best place in the Florida Keys?

[paulpost]

I'd like to find out which is the best place for scuba in the keys and eventually the best dive operators for the area. I know that most dive shops do not have diving dive masters and you are by yourself in the dive. I don't mind that.
Thank you

 

[Walter]

Don't mind it? Hell, that's a big plus.

Best place? That depends on what you like.

The reefs all along the Keys are pretty similar. There are shallow reefs and deeper reefs. There's a wall (not a true wall, more of a very large ledge) running the length of the Keys. The reefs are not as lush as the Caribbean, but parts of them are excellent. You will see dead coral (a result of the screwed up ecosystem in the Keys AND on the Florida mainland. There are also lots of wrecks along the entire length of the Keys (deep & shallow). Some are screamers, other are artificial reefs.

Key Largo is crowded with divers, as you go farther down the chain, you are usually on less crowded dive sites.

 

[cudachaser]

Definately Key Largo

 

[El Orans]

I'm quite happy with Key Largo / Conch Republic Divers.

 

[AZ Desert Diver]

3rd vote for Key Largo!

 

[scubamickey]

I stayed in a condo in Tavernier (about 5 miles south of KL) and went with Conch Republic. Great operation and never repeated dive sites except for The Duane which we wanted to repeat.

 

[Divingguy]

There are tons of dive sites, and operators, in the Northern Keys. Check out the last couple of pages on the South Florida forum, and then go see www.flkeysdiving.com.

 

[MsParamedic]

Do some checking on here--and then select whether you want to dive the northern or southern part of Key Largo. You may also want to consider whether your choosen operator takes out of "bayside" (on the gulf) or "oceanside". By selecting one on the ocean side--you will probably shorten your boat ride to the dive sites by about 20-25 minutes!

Pat

 

[idive2]

The reefs down in Looe Key marine sanctuary are very nice, they are shallow reefs
but they seem a bit healthier than the reefs further up. For wrecks in the area they
have the adolphus bush and also the thunderbolt a bit further up near marathon.
Key Largo is of course always a good time and the diving is good as well. I recently
did the Eagle and really enjoyed it, Conch Republic is a great operator for the Eagle.
The Key Largo ops are in closer range for the Spigel Grove, safe diving to everyone !

 

[HappyFunBoater]

Definitely Key Largo. Key West diving is lame compared to Key Largo. but the night life is much better. Search the threads and you'll find a ton of comments on the pros and cons of each.