1st time to Florida. SHould I stay around Ft Lauderdale or venture to the Keys?

[NZAnna]

Hi all,

I am going on a work trip to Ft Lauderdale mid May this year and as I love to dive, would like to extend my stay to get some diving in. I will be travelling alone. This will be my first international dive trip so I'm a bit unsure whether its more common to take my dive gear with me or just hire. I am a keen, although novice, underwater photographer so would love to see lots of sea-life, especially sharks, turtles etc. I do usually prefer shallower dives as I don't have fancy strobe lights or anything. So my question is whether the Ft Lauderdale area will suit me for a few days diving or whether I should take the opportunity to go down south further to the Keys. This is my first proper trip to the US (to go diving) so any tips would be appreciated!

Thanks

 

[CajunDiva]

Hi Anna...welcome to diving in the US

I have not done any diving in Ft. Lauderdale, and I'm sure others will reply and tell you more about that area. I have been diving in Key Largo and the Florida Keys on hundreds of dives, and I think it sounds like the perfect answer to what you are asking for. I think it would be great if you could explore a bit while you're here and see the Florida Keys. There are many wonderful, shallow dive sites with a great variety of sea life to observe and photograph. In fact, I became addicted to underwater photography, and especially videography, in Key Largo!

Your question about whether or not to bring your own gear is completely subjective...just depends on if you love it enough to drag it all the way around the world! If rental equipment would do, you will have no problem renting gear in Florida. I can't tell you about every dive shop, but the op we dive with in Key Largo is Rainbow Reef Dive Center, and I do know that they can offer you quality rental gear. They send two boats out each morning on a two tank, two site dive trip...one goes to the deeper wreck dives and the other to the shallow reef sites. They put a guide in the water each dive for no charge, so you won't get lost Plus, you get lots of cool stuff pointed out to you. But you don't have to follow the guide - you can do your own thing if you prefer. Then, in the afternoon, if you haven't had enough exhaustion during the two morning dives, you can do it all again!

There are so many friendly people in Key Largo...we have fallen in love with the place and can't wait to go back - again and again

 

[Rescue Diver68]

Keys- Upper Keys

 

[snowdog61]

It's hard to beat the upper Keys and John PenneKamp since it's a protected park and not picked over. That's be my 1st choice if you want a shallow reef and pretty things to look at.

 

[humuhumunukunuku]

anywhere on the east coast from jupiter, south to west palm, south to the keys is good. dont dive the gulf side, it sucks!

 

[acteg]

Try both if you can, they are about an 1 hr 30 min of drive time apart. I think you are more likely to see big stuff in the palm beach/jupiter area personally, and there are some charters who are specifically attracting sharks for photographers right now (if you are into that). Palm beach / Jupiter won't be necessarily shallow though 60-90ft depending on the site, but visibility is generally good, so you can still get good photos/videos without the fancy equipment. If you do both I think you will get the big encounters you want, and the vibrant colorful reef/abundant life/multitudes of tropical fish, etc that you want as well.

 

[MrChen]

Someone just asked a very similar question a week ago, it's worth a read. Regardless, you'll have fun!

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/florida-diving/475903-palm-beach-county-v-keys-6.html

 

[NZAnna]

Thanks for the tips guys. I have had a read through the above thread also Palm Beach County v. The Keys and I'm still all a bit undecided!

Ideally, I'd love to at least do a dive in the Ft LAuderdale area if it is worth seeing (I haven't found much mention of sea-life expectations in my searches).
Also, I'm not liekly to hire a car or anything so travelling to other areas wont be so straightforward.

As far as gear goes, I wouldn't mind hiring as long as "small" gear is easy enough to come by. I found it hard here in NZ to get XS BCDs so got my own pretty quickly. I am also not used to the US feet vs meters - but I'm sure I'd get used to it.

I also like the idea of some of the smaller dive charters that are a bit more hands on, or personalised as I wont have a dive buddy and am not used to diving "alone".

I am very keen on photography, but would also love to see big creatures - is this a possibility in Ft Lauderdale or would I need ot go furhter north to Jupiter etc?

Although the Keys area sounds amazing, if I can get at least a similar experience closer to Ft Lauderdale, I would probably be more likely to go with that option. I wont have too much time after my business trip, maybe a couple of days, and so I'll like to get the most out of it!

I assume marine life changes with seasons to some extent? I'll be visiting mid May, so would love to know where might be the best at this time of year - if indeed it varies much.

Thanks again for your help. I really need ot book my flights soon! Cant wait!

 

[j2s]

Keys.....I lived in Ft.Laud. and grew up in the Keys.......Ft.Laud. great place to party, meet people and dive......But the Keys are better....The Keys are a world dive destination w/good reason and May is an excellent time to be there........

 

[lionfish-eater]

The Keys are worth visiting, not so much for ft looserdale.
You need a car in America.
A few taxi rides will cost more than renting a car for a few days.
Bring dive gear, save rental cost and use your own gear.
Extend trip for as many days as possible.
Camp out at state parks in keys. Get a big rental car you can camp in.