Florida Keys shore dive locations?

[jwhitlock]

I am starting to plan a trip to the keys sometime in March . Can anybody help me with any good shore dive locations?

 

[Walter]

Good shore dives in the Keys is an oxymoron.

 

[double80s]

We went down to the Keys after Christmas, no good beach diving. We did dive with Conch Republic Diver and Ocean Divers in Key Largo on the way dow/back. I would recommend this if you have time.

In Key West we considered diving, but we heard the vis was poor. We took a cruise/snorkel/kayak trip. Out at the reef we had about 2' vis.

Have fun.

 

[jwhitlock]

Thanks for the advise ,Ill probably charter a boat dive.

 

[SFLDiver]

Since nobody else explained ...

The main problem with shore diving in the keys is the gradual depth. You can step into ocean and be in waist-deep water for about a mile in some spots, even farther in others. To get to the truly sweet spots of reefs, ledges, and wrecks you need to get on a boat and motor out a good distance. Diving the bridges in the Keys is both very tricky with the currents, and I believe it may be prohibited in some areas.

I've only known of one brave soul who kayaked from shore to Alligator reef
and dove the site a la kayak diving.

Best bet .... dive boats by far.

 

[MarineVet32935]

Me and friends used to dive the old bridge pilings north of Big Pine Key. There's a great campground with a nice pool, hotel type rooms, and mobile homes for rent, just as you get to Big Pine, called Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge. Some of the reef structure on the old bridge pilings is awesome, lots of tropicals. Be careful though, the current moves through there at about 5 knots at the peak. You can easily snorkle out to the pilings from the swimming beach, just as the tide is going slack. That'll give you about an hour, before the current gets too strong to swim back.

We've also done this from a boat, with a long anchor line and trailing a long tag line. This enabled us to dive the pilings during the strongest part of the tide, though it was physically very demanding. I wouldn't advise it for anyone but the strongest and most experienced divers. We called it "Gorilla Diving".

But hell, BPKFL rents boats, so why bother.

 

[Buoyant1]

Shore snorkelling is more like it...IF you make it to Key West, go to Fort Zachary Taylor and snorkel off their "beach" out by the dead coral breakers, maybe a depth of 10' at high tide! (lots of fish if it's a quiet day and you just stay still)...other than that, get a boat! Plenty of them!

 

[aue-mike]

There is a spot just before Big Pine Key heading west. It is on the north side of Spanish Harbor Key and is basically a big lagoon with a breakwater around it. If you are hard up for diving and the wind is screaming, give it a try. I think max depth is around 35 feet and there used to be a bus on the bottom. Lots of lobsters along the rocks (at least before mini-season). Try diving at high tide for the clean water.


There is also the lagoon on Stock Island at Florida Keys Community College. You need to ask permission from the director (Bob Smith) of the dive program there.

There is a boat, a bus, the timbers of the ATOCHA, and lots of other stuff there. Several floating docks with ladders. Lots of critters. If you are hard-up for diving, it might be worth a visit (and if FKCC permits it).

 

[jwhitlock]

Ill probably contact the FKCC and also plan a few boat dives . Thanks for the info It will help me from, wasting alot of time and money . Also how about any dive charters preferences ?

 

[wreckchick]

Pick me!

or Bluewater Divers or Conch Republic up in Key Largo

or Subtropic down in Key West

Rachel