Miami in mid-March, where would you go?

[fuzzybabybunny]

I'll be in Miami the middle of March. Where would you guys recommend I go for a good live aboard in the general vicinity?

Key West?
Key Largo?
Cozumel?
Bahamas?
Puerto Rico?
Somewhere else?

Or on the flip side, any places to avoid? I heard Nassau diving absolutely sucks due to the cattle boat operations.

 

[tadeotadeo]

The Ultimate Getaway, out of Fort Myers, goes to the Dry Tortugas, absolutely the best diving in Florida, in my opinion. I think there is one or two other live aboards that do the Tortugas but I am not sure where that are based out of.

 

[diver 85]

check with The Spree @:....

www.gulf-diving.com

---click on their schedule once there

 

[Crush]

Subscribed. May be there later on in the year.

 

[diver 85]

OP states "Or on the flip side, any places to avoid? I heard Nassau diving absolutely sucks due to the cattle boat operations.".......(this was back in the later 80's) but my wife & I's experience was great. Was there for eye meetings in the morning & dove(2 tank dives) in the afternoon---shallow dives but very pretty(some of the best shallow dives we've ever made)......but---that was long ago, lol.....

 

[ngdiver72]

Depending on how long you want to be out, the Juliet out of Miami is a charter but might have some space. if you are looking for a short liveaboard the Blue Aguana sleeps 6 runs private charters. Cayman Aggressor good and ressonable price flight of Miami. Of you need help with this or have questions contact me. Don't really reccommend the Bahamas for live aboard.

 

[diversteve]

There are no liveaboards in Cozumel. Or maybe there's one new one now...

In the Bahamas you have Aquacat, Cat Ppalu or Blackbeards - in descending order of size/luxury. IIRC the Cat Ppalu and Blackbeards are out of Nassau, AquaCat is out of the Exumas. Check BahamasAir out of either MIA or FLL for cheap flights over.

The Cat Ppalu is often charter only but sometimes they have extra spaces available. At least with them (unlike Blackbeards) you get a semi-private cabin.

At certain times of year Caribbean Explorer II is out of there (Exuma) also. Other times they're doing Mayaguana or Mayaguana, San Salvador, Conception Island out of Providenciales. (Turks/Caicos)

Or the Turks/Caicos Explorer or Aggressor. Excellent diving at West Caicos and French Cay - we just did the Explorer last spring. MIA to Providenciales shouldn't be too expensive a flight. Aggressor's are more expensive than Explorer's boats.