Marathon, Florida Keys in Feb.04
- Thread starter Lawman
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Try the Dive Site. They run a 10 diver boat and will do the premier wreck, Thunderbolt on a regular basis. They also service Nitrox. They are a bit far away to do Looe Key. For that dive I would recommend Paradise Divers on Sunshine Key just over the seven mile bridge. They will also take you to the Auguste Busch wreck.
Tilden Dive shop is basically your newbie dive shop. They tell you how long to dive and how to dive. No Nitrox either. Hall's diving Center (I've heard) is good but since they are a teaching outfit, finding space on their boat is tough.
Sombereo Key near Marathron is probably prettier than Looe Key. Since this great reef was included into the Marine Park, it has really matured. Great place to do a night dive too.
For an off beat dive, request to do The Gap. This is a series of ledges that are 50 feet with some mini drop offs to 75 feet (approximately). The old Seven Mile bridge rumble (also know as Underwater City) is a great place to see large animals This is a 110 foot dive and the viz is not always that good.
I have seen good reports on Captain Hook but have never used them. The other dive shops simply look too creepy to investigate.
Tilden Dive shop is basically your newbie dive shop. They tell you how long to dive and how to dive. No Nitrox either. Hall's diving Center (I've heard) is good but since they are a teaching outfit, finding space on their boat is tough.
Sombereo Key near Marathron is probably prettier than Looe Key. Since this great reef was included into the Marine Park, it has really matured. Great place to do a night dive too.
For an off beat dive, request to do The Gap. This is a series of ledges that are 50 feet with some mini drop offs to 75 feet (approximately). The old Seven Mile bridge rumble (also know as Underwater City) is a great place to see large animals This is a 110 foot dive and the viz is not always that good.
I have seen good reports on Captain Hook but have never used them. The other dive shops simply look too creepy to investigate.
I can see Capt Hooks from my house. Good air service and such
but never dived with them. Went with Dive Site once but wasn't such a good experience. More my fault than theirs. I remember our briefing was "here we are. jump in". I still get a kick out of that....since it was my first ocean dive.
but never dived with them. Went with Dive Site once but wasn't such a good experience. More my fault than theirs. I remember our briefing was "here we are. jump in". I still get a kick out of that....since it was my first ocean dive.
CAPT HOOK
Contributor
Try Abyss Divers, we found them to be very cooperative on getting us to the dive sites we were interested in doing. The boats a 34' 6-pack so there's plenty of room.
Hall's Dive Center actually isn't that hard to get space on. I attended Hall's in the 10 week program and there was almost always space on the boat. The class only had about 6-7 people in it and there were times when the only people on the boat were students. They usually have two people available to divemaster along with the two captains who are also instructors. The operation is actually a pretty good one. If you request it and show them that you're capable, they will take you to the Thunderbolt wreck. This is a pretty neat wreck at 110'. There are a couple of different neat divesites that they regularly visit but if you make a specific request before someone else does, they will go to almost any local spot. The people that work there are good people. If you want to make a purchase of any kind try to talk to Mike, he's an honest guy. He is also one of the divemasters there. Randy is the manager but he may just try to sell you stuff that you don't need and try to avoid Bob, the owner because he will sell you your own car if you aren't careful. If you want a good shallow wreck dive from Hall's then request to go to the barge wreck. This is at about 20 feet. You can swim in and out of the structure of the wreck and there is a nurse shark and a huge grouper that live on the wreck. There are tons of beautiful fish so this is a great place to take a camera. Good luck and have fun!
Finhead_Chris
Registered
Dang it!!! I could have had a place to trash in Florida.
Am headin' down to the Key Largo area at the end of
this month. Going to dive the Spiegel Grove/reef and
Duane/reef.
Other than that, will be horsing around Tampa Bay and
Orlando. Wife is coming back, then I am off to
Ft. Lauderdale for a week and may get a couple
daze diving in that area.
Just got back from a work trip to Wales. Did manage to
get some diving in there. Been heck getting caught up with
work, work, work, and home.
Am headin' down to the Key Largo area at the end of
this month. Going to dive the Spiegel Grove/reef and
Duane/reef.
Other than that, will be horsing around Tampa Bay and
Orlando. Wife is coming back, then I am off to
Ft. Lauderdale for a week and may get a couple
daze diving in that area.
Just got back from a work trip to Wales. Did manage to
get some diving in there. Been heck getting caught up with
work, work, work, and home.
Capt Jim Wyatt
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Chris, I don't know if you're my dive buddy from Tobermory or the "other chris." I'm sure you're a Seaquatics guy though. Sorry you can't drop in in Feb. Tim and Tim might though.
I'm staying at Key Colony Beach and I think I've met the wife of the LDS operator there. She's a NAUI instructor and was comparing California training stories with my dive partner. I think I'll give them a try. They seemed like good folks.
I'd like to try Halls too just to see what kind of a boat they run. They're in the old Faro Blanco resort that was featured in a Travis McGee novel by John McDonald. I saw him in the restaurant there one time. McDonald, not Travis McGee.
Thanks again.
I'm staying at Key Colony Beach and I think I've met the wife of the LDS operator there. She's a NAUI instructor and was comparing California training stories with my dive partner. I think I'll give them a try. They seemed like good folks.
I'd like to try Halls too just to see what kind of a boat they run. They're in the old Faro Blanco resort that was featured in a Travis McGee novel by John McDonald. I saw him in the restaurant there one time. McDonald, not Travis McGee.
Thanks again.
that is the same Chris that I was diving with in Toby. Huge double tanks and all!
I will have to check the merry old schedule myself. But for now, it is off to work...
(running a tad late)
I will have to check the merry old schedule myself. But for now, it is off to work...
(running a tad late)
Thanks for the inputs on Hall's. I do frequent their store often. It is the best looking dive store in the Keys (except for World Watersport in Key largo).
I have not been lucky at all with getting on their boat. The Barge wreck is a wonderful dive. I love deep dives but this is a dive that shouts photo opportunity and is quite fun. Unfortunately I have not been back to it for over five years. Do you have a GPS position for it? This summer I may rent a boat and dive it along with Sombereo Reef.
I have not been lucky at all with getting on their boat. The Barge wreck is a wonderful dive. I love deep dives but this is a dive that shouts photo opportunity and is quite fun. Unfortunately I have not been back to it for over five years. Do you have a GPS position for it? This summer I may rent a boat and dive it along with Sombereo Reef.
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