MSPDiver
Contributor
Deb, i booked that creature feature for july, can't wait.
Must Dive in Florida Keys?
- Thread starter WartedEmperor
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kidsdream
Contributor
Depends on your experience.
If you have no deepish open water experience I wouldn't recommend the deep wrecks. Lots of other great options including:
North North Dry Rocks
Carysfort
Drift Conch Wall
Small Critters on Little Conch or Snapper Ledge
Aquarium (patch reef south of Tavernier)
I could go on forever. But If you do hit the Duane on the right day you might see something like this.
for the Spiegel fans.
If you have no deepish open water experience I wouldn't recommend the deep wrecks. Lots of other great options including:
North North Dry Rocks
Carysfort
Drift Conch Wall
Small Critters on Little Conch or Snapper Ledge
Aquarium (patch reef south of Tavernier)
I could go on forever. But If you do hit the Duane on the right day you might see something like this.
for the Spiegel fans.
OP
WartedEmperor
Contributor
Thats what I hope I get to see. I really like wrecks but what about some more night dives and reefs?
Thanks Everybody
Thanks Everybody
Last edited:
reefman
Contributor
reefs!! beginning north to south(north key largo to islamorada), my favorites: carrysfort deep-south, watsons reef, the elbow and deep, north north dry rocks, horsehoe, banana reef(greacian rocks), benwood dropoff, woodys(french reef) and french deep, molasses deep, and any buoy on shallow molasses reef, conch(wall) and little conch, davis ledge, the aquarium, hens and chickens, crocker wall, cheeca rocks, victory reef and alligator reef and deep. every dive operator has numerous other, special, unnamed dive sites they frequent; just ask,,,,,,,,
reefman
key largo
reefman
key largo
OP
WartedEmperor
Contributor
Well I got it figured out the dives I want to do while I am in Key Largo, but I still need some help with Key West.
Honestly, you will find that many of us will say that Key West diving really sucks. Dive the Vandy and enjoy Cayo Hueso's many drinking establishments afterward.
Chugwhump
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Key Weird diving is ok...not bad, certainly not great, just ok.
I would recommend that you try some dives there, because even bad/decent/fair diving is great divin'!
Chug
Likes the Keys
I would recommend that you try some dives there, because even bad/decent/fair diving is great divin'!
Chug
Likes the Keys
mike_s
Contributor
I've got to agree with somewhat.... Not that it's "that bad", but there is just so much better diving just a short drive up the keys from there....
Dive the Vandy, do it once or twice. but otherwise, Key West diving wouldn't lure me back there to dive.
Buoyant1
Contributor
For Key West, I used Sub Tropic several years ago and was happy.
However, for the Vandenberg, several dive op's have "jacked the price up" for the Vandenberg trip. They say because it's farther out or other excuses. It's just as far out as the other wrecks and reefs. So several of the shops haven't raised their prices for "vandenberg only trips". No sense supporting a shop that's trying to screw the diver by raising it's prices for the same trip. So choose your shop wisely.
As for what dives.
The Spiegel Grove is great. I've dove it multiple times and see something different each time.
The Duane and Bibb are great dives. Sister ships, but one is on her side, so makes it a different dive. Still good.
The Eagle is a good wreck also. Freighter that is split into to.
The Benwood is a good wreck, but not much of a wreck now as it's falling apart. but 60+ years of coral growth have left it a great site to dive. makes a good "2nd tanker" after the Spiegal Grove as it's sorta on the way back in.
The City of Washington is similar in that it's an old wreck that's falling apart. It's shallow with a large debris field and lots coral heads around it.
Alopholas Busch is a good wreck, further down in the keys.
The other wrecks around Key West didn't excite me as much as the ones in the upper/middle keys.
For Reefs, the popular spots in Key Largo and Molasses reef, French Reef, Christ of the Abyss, etc. some folks like diving Christ of the Abyss, some don't. It's got some HUGE coral heads around it. but it's also shallow and a popular snorkel boat destination also.
several other reefs up and down the keeps and they all have great things to offer.
Islamorada FIsh Company as noted above was a favorite of mine. the food was good, but I mostly liked the atmosphere of sitting on the dock, eating a basket of fish, drinking a cold beer and watching the sun set... it was good and relaxing.
I highly suggest before going picking up Ned DeLoach's (or other guides). Lots of good info in the book about dive sites there.
Amazon.com: Diving Guide to Underwater Florida, 11th Edition (9781878348395): Ned DeLoach: Books
I agree on all counts! Vandy, Spiegel Grove, Eagle, Duane, Benwood ALL awesome dives! I did the Thunderbolt off Marathon and it was another great wreck.
Enjoy!!
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