Dry Tortugas day dive trip

[timetraveler]

Is there a dive op in the keys that runs one-day trips to the Dry Tortugas? I've only been able to find snorkeling one-day trips. Is the water so shallow that scuba is unnecessary?

 

[Jupiter31]

Its a long haul - the good news is there are a number of operators offering diving in the genearal area (Cay Sal) - bad news is they are multi day live aboards.

As you correctly point out the trips to Ft Jefferson are for snorkeling - its a neat place to see and filled with history - worth a day - but its not a dive destination.

Around the fort where the tours arrive, the water is shallow - as I recall - and its been over 10 years - the snorkeling was OK; you go for the complete experience vs a "dive" - by all means go if you have the time and $$.

 

[Dave C]

Take a look at this guy's photo's of Ft. Jefferson. He has quite a few snorkeling pics, and the snorkeling looks quite nice. It's supposed to be the best "off-the-beach" snorkeling in FL.
Ft Jefferson - a set on Flickr

 

[Chugwhump]

Thanks for posting the link Dave C.
The set was very nice.
Chug
Been there.

 

[MSPDiver]

Bonsai diving will take you there. They are a small operation with a super nice boat that is fast. They dive with you and take pics. A little more then others but well worth it.

 

[Wookie]

If you go with Bonsai diving, understand that they do not have a diving permit for the Dry Tortugas National Park, and if they (and you ) get caught there diving from their vessel, you all are subject to civil penalties. There are no day operators with Dry Tortugas National Park Commercial Use Authorizations.

 

[Buoyant1]

If you go with Bonsai diving, understand that they do not have a diving permit for the Dry Tortugas National Park, and if they (and you ) get caught there diving from their vessel, you all are subject to civil penalties. There are no day operators with Dry Tortugas National Park Commercial Use Authorizations.

So basically what you are saying is that the "live-aboard" companies have pretty much cornered the market on the Dry Tortugas as far as diving, and you've all pushed the small operators out of the equation....nice


Hmmm...maybe time to start firing off letters to congressmen :mooner:

 

[Wookie]

So basically what you are saying is that the "live-aboard" companies have pretty much cornered the market on the Dry Tortugas as far as diving, and you've all pushed the small operators out of the equation....nice


Hmmm...maybe time to start firing off letters to congressmen :mooner:

Fire away. Any operator is welcome to pay the $250 application fee, the $650/year issuance fee, and the $1250/year mooring buoy fee. Day operators/ferries also get the golden opportunity to contribute 8.5% of their gross (not just park gross, but total gross) to the pot. Additionally, the rules for diving operators and the amount of safety equipment they have to carry (3 k bottles of O2, among others) may make it difficult for a smaller vessel to make the transit. In addition, don't forget the park entrance fee of $15/head. By all means, fire off a letter to your congressman. I look forward to seeing it.

 

[mike_s]

So basically what you are saying is that the "live-aboard" companies have pretty much cornered the market on the Dry Tortugas as far as diving, and you've all pushed the small operators out of the equation....nice


Hmmm...maybe time to start firing off letters to congressmen :mooner:

Ben, (and others reading).

It's just not profitable for day operators to do the trip. It's a 140 miles round trip run. So the cost of having a boat to make that trip, the fuel, 12-14 hour day (in order to get a few dives in), etc is just not worth it to the operators.

Divers aren't willing to pay $250 (or more) for a day trip that is taken up half the day by running time. (yeah some might, but not enough to make is a scheduled event or pay for the permits).

That's where the Liveaboards step in. They provide a platform for 5+ dives a day in the park area and a place to stay. It's the best option and gives you "more dives for the buck".


The Liveaboards that are legally permitted to the Dry Tortugas are

http://www.spreeexpeditions.com/
Dry Tortugas Scuba Diving liveaboard, The Ultimate Getaway. Scuba Dive the Dry Tortugas
Seaclusive (Playmate)
Juliet Sailing and Scuba Diving​

If it wasn't for the Liveaboards that operated in the Tortugas, chances are 99.9 % of us would never be able to dive it.

Bonsai diving will take you there. They are a small operation with a super nice boat that is fast. They dive with you and take pics. A little more then others but well worth it.

I see they state that on their website.

I wonder if they actually get you "in the park" or just some reef outside it?

(for example, Ultimate Getaway and Playmate both do trips "outside the park" for spear fishing trips. (you can't spearfish "in the park")

 

[SC_Hoaty]

Fire away. Any operator is welcome to pay the $250 application fee, the $650/year issuance fee, and the $1250/year mooring buoy fee. Day operators/ferries also get the golden opportunity to contribute 8.5% of their gross (not just park gross, but total gross) to the pot. Additionally, the rules for diving operators and the amount of safety equipment they have to carry (3 k bottles of O2, among others) may make it difficult for a smaller vessel to make the transit. In addition, don't forget the park entrance fee of $15/head. By all means, fire off a letter to your congressman. I look forward to seeing it.

Sounds like the National Park Service is making it tough on everyone - not just the day operators. I can just imagine their rationalization would be full of Washington-speak. Cost recovery for accommodating a select few is one thing (mooring ball fee, for example) but turning "cost recovery" into a profit center is not too far from expoitation. How they justify taxing non-park gross would be interesting (if unbelievable) to see.

Thanks, Wookie, for providing some background to help ask our repective congressfolk the right questions.