I need some opinions for an upcoming diving trip

[ScubaDoo83]

Ok here's the deal, my Dad and I got certified last fall and have 6 dives under our weight belts. We want to go for about 4 days of diving during the day then catch a buzz and chill in the afternoon and evening in March. I don't care if all we do is lounge when not getting wet.

Now that being said, we were planning on going to Key Largo with the scuba shop we got certified through. It seemed like a decent price for a getaway. I'm kind of now rethinking it a bit simply because of logistics. Instead of having to rent a car (only for it to sit for 3 days unused) down to Key Largo, why not just fly into FT. Lauderdale and take an Uber to the hotel and be done with it?

So my dilemma here is the balancing of logistics vs diving experience. On one hand I'd love to dive the Keys as they look pristine but on the other it will be our first ocean dives regardless so will that really matter this trip?

 

[drrich2]

My family & I flew to Ft. Lauderdale, rented an SUV (due to baggage needs), & drove down to Key Largo. With Rainbow Reef Dive Center, I could dive 4 dives/day, and in 5 days had 20 dives in, guided, with their best package price. My trip report. Key Largo can be a fairly cheap dive trip on nice, fishy reefs where you can bang out a bunch of dives in a few days. The hotel we stayed at was most convenient to the dive shop, but not the cheapest option.

If I were aiming to fly and looking for a 'cheap' (really 'value' since scuba trips are not cheap) trip around a week or so, my short list would include Key Largo and Cozumel. Since you don't sound like you're ready for high frequency diving on a 'camping at sea' Blackbeard's live-aboard.

Richard.

P.S.: I live in Hopkinsville, in southwestern KY. My little family & a friend have made a round trip to Daytona Beach, Fl before. The idea of driving from KY to Key Largo would about drive me mad. Your tolerance may vary. But round trip flights to Ft. Lauderdale were not badly expensive. I recently noticed looking at a trip elsewhere that it would be much cheaper to rent a big SUV directly with the rental agency as opposed to going through Orbitz. So do some comparison pricing.

 

[afdgf]

I am not sure if this would work for you. what we do when we go to Key Largo is to have the Reef Runabout pick us up at the Miami airport and let them drive. They pick us up at the hotel when we are ready to go back. It turned out to be much cheaper than renting a car and letting it sit, in addition to arriving at night and getting a hotel room in Miami for the night and cutting out a day before and after Key Largo. We stay at the Courtyard Marriott which is within walking distance to several good dive shops, diver's warehouse, and many good restaurants. YMMV

 

[ScubaDoo83]

I am not sure if this would work for you. what we do when we go to Key Largo is to have the Reef Runabout pick us up at the Miami airport and let them drive. They pick us up at the hotel when we are ready to go back. It turned out to be much cheaper than renting a car and letting it sit, in addition to arriving at night and getting a hotel room in Miami for the night and cutting out a day before and after Key Largo. We stay at the Courtyard Marriott which is within walking distance to several good dive shops, diver's warehouse, and many good restaurants. YMMV

What is this Reef Runabout you speak of? A Google search just comes up with boat sales....

EDIT: Ahh, it's Reef Runaround. This might be the way to go! I'm still curious thopugh how FT. Lauderdale is compared to Key Largo purely as a dive destination for a couple of newbies.

 

[diversteve]

Right around MM100 in Key Largo could be a good choice. There's the Courtyard^, a Holiday Inn or Marina Del Mar on opposite sides of the marina there. Several dive operators keep a boat(s) there. Including Rainbow Reef - these are the same hotels: Diving Accomodations | Rainbow Reef Dive Center | Key Largo, Florida Keys Divers Direct is a block south if you need some dive gear. And options for restaurants/fast food you can walk to. Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is a mile north of there - you can shore dive there afaik. When SB used to Invade the Keys - it's where they were hosted. See all that's within walking distance:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/C...2!3m1!1s0x88d769c1730ad5d9:0x97c9c9e607266288

type in Key Largo dive operators to see the 3-4 at the marina or nearby.

There's also the Keys shuttle that will drop you anywhere there from FLL - airport to door. Miami Airport Shuttle, Ft Lauderdale Airport Shuttle, Miami to Key West, Ft Lauderdale to Key West