Key Largo - How many dives a day?

[onca2002]

Myself and 2 buddies are planning a dive trip to KeyLargo in December. We want to stay in Key Largo...and dive from there.

Getting there on Thursday, want to dive all day Friday & Saturday, morning dives on Sunday, drive down to Key West Sun Pm...just to look around and then home on Monday. Probably flying into Miami.

Will we have any problem doing 4 dives on Firday and and 4 dives on Sat?

Who would you recommend to help us squeeze in as many dives as we can on this short trip?

 

[netmage]

Myself and 2 buddies are planning a dive trip to KeyLargo in December. We want to stay in Key Largo...and dive from there.

Getting there on Thursday, want to dive all day Friday & Saturday, morning dives on Sunday, drive down to Key West Sun Pm...just to look around and then home on Monday. Probably flying into Miami.

Will we have any problem doing 4 dives on Firday and and 4 dives on Sat?

Who would you recommend to help us squeeze in as many dives as we can on this short trip?

In no specific order: Silent World, Conch Republic, Blue Water Divers

In a pinch, Ocean Divers; only because they are the largest, they probably always run...

 

[Daveo957]

ive dove with capt. slate and they were great.

 

[ReefHound]

4 dives a day is perfectly reasonable and normal. Most charters run a morning 2-tank trip and an afternoon 2-tank trip. It might even be possible to squeeze in a night dive. The hardest part will be getting enough people to make the trips on Friday since it is off season. I like the names mentioned so far. I've dived with Conch and Blue Water several times, and will be diving with Silent World next weekend. However, a smaller six pack might be willing to run for your group of 3 even if nobody else is signed on.

 

[scubaguy655]

The ops mentioned above are all great people to dive with. My preference is HMS Minnow HMS Minnow Dive Charters | Contact Us

Jeff runs a 6-pack and you might just get the entire boat to yourself if no others are booked to dive.

 

[PlayMore]

Just got back Sunday from our 4th annual trip to Key Largo, diving with Conch Republic. 17 dives in 4 days (4 per day, plus 1 night dive). When we got there Tuesday, there was some wind. We had stopped by one shop (who also runs a boat) for a gear problem, the owner's comment was "no boats will be going out in this stuff until Friday at least". Needless to say, we started to get disappointed.

However, Conch Republic has a nice, big, fast, comfortable 46' Newton Dive Special--we didn't miss a single dive and were able to get out all the way to the wrecks in 2 - 5' seas. It was a little bumpy, but still passable and safe. We've dived with CRD every year for 4 years now, things just keep getting better and the staff you see from year-to-year. Needless to say, I'd highly recommend them so you have the best chances of making your dives in a time-constrained schedule.

Enjoy!

 

[Sinbad the Diver]

Dove Key Largo in March and took the wife down to Key West for a day, same as you, just to look around. Wouldn't do it again, not for an afternoon. It's at least a 2 hour drive and a fairly frustrating one at that. Key West is a place to drink and you don't want to do that and drive back to Key Largo that night. Key West is a fun place, if you are going down though, plan to stay a night.

Also look into flying into Ft Lauderdale, I was able to find much better flights and prices. Not sure you will, but it's not much further up the road so it is an option to look into.

 

[deepstops]

While I love six-pack boats, you have to think big boats from November through April in Florida.
You just can't beat a 46' Newton when it's snotty out there.

 

[pmlee]

Been using Conch Republic for four years, they are my favourite. Other choice would be Bluewater Divers and Horizon. Have Fun!

 

[mselenaous]

Lots of great ops in Key Largo! In addition to the above mentioned great dive ops (Conch Republic & Ocean Divers), also check with Horizon Divers and Silent World and for a six pack - Garden Cove Divers. You can get in one 2-tank each morning and another 2-tank each afternoon. You can also do a nite dive. Each dive op (those previously mentioned and the ones I added) have regulary scheduled nite dives (1-tank). I recall Horizon does Sat. Nites. Even though it is off season, many of the big boats have a small minimum # of folks to run a trip (like 4 or 6) even if the boat holds 30 or more.

Try to get to the Speigel Grove &/or the Duane wrecks. For shallow dives, I love the Benwood, the City of Washington (both are awesome night dives too). Lots and lots of great dive sites in Key Largo. You will have some memorable dives there.