scubasaint
Guest
If you were choosing between the two, which one would you prefer to dive? What would the pros and cons be of each place in your opinions?
Flower Gardens vs Key West
- Thread starter scubasaint
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
Having dove the gardens quite a bit, and the Key's not at all, I'm probably not the best to make a comparison, but it's totally different diving.
FG is a multi day liveaboard. I would think the average dive depths would be deeper and the coral life is different.
TwoBit
FG is a multi day liveaboard. I would think the average dive depths would be deeper and the coral life is different.
TwoBit
Why Key West? If you would consider Key Largo you will get a whole different set of opinions. Largo is a diving mecca. West is a partying mecca.
Key West is not exactly dive heaven (the reefs are ravaged to non-existent). However, there *are* a few artificial reefs at various depths (most relatively deep as recreational diving goes).
I'd definitely opt for a liveaboad, instead. (But, that's me).
I'd definitely opt for a liveaboad, instead. (But, that's me).
- Messages
- 54,437
- Reaction score
- 8,535
- # of dives
- 500 - 999
You don't give your location or experience level (see UserCP, Edit Profile) which are both considerations to the question.
Just did Flower Gardens. Much healthier coral and more abundant life than the Florida Keys - yeah, Key West is NOT a dive location. Also spent 70 hours on a rocking boat, pulling hard on granny lines to the mooring line, fighting the drift line as I removed fins and ladder as I boarded. Missed the line on one ascent, had to be picked up in the Raft Of Shame.
Nitrox is included at no extra charge on the Spree, which is also not as crowded as the Fling. Nitrox is also a great idea, as you won't be diving shallow at all.
Just did Flower Gardens. Much healthier coral and more abundant life than the Florida Keys - yeah, Key West is NOT a dive location. Also spent 70 hours on a rocking boat, pulling hard on granny lines to the mooring line, fighting the drift line as I removed fins and ladder as I boarded. Missed the line on one ascent, had to be picked up in the Raft Of Shame.
Nitrox is included at no extra charge on the Spree, which is also not as crowded as the Fling. Nitrox is also a great idea, as you won't be diving shallow at all.
OP
scubasaint
Guest
I have been trying to convince a buddy to do the Flower Gardens with me, but for some reason, he has a negative impression of the site since it is located in the gulf. He has done most of his dives in the Caribbean and has only read about the Flower Gardens.
Everything I have heard and read about FG has been that it is an excellent dive. Maybe he feels the way he does because he is looking for a dive not as challenging as FG when compared the the Keys.
I guess I was just wondering that if all things were equal such as amount of dives and cost, what would you consider to be the better dive?
Everything I have heard and read about FG has been that it is an excellent dive. Maybe he feels the way he does because he is looking for a dive not as challenging as FG when compared the the Keys.
I guess I was just wondering that if all things were equal such as amount of dives and cost, what would you consider to be the better dive?
- Messages
- 54,437
- Reaction score
- 8,535
- # of dives
- 500 - 999
I see that you updated your profile some, but did not include your location. Where you are has some bearing to my answers, still - for if you have to fly to Houston, rent a car to get to Freeport, then stay overnight in a hotel before flying back - as I did, this adds to the logistics of the FG trip. Oh, if the trip is canceled becase of weather once you arrive, you're in Houston. That is not fun.
I see you have 25-49 dives in 3 years, no Nitrox cert listed. They get divers with similar experience level, but I would not suggest it.
I see you have 25-49 dives in 3 years, no Nitrox cert listed. They get divers with similar experience level, but I would not suggest it.
OP
scubasaint
Guest
No nitrox certification as of yet. I'm located out of New Orleans so would be driving.
Similar threads
