Farrah Fossil
Guest
I'm thinking of making a trip to Looe Key but the reviews on the web of the dive operators and hotels aren't so hot. Pics are great tho, so would love to hear about options for diving and staying there. Can anyone help?
Looe Key advice?
- Thread starter Farrah Fossil
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Although I haven't stayed there recently, I LOVED Parmer's Resort and so have many of my friends.
You know you have to eat at the No Name Pub!
So far as dive ops, can't help you there, it's been years since I dove that area and at that time I did not like the ops I used...but it's so long ago that I forget. Someone else will chime in.
You know you have to eat at the No Name Pub!
So far as dive ops, can't help you there, it's been years since I dove that area and at that time I did not like the ops I used...but it's so long ago that I forget. Someone else will chime in.
Looe Key Dive Resort offers lodging, albeit motel style, right on the property. The boat is a big catamaran and they run 3-tank trips each day. The captain cooks up lunch on board and offers that along with drinks for sale; kinda neat option to have. THe boat does get crowded as they allow up to 45 folks on it. The signature trip is Wednesdays when they run to the Adolphus Busch before doing two additional dives on the reef.
Innerspace is a nice operation with a six pack boat, so crowding won't be an issue.
Underseas is also a great operator there.
We regularly run trips to the lower Keys year round and would recommend any of the above listed operators. PM me for more info if you'd like.
And we definately second the recommendation for the No Name Pub!
Innerspace is a nice operation with a six pack boat, so crowding won't be an issue.
Underseas is also a great operator there.
We regularly run trips to the lower Keys year round and would recommend any of the above listed operators. PM me for more info if you'd like.
And we definately second the recommendation for the No Name Pub!
100days-a-year
Contributor
Underseas is our favorite shop in the Keys.
Unless you rent a house don't expect resort accomodations in the Middle to Lower Keys.KW has actual resorts.
Be prepared to dive with up to a couple hundred other divers if it's nice and all the cattle boats go.
Be sure to swim over,in and out of the channels and finally go shoreward over the shallowest part to see all it has to offer.Peek under every crack and crevice as there will be something there.We have dove and snorkelled it hundreds of times and still love it.
No offense to the previous suggestions but we find the No Name food mediocre and it is pretty cheesily themed,great party atmosphere but who wants to be hungover diving.Food in KW is much better.
Unless you rent a house don't expect resort accomodations in the Middle to Lower Keys.KW has actual resorts.
Be prepared to dive with up to a couple hundred other divers if it's nice and all the cattle boats go.
Be sure to swim over,in and out of the channels and finally go shoreward over the shallowest part to see all it has to offer.Peek under every crack and crevice as there will be something there.We have dove and snorkelled it hundreds of times and still love it.
No offense to the previous suggestions but we find the No Name food mediocre and it is pretty cheesily themed,great party atmosphere but who wants to be hungover diving.Food in KW is much better.
ancientdiver
Registered
Looe Key resort has paper thin walls. I'll never go back there, not if you paid me. Parmer's is best bet to stay in the immediate area (305-872-2157), lots of room options. There are a few restaurants around, one a few doors down from Parmers, one on Sugar Loaf and one at Saddle Bunch. Much better food than No Name Pub. Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge, immediately on left as you cross the bridge onto the island, has rooms and camping. On same road, Longbeach Drive, there are a couple of Bed & Breakfasts. But now being able to text "BTDT" (been there done that), I would advise that the drive up to Marathon is not bad at all, and there are lots of great places to eat there. Marathon is the commerical fishing hub for all the Keys, so seafood is the freshest. There are lot of places to stay in Marathon. After having stayed nearly everywhere there is to stay in the Looe Key area except Little Palm Island ($900/night, which would require Angolina Jolee to dump that faggy Brad and call me before I could justify that tab) the boys and I are not going to stay on Big Pine anymore for a Looe Key dive - Marathon does it for me. Not the drunks and aliens of Key West, cheaper, fresher seafood than Key West, more options, more laid back. The dive charter we have used most for the Looe Key reef is Strike Zone Charters (305-872-9863). They are the last dive shop on Big Pine, on the right as headed to Key West, just before you leave the island, and boat is right behind the shop, minutes from the reef. Its a new dive shop, but the family has owned and run a dive place there for years. Cheapest rate too. Good luck, have fun, stay safe. Will in Sarasota
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Buoyant1
Contributor
I tried Innserspace a few years back, they messed up my reservations (for diving) and I've decided to not use them until I hear any favorable reports...
I used Looe Key Resort last year (diving only) and did their 3-tank Wednesday package where you do a dive on the Adolphus Busch, then two reef dives. The boat was fine, the staff was fine, BUT they load the boat with divers, and fill out the trip with snorkelers. If you can get past that they it's not a horrible thing. But just be warned. Looe Key Reef is great!
I used Looe Key Resort last year (diving only) and did their 3-tank Wednesday package where you do a dive on the Adolphus Busch, then two reef dives. The boat was fine, the staff was fine, BUT they load the boat with divers, and fill out the trip with snorkelers. If you can get past that they it's not a horrible thing. But just be warned. Looe Key Reef is great!
100days-a-year
Contributor
When it is busy it doesn't matter who you ride out with as all 50 bouys will have at least one boat and some will have a buddy tied up behind.Still the prettiest dive most divers will have access to in the Keys.
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