Moving To Fort Myers next winter

[chauncy19]

Okay I am tired of NE winters and have decided to move to Fort Myers area for winter. Have been going to Bonaire twice a year to dive. Now thinking about one or two or more liveaboards to Dry Tortugas.I am thinking of either spree out of key west or ultimate getaway out of fort myers. any thoughts about either boat? Best time of year to go? Ways to get to key west?
appreciate your thoughts. Closing soon on house but heading to bonaire soon so won't be going to Dry tortugas for awhile (atleast 6 months).:depressed:
thanks in advance for any inputs!
[h=2][/h]

 

[Wookie]

Ultimate Getaway is mostly spearos, although Rick also runs photography trips, that isn't where the majority of his business comes from. On a spearing trip, he does not run in the Tortugas Ecological Reserve, as it is closed to fishing. We charge about the same price, and have about the same boat. We are friends, and don't really compete, as I never allow fishing (I hate the smell of dead fish).

If you wanted to come with me, you'd take the ferry from Fort Myers Beach on Thursday morning, and kill the afternoon in Key West. We get back Sunday in time to catch the ferry back to Ft. Myers Beach.

 

[Teller]

Ferry?

 

[chauncy19]

thanks Wookie!
anytimes better than another? Does the ferry run seasonally or year around? Summer seems harsh for me down in Florida but I am definitely a newbie re:Florida . Getting too old to be shoveling snow

 

[Wookie]

Ferry. Key West Express runs year round daily from Fort Myers Beach to Key West. There is also a boat in the winter from Naples. Best dive season is June-September, although we run from now to November in Dry Tortugas, we'd rather run from Miami to Bahamas in the winter.

 

[Teller]

Good to know.

 

[chauncy19]

Wookie
is Miami run in the winter rougher or more weather dependent than key west trips? Might do that too. I am guessing we'd be interested in Key West trip early or late in your run. Do you do trips to dry tortugas in May too. Although best time seem to be summer might have more interest in more of shoulder season. I am thinking we're down in Florida November to April but given your info might have to change that.

 

[Wookie]

My folks are in Port Charlotte and Saco, Maine. They started showing up after Thanksgiving, and going back end of March. Now they come in October and leave first of June. Miami to Bahamas can be rougher than a cob, but only for 4 hours, then we're through it. If Dry Tortugas is rough, it's open ocean, there isn't much to hide in. We do have trips in May. See the website in my sig, schedule is up.