horizon divers key largo - buddy wanted

[bassplayer]

I'm staying in Key Largo for the next few weeks, and doing some diving with horizon. So far I've just been diving the Spiegel Grove over and over, I'm happy to just keep doing that and also open to trying other sites.

I'm not solo certified and Horizon doesn't do instabuddies; would be cool to find someone to dive with vs having to arrange a guide every time. Anyone around Key Largo and feel like getting some dives in?

Just for fun i attached a few gopro frames from this weekend.

 

[bassplayer]

update - i went ahead and got the solo certification on Monday, figured it comes in handy for a lot of the florida dive charters and also i've been solo shore diving a fair bit anyway so good to take the class and learn a few things.

that said still more than happy to buddy up for a dive at some point, dms welcome. had a nice dive with a found buddy here a few days ago so 1 for 1.

 

[bassplayer]

I was going to say, get solo certified!

In case for some reason you aren't aware, being solo certified isn't enough to dive solo on most dive charters including Horizon Divers.

what do you mean? they seem happy to let me dive solo now in any case

 

[bassplayer]

I sort of left out part of the answer to make ya think.

The part about the extra tank, regulator, cutting tool, signal devices, maybe even a spare mask (Islamorada Dive Center required it but didn't actually check).

gotcha, I already had those bases covered for tech diving

 

[chrisjur]

Hey there. I am in Honduras for another week+ and have some dives planned when I get back home, so not sure our dates align with my schedule, but generally try to hit up the big wrecks on Key Largo once or twice a month (I'm Miami-based). I am solo and tec certified, but I prefer to do the SG/Duane/Eagle as two recreational double-dips. (I generally do not dive the SG solo, as I do like to penetrate - nothing crazy)

Feel free to shoot me a DM.

Chris

 

[Bababui]

I'm staying in Key Largo for the next few weeks, and doing some diving with horizon. So far I've just been diving the Spiegel Grove over and over, I'm happy to just keep doing that and also open to trying other sites.

I'm not solo certified and Horizon doesn't do instabuddies; would be cool to find someone to dive with vs having to arrange a guide every time. Anyone around Key Largo and feel like getting some dives in?

Just for fun i attached a few gopro frames from this weekend.

Hope you had a great dive! I'm headed to Key Largo 1/17-1/25 and want to take 10 two tank dives M-F. When you say Horizon wont do insta buddies, do you mean that if I'm on my own, I'm out of luck? Any other recommendations beyone rainbow reef?

TIA.

-Alan

 

[bassplayer]

Hope you had a great dive! I'm headed to Key Largo 1/17-1/25 and want to take 10 two tank dives M-F. When you say Horizon wont do insta buddies, do you mean that if I'm on my own, I'm out of luck? Any other recommendations beyone rainbow reef?

TIA.

-Alan

you have a few options with Horizon -
- pay for a guide (25$ if shared, 40$ alone)
- ask the shop if they can do some matchmaking; they don't do instabuddies on the boat but can sometimes arrange one in advance if there happen to be other compatible single divers around during your trip
- get solo certified (they support solo diving very well)

also, a recommendation: there is one part-time DM there, the person who did a speigel grove mapping project culminating in the map cards they're selling now. i forgot to write down his name, i want to say Jared? not positive.

anyway he took me on 2 awesome dives through the recreational part of the spiegel grove, well worth the price of admission.

 

[Diver-007]

I'm staying in Key Largo for the next few weeks, and doing some diving with horizon. So far I've just been diving the Spiegel Grove over and over, I'm happy to just keep doing that and also open to trying other sites.

I'm not solo certified and Horizon doesn't do instabuddies; would be cool to find someone to dive with vs having to arrange a guide every time. Anyone around Key Largo and feel like getting some dives in?

Just for fun i attached a few gopro frames from this weekend.

Hello - I'll be visiting Key Largo from 10/11-16. I also dive with Horizon Divers and need a buddy. If you're still around, maybe buddy up for some dives? Thank you.

 

[SmashMonkey]

I did my tech training at Horizon Divers with Jeff and I would highly recommend diving with them. I just got back from a Key Largo trip with them recently and in addition to some of the great tips already on this thread my $0.02.

