great viz, great diving, lots of WA opportunities and great food. I flew south from Portland to Guadalajara, Mexico City and then to Cozumel. Flying on Mexicana, you get the higher baggage allowance (it was 70 lbs per checked bag as I recall) and free food. In Cozumel, you have your choice of low budget all the way up to high budget acccomodations.

 

It's not Florida, but it sure has great diving and lots of photo opportunities.

 

Ellen

 

The only thing I can add to Ellen's comment is about cost. I typically dive both Florida and Cozumel each year. The funny thing about Florida is all the little costs that add up over a week. I found I typically spend about 10% more going to Florida than Cozumel and that is based on a family of 4. Very wierd but add up cost of gas, tolls, rental car, hotel, diving, food etc will add up big time. I just did a Florida trip this weekend for 3 nights and two days. Here's a quick summary and these are estimates.

 

Plane tickets - $600 for two. (We only purchased 1, I was on business)

Car Rental - $80...Alamo

1 afternoon of diving for two - $150

1 morning of snorkelling with Manatees - $75

Hotel - $225

Tolls - $50

Gas - $150

Food - $90

for a total of $1420 for a 3 day trip.

 

My wife and I could've probably landed an all-inclusive for a week in Mexico for that kind of cash. Last year in Mexico, my family of 4 vacationed in Cozumel for $2600. All-inclusive that included 5 days of 2-tank dives.

[ornate_wrasse 0]

I was actually thinking of Coz myself when I mentioned Mexico, I try to there at least a couple of times a year. Love that whole area (Isla, Coz, Tulum etc.)

 

Cozumel is one of the best places to dive, even considering the travel time for a West Coaster like myself. Agree with you 100% about the whole area. Have not been to Tulum, but when I went a few years ago managed to do Chichen Itza. Stayed one night at Hacienda Chichen and avoided the hordes of crowds going by bus.

 

Although my first choice is NOT an all inclusive in Cozumel, I stayed at an AI (Scuba Club Cozumel) because the UW Photo Workshop was held there. I stayed at Casa Mexicana a few years ago and would go back there again in a heartbeat. Excellent location, excellent breakfast buffet and quiet, too, even though it's close to town.

 

Coz is also, of course, excellent for underwater photography

[TheRealDrew 0]

Although my first choice is NOT an all inclusive in Cozumel, I stayed at an AI (Scuba Club Cozumel) because the UW Photo Workshop was held there. I stayed at Casa Mexicana a few years ago and would go back there again in a heartbeat. Excellent location, excellent breakfast buffet and quiet, too, even though it's close to town.

 

 

I avoid the AI also. Tried it once or twice due to necessity, but 90% nope. Have too many favorite places to eat and stay right now and the AI not worth it because of that. Some places offer breakfeast which is okay, but usally have a place with a fridge, a coffee maker, have some toast or whatnot while I get cameras double checked then go dive

 

I am getting misty eyed right now thinking of it

 

ce4jesus echoed what I said above it looks like. I can go to Mexico (with hotel, food and diving) for less than Florida. Go figure.

[CADiver 2]

Cozumel ... Humm Keep talking please ... sounds interesting.

 

Between Cozumel and Belize, where should I go first ?!

 

Keep telling me about operators and accomodations, cause those are the 2 things I have to settle first !

And the timing is Memorial week, so weather consideration would be important I suppose.

 

Help me get there ....

Thank you again !

[ornate_wrasse 0]

Cozumel ... Humm Keep talking please ... sounds interesting.

 

Between Cozumel and Belize, where should I go first ?!

 

Keep telling me about operators and accomodations, cause those are the 2 things I have to settle first !

And the timing is Memorial week, so weather consideration would be important I suppose.

 

Help me get there ....

Thank you again !

 

There are many dive ops in Coz. Lots are cattle boats, Here's one operator I've used that's a cut above the rest:

 

Liquid Blue Divers

 

Personal service and small boats. They will take good care of you. Tell Michaela I sent you.

 

The other dive op I'd recommend is:

 

Blue XT Sea Diving

 

Lots of personal service here too. I've wanted to dive with Blue XT Sea but haven't been able due to the fact they were fully booked when I went. Tell Christi I sent you. She's a first class person.

 

I haven't been to Belize so can't help you there, but I've been to Coz three times and still want to go back.

Coz also holds a special place in my heart as it was there that I used an uw camera for the first time (a rented MX5). THAT'S when I fell in love with uw photography

 

If you have any other questions, just holler and I'll do my best to answer.

 

Ellen

[shark6047 0]

I say Belize..

Stay at the Mayan Princess on Ambergris Caye.

Dive with Amigos del mar.

Excellent people and great diving minutes (5-7) from dock to dive sites.

Night life is good too, food, Belikin beer, and One Barrel Rum..

can't wait to get back there.

Check'em out on the web, first rate operation with lots of repeat customers..

Good luck and enjoy

-ed

[ce4jesus 1]

Depends upon if you have small kids. If its just you and a guest then the Scuba Club is probably the least expensive, diver friendly place to stay. No all-inclusive but the basics and a place to enter and exit the water in front of the hotel if the boat dives aren't enough. One thing i would encourage you to do is a night dive just along the shore. The lifeless areas buzz with life at night and it turned out to be my wife and I's best dive.

My wife and I have two children, 14 and 6, so we typically stay at the Iberostar around the beginning of June. Food, diving, and accomodations are around $900 for the week per diver. Kids between 4-12 are free after June 1. Weather is typically pretty good that time of the year even though its the official start of hurricane season. The iberostar and some of the other upscale places have kids clubs which entertain kids while you dive. I don't necessarily recommend the dive op on site because its more of a rigid scheduled, no frills, type of dive shop. Although, they do only employ dive instructors on the premises so if your skills are rusty it might be a good first visit. Any dive op should offer to pick you up at the dock no matter where you choose to stay. The resorts toward town and North usually have better dive from shore ability whereas the ones south of town typically don't have those type of accomodation because they're physically in the marine park.