Never been to Florida

[RAD Diver]

I went to South Florida last June & luckily my wife dives also. We stayed in Lauderdale for a day before heading down to Key Largo.
Bit if my wife didn't dive & needed some beach time or shopping while I was diving it would be Lauderdale. The beaches are clean & friendly, food is pretty good too.
I can honestly say that the wife would be much happier in Lauderdale. Since I was thinking of doing my Trimix class down there in Key Largo & she has no desire to do it she told me if it was in Lauderdale she would love it, but she didn't think there was enough to do in Key Largo to keep her Happy waiting for my boat to come in.
I did a night shore dive in Lauderdale & had a great time.
This in no way is a slap at Key Largo, we loved our time there & the diving was fantastic. Did the Spiegle Grove(twice), Eagle, Bibb & Duane(twice), along with Molasses Reef. The only negative was the reef by the Eagle (can't remember the name), but it was small & overcrowded & really not all that impressive.

 

[vr24]

Miami/Broward/Palm Beach counties are awful, violent, dangerous, rude, and unfriendly. The reef diving is sub par, the wrecks are pretty good, but Fort Lauderdale is better known for the quantity of wrecks more than the quality.

Hit the Keys if you want a real, nice tropical vacation with friendly people. If you want a killer resort with a beautiful PRIVATE beach and pool area, wave runner rentals, etc... I would suggest "The Reach" Old Town Key West Hotel Resorts & Florida Keys Beachfront Lodging - The Reach Resort Key West on Key West. There is diving in the area as well, but you'll find so much more to do on the Island, and a much friendlier, more tropical experience overall in that area than you will in the Fort Lauderdale area. The Key Largo wrecks would only be a 1 1/2 hour drive or so. You won't find great wrecks off Key West though.

 

[deepstops]

Miami/Broward/Palm Beach counties are awful, violent, dangerous, rude, and unfriendly. The reef diving is sub par, the wrecks are pretty good, but Fort Lauderdale is better known for the quantity of wrecks more than the quality.

Wow, where do YOU hang out??

 

[DebbyDiver]

Apparently not where WE hang out, Brian. I love it here. I moved here 27+ years ago and I'm not leaving. I moved here for the diving, I stay here for the diving, and I have a heck of a lot of friends, too.

 

[ONESPEED]

Miami/Broward/Palm Beach counties are awful, violent, dangerous, rude, and unfriendly. The reef diving is sub par, the wrecks are pretty good, but Fort Lauderdale is better known for the quantity of wrecks more than the quality.

Hit the Keys if you want a real, nice tropical vacation with friendly people. If you want a killer resort with a beautiful PRIVATE beach and pool area, wave runner rentals, etc... I would suggest "The Reach" Old Town Key West Hotel Resorts & Florida Keys Beachfront Lodging - The Reach Resort Key West on Key West. There is diving in the area as well, but you'll find so much more to do on the Island, and a much friendlier, more tropical experience overall in that area than you will in the Fort Lauderdale area. The Key Largo wrecks would only be a 1 1/2 hour drive or so. You won't find great wrecks off Key West though.

You really missed your calling if you're not utilizing these awesome people and local knowledge skills as a travel agent. Perhaps this will be useful to you: Travel agent training / Travel agent school

 

[nelia1978]

Ok So I have planned a trip to FL for end of June ( I am from Montreal). It was an unexpected decision so i am really happy I made it.

I am not certified yet, I should start my pool classes in April and the OW dives end of May. (I Had already planned this before even thinking about FL) Now my question is should I take the AOW there in FL? My friend lives in Palm Bay and after i read a post here got a little worried because that is where I will be spending most of my vacation time. I know as a new diver I will find everything amazing underwater. If I plan to take my AOW does anyone know of any good LDS where I can get certified? I am also going to rent a car so I can get around a bit so it does not need to be in Palm Bay, just somewhere around there.

I know my friend plans to take me to Key Largo for a day or 2 so that I can dive. She does not dive, but the g-f does and she will be coming to key Largo to dive with me.

I am going to be in FL for about a week and a half i want to take advantage of the most diving I can get while I am down there. So I guess either way I would need to get to a LDS to be able to dive during the week I am there since I dont have a dive buddy. Any suggestions?

 

[deepstops]

Ok So I have planned a trip to FL for end of June ( I am from Montreal). It was an unexpected decision so i am really happy I made it.

I am not certified yet, I should start my pool classes in April and the OW dives end of May. (I Had already planned this before even thinking about FL) Now my question is should I take the AOW there in FL? My friend lives in Palm Bay and after i read a post here got a little worried because that is where I will be spending most of my vacation time. I know as a new diver I will find everything amazing underwater. If I plan to take my AOW does anyone know of any good LDS where I can get certified? I am also going to rent a car so I can get around a bit so it does not need to be in Palm Bay, just somewhere around there.

I know my friend plans to take me to Key Largo for a day or 2 so that I can dive. She does not dive, but the g-f does and she will be coming to key Largo to dive with me.

I am going to be in FL for about a week and a half i want to take advantage of the most diving I can get while I am down there. So I guess either way I would need to get to a LDS to be able to dive during the week I am there since I dont have a dive buddy. Any suggestions?

I can definitely recommend Schott Beckham at Sea Level Scuba in Melbourne (the next town up from Palm Bay).

 

[Bob]

Miami/Broward/Palm Beach counties are awful, violent, dangerous, rude, and unfriendly. The reef diving is sub par, the wrecks are pretty good, but Fort Lauderdale is better known for the quantity of wrecks more than the quality.

Are you kidding? The Ft Lauderdale/Deerfield/Boynton Beach areas have some of the best diving venues in Florida. My question is, who did you make mad? almtree: Bob

 

[vr24]

Are you kidding? The Ft Lauderdale/Deerfield/Boynton Beach areas have some of the best diving venues in Florida. My question is, who did you make mad? almtree: Bob

I've been on practically everything in the Fort Lauderdale/Pompano area. For a vacation and just a couple dive trips, I would highly recommend the wrecks off Key Largo over Broward.

 

[vr24]

Apparently not where WE hang out, Brian. I love it here. I moved here 27+ years ago and I'm not leaving. I moved here for the diving, I stay here for the diving, and I have a heck of a lot of friends, too.

I've been diving with you Debby, actually. I didn't say EVERYONE in South Florida is awful, but jeeze, if you have been anywhere else in the country - including the Keys, it makes the tri-county area look like a prison camp.

If you are staying in the area, Lauderdale By The Sea is one of the few decent places left to stay/hang out.

And really, there is a mass exodus of good people from Florida - just about every decent person has, or is moving from South Florida into the Carolinas/Tennessee/Georgia - so I'm not the only one who thinks this way