Trip Report My First Year of Local Diving in South Florida

[ABLAB]

Hi,

I'm planning my first dive trip to South Florida and would definitely appreciate your thoughts if you have the time. I have my advanced, nitrox, and 40 logged with most of them in Roatan. Aside, from a couple of easy drift dives I do not have any real drift diving experience. Been to 90-95 feet a couple of times with no issues.

Tentative plan is two days of morning dives in Jupiter and a full day of four dives in WP. Plus, a shark dive with Salty Divers. Have one previous reef shark diving experience at 75 feet in Roatan. Basically, stood against the reef as they swam by. Also going down to Key Largo for their wreck dive with Horizon Divers.

Will be diving with Kyalami at WP and Jupiter since they have operations in both Jupiter and WP. Also, I appreciated their patience and demeanor on the phone as I was going through my litany of questions and didn't feel they were doing a hard sell or being too dismissive. I got the sense that they may be a little more conscious of the dive group vs. the DM just carrying the flag and not paying attention to the group. Not looking to have my hand held by any means but as a relatively new diver drift diving for the 1st time would appreciate a DM who is aware or the divers in the group in case someone gets separated or is struggling. As you put it, looking for a shop that's supportive without babysitting or interfering

My reasons for diving WP and Jupiter are:

1. Gain drift diving experience
2. learn to dive different environments/conditions
3. See some bigger and larger schools of sea life

Wandering:

1. If you've dove with Kyalami since your post or have more information about their outfit.
2. Between Jupiter and WP which are the more challenging dives sites and which one generally has the most amount of sea life. Not into the macro but rather bigger fish and large schools of fish understanding the big stuff is in Jupiter. (My 1st dive is scheduled for Jupiter but wandering if I should switch it up to WP since it's shallower.)
3. Given that there is a good chance of seeing a couple of sharks hanging about regular dives sites did you find the shark dive with Salty worth it?
4. How challenging is the wreck dive in Key Largo?

Thanks.

 

[johndiver999]

If you have really good conditions in west palm and jupiter, I bet you won't hardly want to drive to key largo.

Jupiter diving is not much different than west palm, the habitat is a little different, but the conditions are pretty similar. It is only like 12-14 miles or something.

I don't know anything about Salty divers, but from the website pictures, it looks like they may hand feed the sharks. That is not an activity I personally think is prudent, but I'm sure a lot of customers disagree.

 

[ABLAB]

Thanks for the response. And, I realize feeding sharks is frowned upon by some and tolerated by others to have the opportunity to see them.

 

[Johnoly]

.... advanced, nitrox, and ......... Been to 90-95 feet a couple of times with no issues.

Jupiter is my home port and I know Salty Divers. Because their dives are 90ft deep & there's ALOT to see, you just need to keep your eye on your computer. Similar to you are stuck in a meeting but need to leave soon for another appointment >> It's perfectly acceptable to keep your computer pointing at your face and check it every minute towards the end of your dive. You may go into the caution light (not deco) on the dive. At your pre-planned 'leave the bottom' tank pressure PSI, just wave to the DM and signal you are going up early since the other divers may choose to stay on the bottom longer. The important thing is Don't wait on the bottom for everyone else when your limits are reached, just leave & go up. Roger the captain is very good and he will easily pick you up.

Wandering:

1. If you've dove with Kyalami since your post or have more information about their outfit.

Several of us have dove with both Kyalami WPB & Kyalami JUP. They are a very relaxed and easy going boat. Meme will most likely be your DM on one of your trips and she's also very good. She will see bigger fish in the distance before you see them and will point them out to you. Stay close to her underwater and you'll have a great trip.

 

[ABLAB]

Jupiter is my home port and I know Salty Divers. Because their dives are 90ft deep & there's ALOT to see, you just need to keep your eye on your computer. Similar to you are stuck in a meeting but need to leave soon for another appointment >> It's perfectly acceptable to keep your computer pointing at your face and check it every minute towards the end of your dive. You may go into the caution light (not deco) on the dive. At your pre-planned 'leave the bottom' tank pressure PSI, just wave to the DM and signal you are going up early since the other divers may choose to stay on the bottom longer. The important thing is Don't wait on the bottom for everyone else when your limits are reached, just leave & go up. Roger the captain is very good and he will easily pick you up.



Several of us have dove with both Kyalami WPB & Kyalami JUP. They are a very relaxed and easy going boat. Meme will most likely be your DM on one of your trips and she's also very good. She will see bigger fish in the distance before you see them and will point them out to you. Stay close to her underwater and you'll have a great trip.

That's very good to know. Appreciate it....

 

[ABLAB]

Jupiter is my home port and I know Salty Divers. Because their dives are 90ft deep & there's ALOT to see, you just need to keep your eye on your computer. Similar to you are stuck in a meeting but need to leave soon for another appointment >> It's perfectly acceptable to keep your computer pointing at your face and check it every minute towards the end of your dive. You may go into the caution light (not deco) on the dive. At your pre-planned 'leave the bottom' tank pressure PSI, just wave to the DM and signal you are going up early since the other divers may choose to stay on the bottom longer. The important thing is Don't wait on the bottom for everyone else when your limits are reached, just leave & go up. Roger the captain is very good and he will easily pick you up.



Several of us have dove with both Kyalami WPB & Kyalami JUP. They are a very relaxed and easy going boat. Meme will most likely be your DM on one of your trips and she's also very good. She will see bigger fish in the distance before you see them and will point them out to you. Stay close to her underwater and you'll have a

 

[ABLAB]

And very good advice. Thanks again. I'm very safety first especially in new environments. Btw, anyone familiar with Gung Ho Divers? Some fantastic reviews and appear to very safety conscious.