Disappointed with Florida Key Dive Operations

[ScubaSteve1962]

Try Key largo next time, most of the ops there have their on boats. I've been told that the winter months are slow in the keys so you should always check before going down. They probably cancel the dive because not enough people were signing up. I've only been down once, and used Rainbow Reef, they were great, very reasonable prices, I'm going back next month. I'm sure you'll have a great time when you visit there.

 

[Bratface]

You should have dove the Spiegel Grove in Key Largo or gone to Key West and dove the Vandenberg. I have dove both when I lived in Key West. Most of the Florida Keys dives are shallow. Sorry you missed the opportunity to do some deep wreck dives as that sounds like what you were looking for.

 

[Johnoly]

....…just shut ur mouth and let him dive with it, period......

LMAO!! 15 charter operations just made a mental note of your name.

 

[Splitlip]

I would have been outraged as well. Never heard of such here in Jupiter, West Palm, Boynton. I mean both canceling a dive and worse, the over bearing DM. Looe Key is a pretty site. I snorkeled there Last July for mini season.

Now the Scuba Club here will ask you to check out in one of their pools if you are a new diver who has not been in the water for a while. I was there with a buddy who admitted he hadn't dived in a while and they wanted him to get in the pool until he explained he was cave and trimix certed.

The Scuba Club is great for new divers. Watchful guides who carry extra weights to slip on guests who might get light during the dive. Non the less, first dive of a trip with SC is ALWAYS a 75 to 90 footer.

That aside, I've never seen a local DM try to tell a diver how much weight he or she needs. There are too many variables and that is too personal.

Disappointed with Florida Key Dive Operations

Just returned from the Florida Keys…arrived last week, started at Dive Shop in Islamorada (Holiday Isle Resort Dive Shop) arrived at 7:30 AM and waited until 09:10 AM before somebody finally showed up. They advertised that they run daily trips at 9:00 AM and to be at shop by 8:30 AM. Now the day was sunny with no wind. She explained that she was sorry for being late and that the boats already went out from another dive shop. Asked if they were going out for the afternoon dive and she said no, but recommended other dive shops. Went to five additional shops between Islamorada and Ramrod Key…could not find anybody that was going out.

The next day found shop in Big Pine Key (Strike Zone Charters Inc.) going to Looe Key Reef…had heard that this was the best diving in the lower keys, so signed up and went out with Larry (Captain and Instructor). Can not believe how he treated experience diver, had informed him that I was active Instructor and dove in California between 4-5 days per week. The dive site was 10-25 feet and I was treated like I was a new diver who had 15 dives under my belt. Larry tried to get me to wear twice the weight I wanted, saying that my weight (8 lbs) wasn’t enough (as it turned out I was still 1 lb over weighted).

Hint to Larry and “other” dive operators out there when an experience Instructor comes out to dive with your operation. I get asked by my students all the time for recommendations on which dive shops to dive with when they go on vacations…I (we) influence lots of potential customers. I would not; will not; can not; recommend these types of dive operations to my students. When you recommend to divers how much weight to carry (and they listen to you) and sometimes happens because they’re over weighted, you can be liable. Give respect to experience divers, especially when they come from and dive experienced waters like California and you’re located somewhere that is considered easy diving (like the Florida waters).

So, tell me that not all dive operators in the Keys are like this and please explain why nobody (dive shops) wanted to go out diving when the weather was nice. There are so many dive shops down there, seemed like every mile there was a dive shop.

 

[Rescue Diver68]

RE:Original Post-

Been there. I experienced the same thing with a current Dive shop located near the Holiday Inn and a Dive op that no longer exists. I dive with Conch Republic exclusively now. Gary and Brenda are great people and they run a great shop. I am glad I found them and just wish I could get down there more often.

 

[sportxlh]

Dive CA: that's really too bad. I've not dove with a lot of ops in the middle keys but have dove with many in the upper keys (and one in Key West) and have not been disappointed with any of them.

Cap't Gary of Conch Republic already posted and his is a great operation.

Silent World is also a very good op.

Both Conch and Silent World work with newer and very experienced divers (including Tech) and I've never seen anyone act in the foolish manner you've described.

Quiescence Diving is another good op and one that uses six pack boats.

 

[Davemohio]

Sorry to hear about the experience.

Another + 1 for Silent World with smaller boats.

Another +1 for Ocean Divers with the larger boats.

Love Key Largo.

 

[muzikbiz22]

+ 1 more for Silent World & Quiessence

 

[Katch]

The Holiday Isle Dive Shop won't go out unless they get a certain number of divers. I tried three times with them (once via an early reservation). They are very good at helping to find replacement ops. They called another local op 1.5 years ago and helped me with gear so I can dive with the other place (I couldn't pack much on a motorcycle trip from VA).

I also had great experiences with Innerspace (a six-pack boat) and Looe Key Dive Resort. Looe Key Resort was a cattle boat, but they had a great 3-tank dive where the first was a deep wreck (A. Busch) for divers; and, the next two were dive/snorkle on the reef. They even had a grill and cooked hot dogs and chilli - that hit the spot on a cold January 5th day

 

[jar546]

Disappointed with Florida Key Dive Operations

Just returned from the Florida Keys…arrived last week, started at Dive Shop in Islamorada (Holiday Isle Resort Dive Shop) arrived at 7:30 AM and waited until 09:10 AM before somebody finally showed up. They advertised that they run daily trips at 9:00 AM and to be at shop by 8:30 AM. Now the day was sunny with no wind. She explained that she was sorry for being late and that the boats already went out from another dive shop. Asked if they were going out for the afternoon dive and she said no, but recommended other dive shops. Went to five additional shops between Islamorada and Ramrod Key…could not find anybody that was going out.

The next day found shop in Big Pine Key (Strike Zone Charters Inc.) going to Looe Key Reef…had heard that this was the best diving in the lower keys, so signed up and went out with Larry (Captain and Instructor). Can not believe how he treated experience diver, had informed him that I was active Instructor and dove in California between 4-5 days per week. The dive site was 10-25 feet and I was treated like I was a new diver who had 15 dives under my belt. Larry tried to get me to wear twice the weight I wanted, saying that my weight (8 lbs) wasn’t enough (as it turned out I was still 1 lb over weighted).

Hint to Larry and “other” dive operators out there when an experience Instructor comes out to dive with your operation. I get asked by my students all the time for recommendations on which dive shops to dive with when they go on vacations…I (we) influence lots of potential customers. I would not; will not; can not; recommend these types of dive operations to my students. When you recommend to divers how much weight to carry (and they listen to you) and sometimes happens because they’re over weighted, you can be liable. Give respect to experience divers, especially when they come from and dive experienced waters like California and you’re located somewhere that is considered easy diving (like the Florida waters).

So, tell me that not all dive operators in the Keys are like this and please explain why nobody (dive shops) wanted to go out diving when the weather was nice. There are so many dive shops down there, seemed like every mile there was a dive shop.

I too am sorry you had that experience. When people come here and ask questions before they head out, there are only a few dive-shops that are routinely recommended and none that you spoke of are on that list. I dive almost exclusively with Conch Republic and have nothing but praise for their operation and staff. No one has ever questioned my weighting and the staff has always been top notch. There are quite a few great dive shops; unfortunately, you did not get them.