Diving in the Florida Keys

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bpn073

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Sacramento, CA, USA
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Hi. I am new to Scuba Board. I have a meeting in Miami in late May, and thought I'd stay a few extra days and try to get a dive in in the keys, Key West unless I'm guided elsewhere down there. Never been to the Keys at all, so looking for tips on where a good dive would be. I've been certified for a few years, so still looking to go on guided dives with somebody that will make sure I make it back.

Any ideas? If you have a lodging recommendation, I'll take that too.

Thanks,

DL
 
Key West has its appeal. It is funky and a bit weird. But, I think you are better served diving in Key Largo. The reefs as Key Largo, in my understanding, are in better shape than those of the lower keys. Also Kay Largo enjoys a very large variety of dive sites from deep water world class wreck dives to very shallow reef dives. Key Largo has plenty of very good dive operations. Key West just does not have that variety. Also, Key Largo is just a relatively short drive from Miami.
 
+1 for Key Largo, or Marathon, instead of Key West.

More variety, better reefs, better wrecks...
 
It's still worth the drive down to Key West, just to see the uniqueness of island after island after island connected by bridges.

Unless Looe Key has changed in the last couple of years, it is one of the finest spur and groove reef systems around. Down around MM25-30 area.

If you don't have the time to extend your trip a few days, then perhaps you could just sneak in a few dives in the Ft. Lauderdale area. It's basically one long reef system from Ft. Lauderdale up past West Palm Beach. Typically drift diving while towing a flag.
 
DL, Welcome to Scubaboard.

Please check out your local forum to meet other local divers and find out about local happenings. NorCal - ScubaBoard

As for the FL Keys, here is a great sticky of info:
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/florida-conch-divers/362149-florida-keys-guide.html

Although there is good diving in Key West, there is GREAT diving in Key Largo. Key West if very touristy with plenty of shopping, art gallaries, historical tours (Hemingway, Truman, Forts, etc.), the infamound Pub crawls on Duval St., as well as the street performers at sunset on Mallory Square.

Key Largo is a dive eat dive sleep kind of town. Lots of great diving (so many sites you can't get to them all in two weeks of non-stop diving) and plenty of great eateries. There are more dive ops in KL than gas stations, so there is something for everyone here...from shallow reefs to deep wrecks. You will have do some awesome diving. FL Keys is an oft asked subject, so do some searches and you will find plenty info on dive sites, conditions, dive ops, training, hotels, eateries, etc.

I have friends at many of the local ops, we all want to make sure you enjoy your vacation. So whether you dive with me or another op stop by to say hi :wavey:
Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions.
 
As said KW is Weird & Strange! mix in a bunch of folk's that seem left over from the60's - 70's and really cant do a good pirate imitation and throw a million tourist into a small island a splash of booze, over priced food and drink,no parking and the never ending putrid smell of the key algae and you got it!
Hit Key Largo,Dive
KW for a day trip!
 
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