Planning ahead as a single diver is key. If you let them know ahead of time you're single they can arrange a guide or put you with a guided group if there is one. They may also be able to tell you if there is another single diver you can try to buddy with. What is suboptimal is just showing up on the boat with no buddy and no plan and expecting the crew to sort it out for you. It's a friendly family run dive shop and most of the divers are a mix of tourists, regulars, locals etc. so if you dive with a guide/instructor the first day or two, when you get on the boat, you can make some new friends and find dive buddies for the rest of the trip.

All the rec and tech DMs and instructors are top notch. Experienced and competent. Really worth it if you want to tour inside the Spiegel Grove. There is a lot to see in the 70 ft/21 m - 100 ft/30 m depths and the bottom is at 130 ft/40 m. The super structure has been cut out and can be safely penetrated by competent rec divers. I have 15 dives on the SG and I just used a guide and will continue to use guides to see the coolest bits of the wreck. Here's another thing, not all dive shop (Rainbow Reef?) guides are competent inside a wreck. If another dive shop takes a large group of tourist divers through the passages, viz will be ****. So it's nice to have a guide who is familiar with all the alternative less traveled paths and photo ops. Try to schedule a guide in advance.

Jared drew the maps. IMHO his map slates are worth buying to plan where to see and much clearer and more detailed than the ReefSmartGuides maps.

Highly recommend taking a course. Unlike most of the other dive shops Horizon offers AM and PM deep dives. It's possible to dive the SG 4x rec dives or 2x tech dives in one day. e.g. AOW, Nitrox, Deep, Solo, Wreck, technical etc..

 

[chrisjur]

I did my tech training at Horizon Divers with Jeff and I would highly recommend diving with them. I just got back from a Key Largo trip with them recently and in addition to some of the great tips already on this thread my $0.02.

Planning ahead as a single diver is key. If you let them know ahead of time you're single they can arrange a guide or put you with a guided group if there is one. They may also be able to tell you if there is another single diver you can try to buddy with. What is suboptimal is just showing up on the boat with no buddy and no plan and expecting the crew to sort it out for you. It's a friendly family run dive shop and most of the divers are a mix of tourists, regulars, locals etc. so if you dive with a guide/instructor the first day or two, when you get on the boat, you can make some new friends and find dive buddies for the rest of the trip.

All the rec and tech DMs and instructors are top notch. Experienced and competent. Really worth it if you want to tour inside the Spiegel Grove. There is a lot to see in the 70 ft/21 m - 100 ft/30 m depths and the bottom is at 130 ft/40 m. The super structure has been cut out and can be safely penetrated by competent rec divers. I have 15 dives on the SG and I just used a guide and will continue to use guides to see the coolest bits of the wreck. Here's another thing, not all dive shop (Rainbow Reef?) guides are competent inside a wreck. If another dive shop takes a large group of tourist divers through the passages, viz will be ****. So it's nice to have a guide who is familiar with all the alternative less traveled paths and photo ops. Try to schedule a guide in advance.

Jared drew the maps. IMHO his map slates are worth buying to plan where to see and much clearer and more detailed than the ReefSmartGuides maps.

Highly recommend taking a course. Unlike most of the other dive shops Horizon offers AM and PM deep dives. It's possible to dive the SG 4x rec dives or 2x tech dives in one day. e.g. AOW, Nitrox, Deep, Solo, Wreck, technical etc..

Good advice all around.

Their online booking system is pretty clear that singles will need a guide, but I guess there are lots of people who don't check the box (maybe to save money) and show up solo hoping for the best. I also highly recommend using a guide. It's well worth the $40 given the size and complexity of the wreck - I get a lot more out of it when using their guides. I have over 40 dives on the SG and about half of them have used a Horizon guide. I will continue to use them if I don't have a dive planned with a buddy.

I do agree that it's possible to do both morning and afternoon dives, but there is a bit of a logistical challenge if you're diving your own singles or doubles since you won't have time to refill your tanks. If you're renting tanks with them, not an issue. I have once before dove my own tanks in the morning and then used their rental tanks in the afternoon.