Key Largo or Key West?

[ReadyDiverOne]

Hi all, looking to take adult AOW daughter in Miami on shortish (3-4 days) dive trip to either Key Largo or Key West. I've done a bunch of dives in Largo, including the Spiegel and the Duane, but she hasn't dived either Largo or West. Which do people recommend? She's very comfortable in the water but may need a refresher since she's been working too damn hard to dive much lately.

One idea I had was to try the Avelo system and I think Horizon does that?

Thanks.

 

[scubadada]

Hi @ReadyTo Dive

I would choose Key Largo over Key West though the Vandenberg is a very good dive.

It's Rainbow Reef that does Avelo in Key Largo. Captain Hook's does Avelo in Marathon, Big Pine, and Key West.

Have a great trip, let us know how it works out.

 

[gamon]

The trip to Key West is long, it's more expensive to stay, eat and park there, and the only wreck worth doing is the Vandenberg and the handful of times I've dived it the visibility was poor to fair. It's very hit or miss when it comes to visibility. The Cayman Salvager might be worth getting wet for while you're down there but I wouldn't go through the effort just for that particular wreck.

There's always a fair chance of getting blown out on the wrecks further north but visibility tends to be better in general and there are 4 good wrecks rather than 1 or 2 and you haven't committed the time and expense to get there.

Another option is to stay further south and do both. On one trip I stayed in Islamorada and booked most dives with Conch Republic Divers in Tavenier, saving about a 20 minute drive from Key Largo to Key West. Booked one day on the Vandenberg with South Point Divers. Left early in the morning, did the dives and returned back to Key Largo that night. You could also book a place in Key West the night before and head there after your dives up north.

 

[revise]

Hi all, looking to take adult AOW daughter in Miami on shortish (3-4 days) dive trip to either Key Largo or Key West. I've done a bunch of dives in Largo, including the Spiegel and the Duane, but she hasn't dived either Largo or West. Which do people recommend? She's very comfortable in the water but may need a refresher since she's been working too damn hard to dive much lately.

One idea I had was to try the Avelo system and I think Horizon does that?

Thanks.

As someone who lived in Miami for a short bit and has not dived Key West, I'd vote Key Largo. One good thing about Key Largo is that it really is not that far from Miami. If you find a shop she likes and is comfortable with, she may be more inclined to go back on her own. Super easy day trip (as long as you time it right with traffic), drive down, get a couple of dives, drive back, easy.

And then tell her to drive up to Hollywood/Fort Lauderdale and go beach diving.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Key West is a travel destination with some diving; Key Largo is a diving destination that tries to be a travel destination but really isn't. If you are going for the diving, Key Largo every time.

 

[ReadyDiverOne]

Thanks all, very helpful and as I thought. And thanks for the correction/guidance on Rainbow.