Best dive tour for newbie divers

[Guard Tiffany]

Planning a diving trip to Key Largo next May, (yes I'm an advanced planner). Will be getting our SCUBA cert.'s in a couple of months so we'll be VERY inexperienced. We live in Arkansas so open water to practice in is almost non-existent. Need a dive tour who will be tolerate of our newbie status & will provide a guide for the two of us. We are looking for shallow water reef dives. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[sportxlh]

Most Keys dive boats do not provide free guides but you can hire a guide from most as well. One of the few to provide free guies is Rainbow Reef. I've never used them but a quite a large number of SB'ers really like them though a few don't as well.

I happen to like Conch Republic and I know their, for hire, guides are good.

Most dive shops have on-line calendars so you can determine if they are going to shallow or deep sites.

 

[acteg]

I have dived with Rainbow Reef. They do put a guide in the water at no additional cost. In my experience they have been young attractive eastern European women, which I would call a bonus. That being said, the guide is for the whole boat, so you will not necessarily get one on one personal attention. The boat crew will assist you as well when topside if you have gear/weight questions, however, if you want a really personal one on one experience from when you get to the boat, until you get back to the dock, I would recommend hiring a personal dive guide. I did this the first couple of times I dived the Vandenberg in Key West, and felt it was worth the expense. If you just need someone to double check your setup, answer your weight questions, and follow around the reef, then you will be fine going with rainbow reef.

 

[drrich2]

I hit Rainbow Reef Dive Center last September; here's my trip report. Might help you see the nuts and bolts of the trip.

Richard.

 

[CajunDiva]

I am also a fan of Rainbow Reef Dive Center.

Scuba Diving Florida Keys | Rainbow Reef Dive Center | Key Largo, FL

They run an instructor development center and are perfectly suited to work with new divers and are a very safe and professional dive operation. Two tank boat trips are offered each morning and afternoon. Divers have their choice of the shallow reef sites or the deeper wreck dives. During our first dive trip to Key Largo we chose Rainbow Reef - and we have never looked back. We still look forward to returning to dive with them trip after trip.

If you would prefer to have a guide, Rainbow Reef assigns one guide per six divers. You can either elect to dive with the guide or dive on your own. The price is the same either way. During our "Annual Cajun Invasion" trips, we all dive together as a group and don't utilize guides, but when hubby and I travel on our own we always dive with the guides...they are such FUN people and we love being with them, so it's a personal preference. Plus they know where all the cool critters live

 

[acteg]

Never saw your trip report when originally posted but it was a good read. If you like seeing sharks, try out Jupiter next time when you make it down to Florida for some diving. I had a 12-14' great hammerhead swim by me on Saturday. Came out of nowhere, didn't even seem to notice me, and then gone just as quickly as it arrived. Nurse sharks and reef sharks are very common on Jupiter dives.

I hit Rainbow Reef Dive Center last September; here's my trip report. Might help you see the nuts and bolts of the trip.

Richard.

 

[drrich2]

I'd like to hit Jupiter or West Palm Beach one of these days!

Richard.

 

[CajunDiva]

Me too! Some day...

 

[Guard Tiffany]

Thank you all for your help. We're looking at early May. What are your thoughts?

 

[CajunDiva]

That's probably a great time. The water is warming up already, so I'm thinking May will be nice and warm The only possible issue is wind, and that is absolutely unpredictable. Last year was the worst, so lets just hope that wind issues are gone for 2014...looking forward to the 2nd Annual Cajun Invasion at Rainbow Reef in June!!!