Florida Keys question from a beginner!

[DeputyDan]

Hello:

Myself, my 12 year old and 15 year old will be OW certified this spring. I was thinking of taking them to the Florida keys and doing 3 dives (as our first salt water experience). My choices are 1. Molasses reef, 2. City of Washington wreck and 3. North Dry Docks reef.

My question is---- Is this a good choice of locations to start with (for beginners) or should I go with something different.

I know its 9-12 months away, but planning and anticipation is part of the fun.


Thanks

 

[Bomber]

Dan, those sound great to me. You have several different profiles and all are low impact. Since they are all out on the reef edge, if you do them as separate dives most dive ops will also include a patch reef dive with a trip like that.

Have fun
Bomber

BTW if you head for the Islamorada area, drop me a line.

 

[divad]

Those are great dives for beginners, but there's not much left of the City of Washington. Try French Reef instead. I think its the most dramtic shallow dive around there. Once you're comfortable
with the shallow dives, you might want to try The Benwood wreck for a little more depth (50') and a lot more relief. (Actually, if you dive The Benwood and they ask your preference for the second-tank dive, request French Reef. That's a great trip, my favorite aside from The Duane. If they don't ask you where you want to go, ask them anyway.Silent World is very accomodating and they have good multi-dive package discounts).


Dave (from Asheville)

 

[WreckWriter]

First, its Dry "ROCKS", not docks.

Second, Evad is full of it, City is great dive, French Reef is a turd. City is a major historic wreck in that she was first rescue ship in the USS Maine incident (remember the Maine?). There is lots left.

French is the lowest average viz reef in Key Largo.

Tom

ps- I was a capt/instructor in KL for 10 years.

 

[DaveO]

... at Pickles Reef and Snapper Ledge. Good conditions when we went, and we saw our first ever nurse sharks there. How cool would that be! To see sharks just after OW certification!

Wherever you go, enjoy! Dive safe, dive often!

 

[DaveO]

Welcome to ScubaBoard! Check us out at the Mid-Atlantic Bottom Feeders for dives and divers in NC!

 

[BILLB]

So far all the diving mentioned has been in Key Largo. May I suggest that you continue your vacation travels to the city of Marathron. The diving in my opinion is better there (no cattle boats) and the atmosphere is truely tropical the all year.

The first dive must be on Sombereo reef. This is one of the prettiest reefs anywhere and the viz is as good as any reef in Key Largo. A second dive could be the old Flagler Barge which has as many fish as anywhere in the Keys. Try the Diving Site or cross the Seven Mile Bridge and hook up with Paradise Divers. There are many other quality reefs in this area to dive.

Then drive down to Cudjoe key and dive the Augustus Busch wreck. Use Looe Key Diving Resort. It is an awsome sight and there are rarely no other boats on the wreck. Large Jew fish and the coral growth has made this a world class dive. It is deep, but if you stay on the deck you can keep your depth at 75 to 80 feet
(since one of your divers is a junior diver, he will have to sit out this dive). Your second dive is alway Looe key. This is without a doubt the best reef in the keys. you will probably want to go back and do more dives at this site.

Forget Key West for diving. There is nothing to see, unless you want to see a couple of really nice wrecks. The viz there is the lowest in the keys and I would not suggest diving there unless you are really comfortable with the conditions (and cattle boats).

 

[DeputyDan]

I specifically tried to keep the locations under 40 feet for the 12 year old and also looked at going out of one location hoping for a discount.

I will follow up on the Sombereo reef especially.

Thanks again.

 

[BradfordNC]

The City of Washington is about a 25 foot dive, if you dig a hole in the sand. As mentioned earlier, it is a historic wreck. the ship was actually anchored next to the Maine. When the Maine exploded, it peppered the City of Washington with debris.

it is a nice dive, lots of bottom time, visibility is excellent, and when i was there we saw about 6 nurse sharks, 2 eels, and a sea turtle.

your kids will love it.

 

[Butch103]

The Mollassis reef was a beauty....I dove it a couple of years ago. A question to all those in the sunny sate of Florida ...whats the diving like there in January.....I am trying to decide on an early Jan holiday and am not sure if I am going to take in the islands or Florida. I am thinking the 2nd week of Jan /03.........