horizon divers key largo - buddy wanted

[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.