Best Diving? Keys? Broward? Palm Beaches?

[Diver_Ray]

Just curious, where's the best Wreck and Reef Diving in Florida? The biggest and most interesting Wrecks?
Reason asking, I have a chance to live in the Keys for a while ....
I been to Key Largo once in 20011 for 3 days, so that's all I know about the Keys.
I don't own a Boat (but I could buy a Boat) but I plan on Diving after I'm certified, which will happen in the next few weeks.
Also, what part of the Keys has the best Diving, minimal traffic and courteous people?

Thx.

 

[luscioman]

For wrecks in Key Largo you got the Spiegel Grove, Duane, Bibb and Eagle.

In Miami you got 27 wrecks to pick from. I like the Blue Fire, Deep freeze, and Sheri-lyn.
South Beach Divers - Wrecks & Reef listing for Miami

 

[100days-a-year]

Depends on certification level and if you have a boat.
Best charter wrecks and tech dives are from Ft pierce to Miami/Homestead.
Best wrecks in the Keys are the Bibb area or KW area,be aware there are more wrecks than what you see on the net but local knowledge is required.
Best reefs are the Keys hands down,we prefer Tavernier area and the Marquesas.
My favorite diving is Jax as I spearfish as there are over a hundred artificial reefs along with a lot of naturals.Vis is variable and it's a long drive in a private boat so it's not for everyone.

 

[sportxlh]

All three are great diving loations that you can't go wrong with. I dive in north Palm Beach county most of the time, but love diving in Broward and the Keys too. In any of these locations, you can easily get in 100 dives a year. What's nice about the keys, from a dive perspective, is that the whole economy is geared to water sports: fishing and diving in particular. So you'd be living in a diving oriented culture. In my opinion, Key Largo and Islamorada have the the best diving in the Keys.

If you're going to be on a budget and want to keep diving costs low, you can't beat the shore diving in Lauderdale by the Sea.

If you end up living in an area where you have to use a dive shop/boat, make sure you look into the prepaid dive cards: that's how I dive with Jupiter Dive Center and it saves a ton of $ per dive (e.g. prepay for 20 dive trips and get 8 additional trips thrown in for free).

Here's a thread with info on diving in all those locations that might help you narrow down your search.....

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/florida-diving/448036-vacation-dive-locations-florida.html

 

[iluvtheocean]

i was thinking unless you have the money to burn -- it's cheaper to dive off the charters & shore dives -- and yes fill cards and trip cards help..
a few probs with owning a boat -- GAS, insurance, and either dock space or storage space fees.

 

[Steve_C]

With a boat you also have the buddy issue. You wake up in the morning and want to dive. You can jump on a charter. With your own boat you have to find at least two ideally three other folks (unless you solo) and those folks need to be trained in boat handling and emergency procedures in case SHTF while you are in the water.

 

[iluvtheocean]

if you solo on your own boat -- i'd either drift connected to the boat or tie a reel with heavy line onto anchor line... and still risky...
sides... between jupiter and key west there so many charters you literally have your pick of operators. and of course some are better than others.


ummmm. OP is working on his cert which means i wouldn't recommend some of the wrecks such as the Spiegel Grove or guy Harvey to name a couple. but there are still a lot of wrecks and reefs

 

[Diver_Ray]

Good info ... Thanks a lot