Ideal first dives for fresh OW graduates? ideal depth.

[bradlw]

What do ya'll feel is a good first dive trip for a fresh OW graduate?
Obviously good vis, low or no current, "fun" stuff to see, easy dives are the general goal

But I've been researching to put together the first trip for my wife and kids who are in the process of getting OW and Nitrox certified now...

Getting ready to book a keys trip, with plans to dive upper Keys (key largo area)

All along, my thought is that I'm hoping to at least get them on one or two of the dives down a little deeper than the typical stuff there (reported as like 15-25ft mostly)
It's been a very long time since I dove that area but I remember some pretty shallow dives there

Just to set a somewhat arbitrary goal, I'm thinking at least 33ft...maybe even like 40ft or so
It's been a very very very long time since I worked with students in my Divemaster training...so I'm second-guessing this idea.

My very first dive out of certification was something like 45-50 ft deep in zero to two ft vis...so I'm not the best person know I suppose...

 

[USdiver1]

You are in NE FL, right next to some great springs diving. 72 degree water year-round, good viz, take a trip to Blue Grotto and Devil's Den, both in Williston, nice first dives.

 

[kcc6001]

Check out Captain Slate in Key Largo. Comes very highly recommended and his Creature Feature dive is supposed to be a blast. We are diving with him in January but got the recommendation from a dive pro friend who sends many folks his way and dives with him whenever possible. Scuba Diving FL Keys | Captain Slate's Scuba Adventures | United States

 

[lowwall]

Boynton Beach has a very nice long reef that's around 45' deep on the top and max of maybe 65' at the bottom on the inside. Lots of life and drift diving so you just glide along and enjoy. The boats don't normally put a guide in with you - one member of each pair drags a flag - but you can pay for one if you want.

 

[Madmax7]

Check out Captain Slate in Key Largo. Comes very highly recommended and his Creature Feature dive is supposed to be a blast. We are diving with him in January but got the recommendation from a dive pro friend who sends many folks his way and dives with him whenever possible. Scuba Diving FL Keys | Captain Slate's Scuba Adventures | United States

Just took my kid out with Cpt. Slate two weeks ago. Had a great trip, and will def go out with him again. If you plan a trip with him, Google him before you go.

 

[Khoujo1]

For something not in Florida, we had great easy diving in Frederiksted, St. Croix. The Frederiksted pier is shallow, few currents, and all kinds of marine life. The other dives around there off a boat were also pretty chill and shallow. One site (Armageddon) was deep, but others were 30-50 ft. Look at Nep2une Scuba; they were great!

 

[Lorenzoid]

The Keys have a good variety, as others have said.

What are appropriate dives for a rank beginner is apparently not universally agreed upon. My first dive after OW certification was on the Great Barrier Reef, where it is apparently not uncommon for a dive operator to put rank beginners such as me in all of 20 feet of water. I could almost have been kicked in the head by the snorkelers. It was nonetheless spectacular--like swimming in an aquarium. There was a giant clam right there. (This was almost 30 years ago.) It could have been an early lesson for me that deeper does not mean better. Deeper for the sake of deeper is silly. Even today I am tickled pink when I find a great dive in shallow water. Why knock oneself out for little marginal gain?

 

[gamon]

Boynton Beach has a very nice long reef that's around 45' deep on the top and max of maybe 65' at the bottom on the inside. Lots of life and drift diving so you just glide along and enjoy.

Seems to happen rather frequently on here. Drift dives are suggested for someone who states they're a new diver, and/or they're diving with a bunch of newly minted divers and they're looking for easy, shallow dives. This particular Op clearly stated "no currents" and that's good reasoning because when you add drift diving to the equation you're usually talking hot drops, sometimes combined with a negative entry, no mooring line to control the descent, carrying a flag between two divers, and ending with a return to a live boat which means ascending on either no line, or a lightweight line that can't be held onto.

This is not a dive for inexperienced divers even if it's relatively shallow.

 

[jadairiii]

Brand new divers, the springs or come south to Pompano beach/Ft Lauderdale/Hollywood Beach and do some beach diving, or blue heron bridge. not stress of cattle boats and schedules. Gives the new divers plenty of time to suit up, ask questions, swim out to the reef, work on buoyancy.

There is some beach diving further north, but you really have to have some special days.

 

[lowwall]

Seems to happen rather frequently on here. Drift dives are suggested for someone who states they're a new diver, and/or they're diving with a bunch of newly minted divers and they're looking for easy, shallow dives. This particular Op clearly stated "no currents" and that's good reasoning because when you add drift diving to the equation you're usually talking hot drops, sometimes combined with a negative entry, no mooring line to control the descent, carrying a flag between two divers, and ending with a return to a live boat which means ascending on either no line, or a lightweight line that can't be held onto.

This is not a dive for inexperienced divers even if it's relatively shallow.

I'm talking about a particular area. These dives aren't hot drops or negative entries. You can also see the reef from the surface so it's an easy descent. The current is usually mild and what could be easier than drift diving? The reef is well defined and the boat follows your flag so navigation isn't an issue. As to the ascent, you can use the flag line as a reference if you need one (why do you need one?). A drifting ascent is easier than hanging on to a mooring line if there's any current.

The only thing that would be difficult for a new diver is handling the flag. So don't give them the flag. In this case, the OP is experienced and can take it. If not, hire a DM.

FWIW, my son got certified and did his first OW dives there and enjoyed it. My wife also did some of her first dives there.

@scubadada - You've got hundreds of dives on this reef, what's your opinion?