Ideal first dives for fresh OW graduates? ideal depth.

[kcc6001]

I might add that to this string that if you are willing to travel St John USVI is incredible. Give the folks at Low Key Watersports a call. Serenity and Andre who are both there are not only great patient instructors but also good friends. Most of the dive profiles there are perfect for beginners 40-50 feet, gin clear water and lots of sea life. Low Key Watersports | St. John Scuba Diving - Dive Shop

When you are done diving you can beach hop all day everyday with some of the best snorkeling around.

 

[bradlw]

Thanks all, some good suggestions

The root of my question is not about going deep for the sake of it. I could be wrong in all of my layers of rust since I haven't dove in so long, but I remember that, within reason of course, going a little deeper was a little easier.... Maybe a smidge easier to control bouyancy, clearing ears, not fighting wave surge.

I figure that it was maybe getting down deep enough for the wetsuit to compress.... so the pressure gradient is less per foot, maybe a little easier to clear the ears past that point, etc.. Am I off base here and just not remembering correctly?

Also a little deeper than the pool and deeper than the average casual snorkeler will go is a confidence booster too
I'm not taking super deep here....

That's what I was getting at in asking about "optimum depth for beginners...what's good and what's too deep?

About the drift dive thing, I'm with you @lowwall , I remember doing lots of those easy drift back in the day.
I've done some of those ripping current negative entry dives too...and almost always enjoyed them. but those gentle drift dives were fun too. I had mentioned them in a different post when I looking for ideas of a great place to take my new divers and got blasted about teh hot drop high current..Drift diving not for begineers stuff which is all true enough of course... sometimes

Anyway, they'll get a taste of drift diving before they even get their certification.... their second day of checkout dives will be Rainbow River. Scenery isn't reef quality but I remember it being fun just sort of lazily drifting along there too.

Thanks for the tip. I didn't recall it being Boynton. I was thinking West Palm. I'll keep that in mind!

This time around though I've pulled the trigger starting to set up a Key Largo trip

 

[lowwall]

Thanks for the tip. I didn't recall it being Boynton. I was thinking West Palm. I'll keep that in mind!

The best area for easy drift dives in that area is centered around Briny Breezes reef. The closest inlet is Boynton Beach.

Briny Breezes - South Florida Diving Headquarters

Location: Boynton Beach (outer reef) Description: You may think from the name, this reef may have been named by an Irishman. But in fact it was named for the landmark :Briny Breezes mobile home community directly inshore. The reef line like most all reefs runs parallel to shore making it great...

www.southfloridadiving.com

Starfish Scuba is a good boat that operates out of Boynton Beach. If Ren is still there, I can highly recommend him if you want a DM. He was the instructor for my son's OW course and my Rescue class.

Starfish Scuba · Boynton Beach, Florida

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[fred32176]

I second what @USdiver1 said, try a few springs. Springs are great places to gain experience. Most springs have stairs and the only current is from the boil.

State parks are usually only $6 per vehicle and two state parks you can dive in are DeLeon Springs and Blue Springs. I believe Alexander Springs (forest service) has mermaid Mondays which can make a dive more interesting. Rainbow River is a nice drift dive that new divers can handle. Just be aware of boat traffic and you will need to drag a dive float and flag.

I would wait on doing Devil's Den until they have done a couple of dives. Some of the dive throughs need lights and it is possible to loose sight of folks in a group, especially if the water is silted up.

 

[scubadada]

The diving on the inside, west facing, reef in Boynton Beach is indeed, generally, quite easy. The depth is moderate and there is generally good relief to the reef. However, it is a live drop with a swim down to the reef. I'm not sure that it would be good for the father to be responsible for the dive flag, navigating, and paying attention to his newly certified wife and children. The free ascent at the end of the dive would have to be coordinated depending on air consumption of all four divers. At times, the current can be quite brisk, sometimes pulling on or off the reef. Starfish Scuba is a good operator and Ren is a great diver and guide.

I think what the OP is looking for may be an easy guided dive in Key Largo.

 

[CCS]

Captain Slate and Rainbow Reef are both great options for fun, easy guided dives off of Key Largo.

Close to you, you should definitely try the Central Florida springs. My family and I love diving the springs. Blue Grotto, Ginnie Springs, and Devil's Den are probably the most new-diver-friendly of them. However, they might want to get a few dives under their belts before venturing into the Ballroom at Ginnie Springs.