Dive Buddy :: Florida Vacation

[Matteo]

ndnatty,
Thanks that sounds great.
Marathon is the first week of the vacation, so I would be interested in hearing about your experiences with the dive boats operating from there.

Also what wetsuit would you recommend for the conditions. Used to wearing a full 7mm and a 5mm shortie here in the UK, boots, 5mm gloves and hood. (Pending dry-suit certification). What are the typical ranges of water temp and viz in late July?

...better get back to work the boss is coming!

in Marathon, I highly recommend Tilden's Scuba Center; I'll be diving with them this weekend as a matter of fact...they have 2 locations, one at mile marker 61 on Duck Key and another at MM 49 on US1 http://www.tildensscubacenter.com/

and yes, you can leave that 5mm, 7mm stuff at home...even the coldest-natured of folks don't go beyond a 3mm that time of year, but a skin should do you just fine

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Just past Key Largo is Tavenier. Check out Capt. Gary (he is a member here on the board) http://www.conchrepublicdivers.com/ at Conch Republic Divers.

 

[divindoc]

Deadweight, when you're on Anna Maria Is. try Fl.West Scuba School (941-486-1400) for Sharks Tooth Dives off Venice. 28 ft (9 m ) water depth, 2 tank dive for Megalodon sharks teeth. I've found examples up to 5 1/2 inches in size. A unique type of dive. The owner is a buddy of mine and definitely treats his customers right. Give it a try! (best way to get to Venice would be State Rd. 64 to Interstate 75, exit #200 Laurel Road to US41, then bear left on 41 to the Island of Venice, the scuba shop is just to your right before the bridge over to Venice Island).

 

[ndnatty]

Hey Deadweight, I would suggest maybe just a skin if you're use to cold water diving. My wife and I went a couple of weeks ago and dove with a 1 mm full suit, but I was a little warm. The water was 81-82 around the reef and dropped to around 78-79 around 90 ft on the Spiegel Grove wreck.

 

[frogman_5]

Something to keep in mind... We use yoke style tank valves over here. Rental tanks with DIN style valves are very hard to find. You may want to pick up some adaptors before you leave home. In fact, just saw one on ebay in the UK for 16 quid!