When I was researching Florida for a trip, I, too, found info. overload. My quick & dirty summary:
1.) While the freshwater springs have their charms, most people will probably want to dive in the ocean.
2.) Oceanic diving is generally 'better' for what most people are after, off the east coast rather than the west. Better viz., more in the way of coral reefs instead of deliberate wrecks, etc...
3.) The Florida Keys offers shallow reef diving with good viz., many fish and good diversity. The upper Keys seem to have a rep. for better diving, such as Key Largo and Key Islamorada, as opposed to Key West, which gets attention for topside offerings. The Keys offer deep wreck trips, though, if you've got AOW, with the
Spiegel Grove,
Duane and
Bibb popular out of Key Largo.
4.) Up north, Jupiter offers deep ledge diving, lower viz. but bigger animals, drift diving and my favorite 2 sites were the Zion Wreck Train (with the Esso Bonaire wreck) and MG-111 (which looks like someone blew up a Mayan ruin).
5.) Between the Keys and Jupiter is West Palm Beach; better viz., not as much big animal action (think sharks), compared to Jupiter, IIRC from what I've read, but popular diving, and still drift diving.
6.) Blue Heron Bridge is in the region and kind of its own thing. Not something you'd go to Florida just to hit, but if you were in the area, could be fun.
For a 'tale of 2 trips,' here are 2 of mine:
Diving Key Largo with Rainbow Reef Dive Center (they moved their location a little since this).
Diving Jupiter with Jupiter Dive Center.
Richard.
