Help With Key West & Key Largo in July?

[kevindwhite]

Hello everyone. I'm a new diver in located in Salt Lake City, UT. Actually, I'm not a diver yet. My Open Water course starts this Saturday. But my first trip is coming up very soon, July 14-20 in Key West & Key Largo.

I would really appreciate any recommendations or pointers people can give me on tour operators in Key West & Key Largo as well as accommodations. I am having real trouble deciding where to stay and who to book my dives with. I want to dive two days in each location and am hoping for morning and afternoon dives on each day. I'm going by myself on this first trip so a friendly operator that attracts a good group would be ideal. As for accommodations, I want some place that is going to be nice for a single adult. Not that I don't like kids, I just don't need them running around the hotel after a full day of diving.

 

[suzette]

I dive with quite a few Key Largo outfits, but my favorite is Rainbow Reef. Jesus is a fantastic guide (as are all of the others) and they normally run morning and afternoon dives.
Dive Key Largo, Islamorada, Florida Keys with Rainbow Reef Dive Center;scuba diving:diving, Florida keys, florida diving

I like the Ramada for lodging near there- if you decide to dive with Rainbow, you'll leave your hotel and be right at the dive center and marina. It's a nice hotel, too- pool, balconies, on the marina.

My 2 cents! I live in Key Largo- as you get closer to your trip, feel free to shout if you need any local tips.

 

[deepstops]

Too bad you're not getting here a little earlier, you could join 100+ other ScubaBoard members for the Invasion (check my signature line for a link to that extravaganza).

Rainbow Reef is an excellent choice for someone that's just completed their OW certs because they put a DM/guide in the water on their trips.

Down in Key West, I'd say Captain's Corner or Sub Tropic will be your best bets.

 

[mndvr132]

My wife and I stayed in key Largo in Feb. for our first ocean dives. We stayed at the Marina Del Mar. Balcony over the marina and great privacy and quiet. Our first dive was with Ocean divers, next to the motel. Very good people but they pretty much leave you alone to do your own thing. The next day we went south to Islamorada and dove with Key Dives Scuba Diving in Islamorada in the Florida Keys. FANTASTIC operation. they had a new boat. dive master guided, orange slices, they set up our gear before the dives and rinsed our gear and loaded and unloaded it. They go overboard in hospitality and they we're even cheaper. I will definately go back there.

 

[deepstops]

The next day we went south to Islamorada and dove with Key Dives Scuba Diving in Islamorada in the Florida Keys. FANTASTIC operation. they had a new boat. dive master guided, orange slices, they set up our gear before the dives and rinsed our gear and loaded and unloaded it. They go overboard in hospitality and they we're even cheaper. I will definately go back there.

Actually Key Dives is another good choice for a new diver since they put a guide in the water on all dives but regarding the price, they are now $80 ($75 plus a $5 fuel surcharge). (not that $5 would change my mind either way)

That makes them $5 more than Rainbow Reef I believe.

 

[suzette]

If you hurry up and dive with Rainbow tomorrow morning, I'm making homemade chocolate chip cookies for the divers and bringing them along! They smell gooooood, too

 

[User0559]

Hello everyone. I'm a new diver in located in Salt Lake City, UT. Actually, I'm not a diver yet. My Open Water course starts this Saturday. But my first trip is coming up very soon, July 14-20 in Key West & Key Largo.

I would really appreciate any recommendations or pointers people can give me on tour operators in Key West & Key Largo as well as accommodations. I am having real trouble deciding where to stay and who to book my dives with. I want to dive two days in each location and am hoping for morning and afternoon dives on each day. I'm going by myself on this first trip so a friendly operator that attracts a good group would be ideal. As for accommodations, I want some place that is going to be nice for a single adult. Not that I don't like kids, I just don't need them running around the hotel after a full day of diving.

Try Southpoint Divers In Key West, they could also help you with accomodations.

 

[waynel]

Kevin, Marina Del Mar in Key Largo is a great place to stay, and very reasonably priced. I also think Rainbow Reef is perfect for new divers...However, you might want to rethink your plan to make 4 dives a day for 4 straight days, considering you are brand new. Don't be fooled into thinking diving doesn't exhaust you because it all looks "slow motion." Your body will need time to adjust to the pressures (you'll understand with that first nose bleed), you won't even have your bouyancy control down yet; your breathing rate will still be somewhat rapid. All of these factor into your exhaustion level. Will you be Nitrox certified? Advisable if you're going to dive that much.

I just don't want to see you "power dive" into making a serious mistake. If you feel exhausted after making 4 dives that first day, take easy and maybe do 2 the next day. I know, the opportunity to dive doesn't come along every day, and I truly admire your dedication and new found love for diving, but please put your safety first. Don't set some goal for X number of dives that might put you at risk. Listen to, and obey, what your body tells you. And you won't know what that is until you hit the water.

 

[kevindwhite]

waynel, Thanks for the advice and warnings. I will not be nitrox certified nor will I have an opportunity to get certification. Exhaustion is a serious concern for me even though I am very athletic. I realize that just because I run 25 to 35 miles a week at altitude doesn't mean I can "power dive" as you put it. My open water certification class starts this weekend and ends next weekend. I am not going to book my dive slots until after my certification because of the very same concerns you cited.

 

[kevindwhite]

Try Southpoint Divers In Key West, they could also help you with accomodations.

Thanks crazy, you are I think the third person that has recommended South Point to me. That's probably about as solid as it gets. They are definitely at the top of my list for Key West


I booked my hotels last night. I chose the ICH La Concha for Key West and the Holiday Inn Marina for Key Largo. The prices were right, the locations are good, both are available through my Priority Club membership, and everywhere I've checked the reviews have been solid.

The only things left to book are my rental car and maybe a scooter for tooling around Key West.

I am still very interested in hearing opinions on dive operators and the relative sanity/insanity of my schedule. And of course if anyone is around and wants to hang out or buddy up for dive that would be fantastic as well.

Crap, one more thing. Will I need a wet suit or will a top & bottom dive skin be fine for most dives? I'm not planning on buying a wet suit. I'm just trying to button down my budget. My booties are 5mm but my gloves are strictly warm water.