Trip Report Key Largo - 19-22 June 2025

[Divin'Papaw]

This thread will be an ongoing trip report. I will do my best to post a brief report each day. I will add relevant photos and videos as I have time. Hopefully some of you find it helpful. It should at least give me something to do in my down time besides nap!

Here are my plans for the next 4 days.

I am staying at the Courtyard Key Largo using the Horizon Divers (HD) discounted rate. Not as inexpensive as staying in Florida City, but a decent rate and a more convenient location. The Courtyard is right on the canal next to Rainbow Reef, across from the Holiday Inn and a short walk to both Skippers and Sharkeys.

I have 5 2-tank charters planned over the next 4 days with Horizon Divers. To save a little money I purchased a 5 charter frequent diver card and then immediately used that to make my reservations. HD makes it super easy over the phone. They are always incredibly helpful and follow up with excellent communications.

Plans:

Thursday 6/19
2-tank Double-dip Wreck Trip AM

Friday 6/20
2-tank Double-dip Wreck Trip AM
2-tank Shallow Reef/Wreck PM

Saturday 6/21
2-tank Shallow Reef/Wreck AM

Sunday 6/22
2-tank Double-dip Wreck Trip AM

 

[NothingClever]

Right on!

I’ve been hankering to branch out further south on these long weekends but I’ve been pretty lazy about research.

I’m looking forward to your observations and experience!

 

[FF / EMT]

This thread will be an ongoing trip report. I will do my best to post a brief report each day. I will add relevant photos and videos as I have time. Hopefully some of you find it helpful. It should at least give me something to do in my down time besides nap!

Here are my plans for the next 4 days.

I am staying at the Courtyard Key Largo using the Horizon Divers (HD) discounted rate. Not as inexpensive as staying in Florida City, but a decent rate and a more convenient location. The Courtyard is right on the canal next to Rainbow Reef, across from the Holiday Inn and a short walk to both Skippers and Sharkeys.

I have 5 2-tank charters planned over the next 4 days with Horizon Divers. To save a little money I purchased a 5 charter frequent diver card and then immediately used that to make my reservations. HD makes it super easy over the phone. They are always incredibly helpful and follow up with excellent communications.

Plans:

Thursday 6/19
2-tank Double-dip Wreck Trip AM

Friday 6/20
2-tank Double-dip Wreck Trip AM
2-tank Shallow Reef/Wreck PM

Saturday 6/21
2-tank Shallow Reef/Wreck AM

Sunday 6/22
2-tank Double-dip Wreck Trip AM

Well whatever you do, don’t get food from Shipwrecks, it’s over priced garbage, and their service sucks.

 

[pickens_46929]

Are you diving your own tanks or renting? Singles or doubles? Inquiring minds want to know...

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Two dives today, Thu 6/19/25, with Horizon Divers on the CheecaView with Capt Troy and mate Diane. We double dipped on the Spiegel Grove, mooring ball #5. It was sunny, 2-3’ seas, stiff current. Water was 83-84 F, blue water, 40-60’ viz.

So much life on the Spiegel! I saw numerous reef sharks & black grouper, a small school of 6-7 permit, schooling jack, and multiple opportunistic jack feeding on a huge shimmering school of baitfish.

Had a first for me. I was the last in the first group of rec divers to come up the line. I was at my safety stop only to turn around near the end of my stop and have Jeff Knapp, one of Horizon’s tech instructors, behind me. It seemed odd because he went up with his group of Adv Nitrox students a good bit before me. I went to go around him only to have him put his hand on my shoulder and signal me to hold. Seemed odd but I had plenty of gas left so I waited there with him. I finally realized the boat was gone! Turns out a student in another tec class got blown off the wreck and once Jeff’s group was up, they went to pick up the drifting diver. They sent Jeff down to hang with me in case I needed gas. The boat finally returned and we ascended together. It was one LONG safety stop!!

I have four more dives planned for tomorrow.

On the way back to my hotel I stopped at the taco truck recommended by @Johnoly . It is at 100470 Overseas Highway. It did NOT disappoint!

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Are you diving your own tanks or renting? Singles or doubles? Inquiring minds want to know...

Using my own HP100s. Singles.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Well whatever you do, don’t get food from Shipwrecks, it’s over priced garbage, and their service sucks.

I’ve never eaten there and don’t plan to. You’re not the first person I’ve heard share an unfavorable review.

 

[Eric802]

Nice, looking forward to the rest of the trip reports!

 

[Johnoly]

I finally realized the boat was gone!

That happened to me & a buddy also. Came up and no boat. But Silent World was on the mooring next to us and threw us a tag line and told us to come to their boat. They explained the same as you and our boat came back and we re-boarded it.

On the way back to my hotel I stopped at the taco truck recommended by @Johnoly . It is at 100470 Overseas Highway. It did NOT disappoint!

Just like you, if others share info by posting reports it makes dive trips alot of fun. Glad you are having some great conditions and forecast looks fantastic.

 

[Rob9876]

Enjoying the report -- I keep meaning to make it to Key Largo to dive.

One question: how far is the Courtyard from where you need to meet Horizon?