Where to go in Fla?

[BradMM]

I think Lauderdale is a perfect destination. You have very good shore diving right there (LBTS). Lauderdale is like 1 1/2 hours to Key Largo.

Thanks! That sounds pretty good!

IMO the Keys have the best diving in FL, and you should go there for at least a day or two. If you have never been to the Keys a trip to Key West is not a bad idea. The trip on the coastal hwy is fun and Key West is a trip.

Like I said in my original post (?), yes, I've been there but it was years ago and we had three young kids along although two were certified and we did dive all up and down the coast, including the Keys. As I recall, the Mayor of Key West was skiing from Cuba to Florida or something....

 

[LakeCountyDiver]

I personally love the springs up in the northern half of FL. Otherwise Key Largo has the best ocean diving.

 

[muzikbiz22]

About 2 to 3 times a year, I will "hop" down to Fort Lauderdale from So Cal, for an extended weekend of some warm water diving & relaxation from the Los Angeles Rat Race. I usually get a cheap rental car by the airport and grab a cheap motel room on the beach ( A1A) and dive with Amercian Dream or Sea XP. Used to go with Pro Dive but they are out of business. Here are some recommendations for all the above;

Sea Club Resort - $60 a night, coffee shop, bar, pool, cheap, decent, on the water, not fancy.
Bahia Days Inn - On the water, restaurant, close to dive op's and close to the Elbo Room and other great little restaurants on the beach right there.
Sunshine Rent a Car - $12 a day, close to airport. Nice guys, no "insurance" hard sell, decent cars. Having a car is good for the trip to CVS or Starbucks or Reef Photo or Las Olas or out to Divers Direct/Pro Bass or Down to Aventura Mall, or perhaps even hop down to Key Largo.

There are quite a few other hotel/motel options around and on the beach that are reasonable. Do a little homework and you will find. I ALWAYS have a great time there.

 

[FishDiver]

About 2 to 3 times a year, I will "hop" down to Fort Lauderdale from So Cal, for an extended weekend of some warm water diving & relaxation from the Los Angeles Rat Race. I usually get a cheap rental car by the airport and grab a cheap motel room on the beach ( A1A) and dive with Amercian Dream or Sea XP. Used to go with Pro Dive but they are out of business. Here are some recommendations for all the above;

Sea Club Resort - $60 a night, coffee shop, bar, pool, cheap, decent, on the water, not fancy.
Bahia Days Inn - On the water, restaurant, close to dive op's and close to the Elbo Room and other great little restaurants on the beach right there.
Sunshine Rent a Car - $12 a day, close to airport. Nice guys, no "insurance" hard sell, decent cars. Having a car is good for the trip to CVS or Starbucks or Reef Photo or Las Olas or out to Divers Direct/Pro Bass or Down to Aventura Mall, or perhaps even hop down to Key Largo.

There are quite a few other hotel/motel options around and on the beach that are reasonable. Do a little homework and you will find. I ALWAYS have a great time there.

Great advice. How recent is the $12 day price for Sunshine?

 

[muzikbiz22]

Great advice. How recent is the $12 day price for Sunshine?

I think about 4 or 5 months ago. If you click here, you will see their website which you can book direct. Sometimes they will be "in the mix" of other travel websites, i.e. Travelocity, Expedia, etc. I will tell you though, I've seen their prices go from $18 to $15 to $23 to $15 to $28, in a matter of hours and days. Just kinda gotta watch it, much like airfares. The $12 for was for a 2 door Toyota Aeris, with a "scratch or 2", that I caught at just the right time. And as I mentioned, they could care less about selling insurance. Very nice, no-nonsense guys. I have full coverage with AmEx anyways. They will pick you right at airport, take you down the street and get you in a car quickly.

 

[bilsant]

Brad,

Asking where to go for diving in Florida is kinda like asking where's the good BBQ in Texas.

The Panhandle, Southeast coast, Gulf coast, Northern Freshwater Springs, the Keys....it's all good! Let me ask your question a different way....what kind of diving do you like? Wrecks? Springs and caverns? Shallow muck and fossil diving? Coral Reefs? Boat dives or shore dives? Seeing big Pelagics or little tropicals? Perhaps if we knew your preferences, we could give better advice. But as you said, it's all good.

Another question: when do you think you're coming? My advice would be different in August than it would be in January.

If you make it to SE Florida, give me a shout and I'll hook you up with our group for some diving.

 

[BradMM]

I'm ready to go NOW!!!

 

[PatW]

Panama City has good wrecks, but is not really known for coral reefs, in fact it does not have any.

I think Lauderdale is a perfect destination. You have very good shore diving right there (LBTS). Lauderdale is like 1 1/2 hours to Key Largo.

IMO the Keys have the best diving in FL, and you should go there for at least a day or two. If you have never been to the Keys a trip to Key West is not a bad idea. The trip on the coastal hwy is fun and Key West is a trip.

The diving is also good from Jupiter to Miami, but I think it gets better the farther north you go. Boynton has great diving as does Jupiter both North. Jupiter is like 1 1/2 hours north of Lauderdale if memory serves.

You will have to make the call, but Panama City is my last choice for diving in FL. Check out the keys diving thread.....

Another vote for Ron. I my opinion Key Largo has the best diving in FL. The reefs have some pretty nice coral. There are a lot of fish. You have some world class wrecks. It is quite a variety. And it is all within an easy drive of Fort Lauderdale. You can go farther down the keys for variety. But I think the diving is best up at Key Largo.

 

[Splitlip]

As has been mentioned, Jupiter through the Keys for Ocean diving. If you want big critters, give Jupiter a try. Goliath Grouper spawning season starts late August and runs into October. The perfect time to dive in Jupiter. Flat seas and warm (80 +) water. That is followed by lemon shark season. You'll see sharks and goliaths in Jupiter regardless if the time of year. Checkout Jupiter Dive Center.

Somebody suggested LBTS. I agree. Shore diving and centrally located for some the best ocean diving on the continent.

 

[bilsant]

Another vote for Lauderdale, but plan on getting in some stuff within an hour's drive both north and south. There's an active dive group you can hookup with if you want to go with local divers, or if it's just you and a buddy, you can explore lots of sites together. I personally would have an itinerary that includes some shore dives, some night dives, some Key Largo wreck dives, Jupiter boat dives to see the Goliaths and/or sharks, and some Blue Heron Bridge dives. Make sure to let us know when you're coming...