July Vacation

[Eric Bussinger]

Howdy Y'all,

I'm a beginner basic water diver and looking to go on a diving Vacation around the first week of July. I have read some of the other threads and have noticed that Key Largo and West Palm/Jupiter seem to have some good diving. My question is are these areas good for beginners and should I visit both locations or just stick with one. I have logged 9 dives with 4 ocean dives in Belize. I am wanting to do quite a bit of diving and was considering diving with Rainbow Reef in Key largo for 4 days then driving up to West Palm for 3 days. Do you guys have any recommendations for me or recommend dive companies? Thanks for the help.

Thanks,
Eric

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Hi Eric!

Given your experience level I would highly recommend Rainbow Reef in Key Largo. It's a great location and a great operation to build up your experience. If you want to also do some drift diving in Palm Beach I'd recommend Pura Vida and stick to their 50-60' trips initially.

Make sure each operator knows your experience level so that they can best cater to your needs and ensure you have a safe, enjoyable trip!

 

[Lostdiver71]

I second the recommendation from Jim Blay.

 

[BrackaFish]

Howdy Y'all,

I'm a beginner basic water diver and looking to go on a diving Vacation around the first week of July. I have read some of the other threads and have noticed that Key Largo and West Palm/Jupiter seem to have some good diving. My question is are these areas good for beginners and should I visit both locations or just stick with one. I have logged 9 dives with 4 ocean dives in Belize. I am wanting to do quite a bit of diving and was considering diving with Rainbow Reef in Key largo for 4 days then driving up to West Palm for 3 days. Do you guys have any recommendations for me or recommend dive companies? Thanks for the help.

Thanks,
Eric

Hi Eric
I will double down on what @JimBlay and @Lostdiver71 have said. Key Largo is a great place to built up dives and drift diving off West Palm is wonderful, but be sure and have your buoyancy dialed in before drift diving. I would also try and include Blue Heron Bridge if the conditions and timing are right as it is some of the best muck diving around. For a great guide to BHB, I would recommend @Scuba_Jenny. Best of luck and give us a report if you can. Be safe

 

[Eric Bussinger]

Thanks for the recommendations. Sounds like I should stick with Key Largo for now. It may be best to dive with Rainbow Reef for the week and complete my AOW and make a dedicated trip to West Palm when I gain experience.

 

[scubadada]

Hi @Eric Bussinger

One additional thing that nobody has mentioned is that Rainbow Reef and Pura Vida put a guide in the water. At your level of experience, you may not be an independent diver.

Most of the operators in West Palm put a guide in the water, none in Boynton Beach do. Some of the operators in Key Largo supply a guide, some don't, you would have to inquire.

Here is an old, but excellent report on Rainbow Reef by @drrich2 Diving Key Largo with Rainbow Reef Dive Center Since then, Rainbow Reef acquired Ocean Divers and offers even more opportunities for diving

 

[CajunDiva]

I agree with all of the above. No better place to GET YOUR FEET WET than Key Largo and Rainbow Reef Dive Center

 

[Eric Bussinger]

Howdy all,

So I had a bit of a change in plans. Due to covid related supply shortages I was informed tonight that I'm on a temporary lay off (w/ pay) for at lest next week. I contacted rainbow reef and they were able to get me scheduled for 19 dives next week (luxury of single life!). I decided to stick with RR on the shallow reef dives to gain some experience.

@scubadada That article you linked was a good read.

 

[CajunDiva]

You will have a blast! We are here now and having a great time

 

[BrackaFish]

Howdy all,

So I had a bit of a change in plans. Due to covid related supply shortages I was informed tonight that I'm on a temporary lay off (w/ pay) for at lest next week. I contacted rainbow reef and they were able to get me scheduled for 19 dives next week (luxury of single life!). I decided to stick with RR on the shallow reef dives to gain some experience.

@scubadada That article you linked was a good read.

Have fun and give us a trip report when you get back. Be safe