Florida VS the Caribbean and Bahamas etc

[SeaHound]

Forgive me for asking what might seem a stewpid question but for those of you who have been diving in Florida and further south towards Bahamas / Caribbean, how does Florida diving compare to these other tourist destinations? From what I know Florida Keys will offer some of the best dives in the world. With the diva capital of the world located in Florida - your own back yard, exactly what makes divers flock to these places? Better underwater visibility? More abundant marine life? Personal desire to get out of the country? Booze? Aggressive advertising but tour operators?

I want to know that for someone who has not fully explored Florida diving, would a trip to these "exotic" dive destinations offer something new and remarkable?

Thanks

 

[Orlando Eric]

Cheap Prostitution.

 

[yarik83]

Traveling to Florida is marginally cheaper for many US residents. Dive sites are popular here because every other person living in Florida is certified and out of those at least a quarter dives all the time like I do.

Comparison wise if you never dove before (aka in process of getting certified) a trip to say Boynton Beach is sensory overload. Warm water and visibility is 50-100ft depending on day. Then of course you go to the keys and learn what boynton would look like if it was 10 times better. Then you travel to a place like Cozumel, mexico and your jaw drops because that beats boynton by about factor of 400:1. Then you travel south and Belize and all them places will knock you off your feet.

Pricewise florida is ok to go diving as it costs probably around $250 for Saturday and Sunday getaway (decent hotel+diving+food+gas) so if you are a beginning diver then Florida is THE place to go visit affordably. Then if you have a week vacation I would highly recommend spending $1500 at places around Caribben as those will be the best $1500 you spent that year.

 

[Jupiter31]

Depends on what you want - as an active diver who has done a TON of diving in SE FL and the Keys, its always fun to go somewhere else.

For example, we don't have (divable) true walls in FL (and Conch Reef and the Biscayne National Park "walls" don't count) so to experience this, you need to travel - been to San Sal in the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Cozumel, Grand and Litttle Cayman and have loved the diving.

When I said "it depends what you are looking for" I can tell you the most consistant area, hands down, no questions, for LARGE animal encounters - sharks, goliath groupers, turtles - is Jupiter FL - see a ton more big stuff there then anyplace I've dove in the Carribean.

Sites w/ large animal life do exist; however I've found that its limited to certain sites, and often away from the "normal" sites regularly dove.

Also, the reefs of Boynton/Delray are fantastic - have I seen better in the Carribean - sure, but they are an hour from my home.

I think the more I dive FL, the more I appreciate how fortunate we are to have this diving in our backyard.

Don't get me wrong - traveling to dive is great on so many levels; I just believe that for want I want to see - sharks, turtles - we are in a great place to do so.

 

[Nemrod]

Diving in Florida usually involves long motor trips, high stress and difficult dive shops. I find it interesting that as I arrived in the Keys on this recent trip that several shops advertised "low stress" diving, lol. So, after arriving I called the shop I was booked to dive with, who had my credit card, who I had spoken with several times and guess what, not only could they not remember who I was, they were not planning a trip to the Spiegal as had been promised. They also promised "low stress" diving. I then explained to the lady that I had driven three days and 2,000 miles to arrive at her low stress dive shop and expected her to deliver on the promised booking and that not only was I stressed, but I was highly stressed! So, they did deliver the trip but I did not book my other two trips with them, I canceled and went instead with a larger shop that ran "cattle boats" with a published schedule and actually had a great time with some great diving and fun people.

Diving in many Caribbean locations in contrast, boats pick you up at your hotel dock, there is no driving, they go to great places every day, and it is actually low-er stress.

I love diving Florida but my wife will not go to the Keys because of the high stress, canceled reservations, and other fiascoes we have had there over the years. Now, me, I love the Keys and take it in stride, if one shop does not cooperate, there are a bunch more.

Good luck, perhaps the lowest stress is Bonaire, Cozumel is low stress, the Bahamas I just came from a few weeks ago was low stress.

N

 

[Nemrod]

Cheap Prostitution.

No, I think they are cheaper in Mexico. N

 

[SeaHound]

Diving in Florida usually involves long motor trips, high stress and difficult dive shops. I find it interesting that as I arrived in the Keys on this recent trip that several shops advertised "low stress" diving, lol. So, after arriving I called the shop I was booked to dive with, who had my credit card, who I had spoken with several times and guess what, not only could they not remember who I was, they were not planning a trip to the Spiegal as had been promised. They also promised "low stress" diving. I then explained to the lady that I had driven three days and 2,000 miles to arrive at her low stress dive shop and expected her to deliver on the promised booking and that not only was I stressed, but I was highly stressed! So, they did deliver the trip but I did not book my other two trips with them, I canceled and went instead with a larger shop that ran "cattle boats" with a published schedule and actually had a great time with some great diving and fun people.

Diving in many Caribbean locations in contrast, boats pick you up at your hotel dock, there is no driving, they go to great places every day, and it is actually low-er stress.

I love diving Florida but my wife will not go to the Keys because of the high stress, canceled reservations, and other fiascoes we have had there over the years. Now, me, I love the Keys and take it in stride, if one shop does not cooperate, there are a bunch more.

Good luck, perhaps the lowest stress is Bonaire, Cozumel is low stress, the Bahamas I just came from a few weeks ago was low stress.

N

My experience with Florida Keys has never been like this. I always requested an email confirmation of my dives and I would take the print out with me. I have been on cattleboats a couple of times but I ended up meeting some very great people.

Thanks for sharing this.

 

[SeaHound]

How about the visibility? Is there a significant difference in the VIZ between Florida and Carribean?

 

[Jupiter31]

As a gross generalization, I think you are going to find better viz in the carribean vs SE FL/Keys

Less people, less runoff, less pollution, etc

Also depends where you are but overall, I think FL looses this one.

 

[Jupiter31]

Nem, you gotta try Palm Beach diving if you have not already - Boynton, West Palm, and Jupiter have the best diving in FL on so many levels.

You also tend to get a more professional OP, and more experienced divers, vs the attitude of many in the Keys that everyone on the boat is a newbi, or has not dove in 5 years.

(Sad thing is in many instances, they are correct!)

My list of who I will not dive with in the upper Keys is waaaaay longer than who I will.

Next trip, give Palm Beach County a try - PM me and I'll dive with you!