Moved to SWFL

[ScubaJoey.com]

Depends upon what kind of diving you are looking for. If you want wrecks then shipwreck park in pompano is awesome. There's a few smaller charters around that can get you there, or you can go with the two big ones, Lady Go Diver from dxdivers.com, or either of the pontoons out of sfdhq.com.

For reefs I actually prefer a bit north in Boynton or West Palm area. I like thescubaclub.com in west palm and starfishscuba.com in Boynton.

If you want to see fishies... Then make your way north to Jupiter. That's where you fill find the larger schools and pelagics hanging around. I like jupiterscubadiving.comup there.

Side note for anyone else reading this. Jupiterscubadiving and now thescubaclub have merged. And they both provide the best service down here. Including carrying your gear from your car to the boat.. That's well worth the extra 10 bucks a trip. Unless your starfish where the boat is literally 5 feet from you drop the gear with the car

 

[TMurrr]

West Palm Beach/Riviera Beach: Pura Vida, Jupiter Dive Center
Miami: Diver's Paradise
Key Largo: Rainbow Reef, Horizon Divers
Fort Lauderdale: DXDivers American Dream II / Aqualife

Fixed

Dixie Divers and Lady Go Diver aren't close to top tier in the area on quality alone.
Plus, they're ~30 minutes from FLL and ~35 mins from WPB... I hardly consider them "local" to FLL...

 

[NothingClever]

Who are the best diver operators you’ve been out with in these areas?

@valligurl

Welcome and congratulations on your move to Naples!

At the sub-forum below, there are two threads - Jupiter Dive Thread and Palm Beach Dive thread that will provide useful, focused reading.

Florida

@Divin'Papaw and @Johnoly are reliable voices.

 

[ScubaJoey.com]

Fixed

Dixie Divers and Lady Go Diver aren't close to top tier in the area on quality alone.
Plus, they're ~30 minutes from FLL and ~35 mins from WPB... I hardly consider them "local" to FLL...

I haven't dove aqualife myself, and honestly, every time I go in and out of the inlet I see their boat parked.

Of course.. I also would say previous owners of dixie were on my **** list, but I am liking the new owners though.

Now.. If we are going to go with smaller boats.. Zoli was the #1 captain in south florida and has his own charter now as captainsunshinecharters.com.. But he seems way more focused on fishing than scuba. But that guy never missed a dropped in the past 10 years and will still take scuba charters.

I was trying to keep the list more tourist friendly. If that's a thing. Capt Tony of Dive Boat Diversity was the most fun (Imagine surface intervals with big old floats being towed behind the boat)..

I'll admit.. I'm more north so I don't get any further south than sfdhq. I'll have to check out your suggestions.

 

[h2o_hamilton]

I haven't dove aqualife myself, and honestly, every time I go in and out of the inlet I see their boat parked.

Of course.. I also would say previous owners of dixie were on my **** list, but I am liking the new owners though.

Now.. If we are going to go with smaller boats.. Zoli was the #1 captain in south florida and has his own charter now as captainsunshinecharters.com.. But he seems way more focused on fishing than scuba. But that guy never missed a dropped in the past 10 years and will still take scuba charters.

I was trying to keep the list more tourist friendly. If that's a thing. Capt Tony of Dive Boat Diversity was the most fun (Imagine surface intervals with big old floats being towed behind the boat)..

I'll admit.. I'm more north so I don't get any further south than sfdhq. I'll have to check out your suggestions.

Aqualife rarely misses a trip. They’re one boat that you can count on going out when the rest shut down. Maybe you’re thinking of the prior owners.

That said, I vastly prefer WPB and Jupiter to FLL area. Not because of the operators, I just like the reefs and a drift dive.

 

[Jake 10]

Just booked six (6) trips with Diver's Paradise the first week of January

 

[ScubaJoey.com]

Aqualife rarely misses a trip. They’re one boat that you can count on going out when the rest shut down. Maybe you’re thinking of the prior owners.

That said, I vastly prefer WPB and Jupiter to FLL area. Not because of the operators, I just like the reefs and a drift dive.

Me tooo.. I wish trey had gotten that sub up there. The one thing they are missing is some good wreck dives. It seems like they all go south to grab the same wreck treck.. But definitly the reefs and pelagics are much better up there.

 

[ScubaJoey.com]

Just booked six (6) trips with Diver's Paradise the first week of January

If it's on a weekend(Or extended weekend) send me a PM. I'll try to hop on. I'm always looking for non-working diving trips.

 

[Jake 10]

If it's on a weekend(Or extended weekend) send me a PM. I'll try to hop on. I'm always looking for non-working diving trips.

Sent