Merfman,
I lived in KW for 13 years, I taught diving at the community collage and was a diver for the sheriff"s Office befor my nursing carreer brought me to the high plains of west Tx.
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Don't let lower keys bashers fool you, there is still great diving around Key Weird, you just have to know what to ask for.
Most of the opporators offer similar trips. 2, 2 tank trips a day. Most will do the wrecks in the am, and reefs in the afternoon. Prices will vary. Dive Key West (N. Roosevelt near shopping centers Owners Bob and Cece) tends to be the most expensive, but they do put DMs in the water, which is not the norm in the keys. Captains Corner (Green St and Flemming owned by Leslie) is at the other end of the pricing , runs a good trip , but is a larger boat with more divers and about a 4ft giant stride. In between, and my favorite, is Lost Reef adventures (200 block of Margeret st, across from Half Shell Raw Bar owned by Nick Collasar).
The Vandenberg is the big attraction dive in KW bigshipwrecks.com, 600+ ft missile tracking ship sunk in 140ft of water May27 2009. Don't let the depth freak you out, this is a big mother. Structure rises to 50ft and there is a lot to see on the exterior. Search it on youtube there are a lot of videos (defending the vandenberg is amazing).
One of my favorite dives gets a bumb rap. Joes Tug sits is a 60 ft harbor tug that was illigaly sunk in the 80s in 65 ft. Hurricanes have ripped her apart and she is more of a debris feild, but she was sunk on the outer reef and is absolutly loaded with life. Think of it as an outer reef dive with wreckage. This is a good warm up dive before tackling the Vandy.
The popular inner reefs (Sand Key, Rock Key, Western Sambos, 9 ft stake) are hurting big time as far as the coral goes, but are still loaded with fish. These reefs all range from 30 to 10 ft in depth.
The outer reefs (Lost reef, the humps) are about 40 ft deep and the corrals are much healthier.
Diving in the Keys is generally done from a mooring ball, but if conditions allow the occasional drift dive does happen.
Generally the first people to sign up for a trip can request the type of dive (double wreck, wreck/ reef, double reef) and to some extent location, But ultimatly the captain will decide based on conditions.
March still may be windy wich effects seastate and visibilty, the good news is the wind is often from the north that time of year putting the majority of the sites in the lee.
Water temp should be in the mid 70s, a shorty may be fine for you Rockies, but the locals will be wearing 7mil and hoods.
Have fun and safe dives
trtldvr
Ps if you use any of the shops I suggested tell them Bob Guhl is dry, but alive and well.
Out
