New Diver, Pre-Cruise, Ft Lauderdale Recommendations?

[Seymour Fisch]

Hi Folks,

I'm a new diver, just finished my OW in August here in Vancouver. 7 logged dives total.

I'm on a cruise in early December out of Fort Lauderdale and hoping to get some diving in pre-cruise. (I promise to try my best not to be a pod person!) I'll be by myself.

I've found southfloridadiving.com, and love their website and their planned dives, but I was hoping to avoid renting a car and it's apparently a $50+ taxi ride each way up to their shop from the hotels near the airport/cruise terminals. Are there better/cheaper ways to get around?

Or, any recommendations for someone else, beginner-friendly, and more conveniently located? Or a private dive guide who will pickup from a hotel? Or other suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[Chugwhump]

Hi Folks,

I'm a new diver, just finished my OW in August here in Vancouver. 7 logged dives total.

I'm on a cruise in early December out of Fort Lauderdale and hoping to get some diving in pre-cruise. (I promise to try my best not to be a pod person!) I'll be by myself.

I've found southfloridadiving.com, and love their website and their planned dives, but I was hoping to avoid renting a car and it's apparently a $50+ taxi ride each way up to their shop from the hotels near the airport/cruise terminals. Are there better/cheaper ways to get around?

Or, any recommendations for someone else, beginner-friendly, and more conveniently located? Or a private dive guide who will pickup from a hotel? Or other suggestions?

Thanks!

How many days will you be here for pre-cruise diving?
What days of the week will they be?
Are you bringing any gear?
If so, what items will you have?
What hotel do you intend on staying at, or if any has even been arranged?
My quick assumption is you will be at one of the hotels at Griffin & I-95, as many pre cruise folks stay there.
Coastal Marine Diving in Dania, has a boat, and is not far.
Sea Experience at Bahia Mar is also a good choice, also very close.
There are many many options.
If you are here over a weekend, you will probably make a new friend or 4 easily with the shore diving crowd.
Lots of people going north and south along I-95 to various dive destinations.
I am one of them and always enjoy meeting new people.

Chug
Self appointed welcome wagon at times.

 

[Seymour Fisch]

Thanks, Chug!

Unfortunately, I only have one full day: I get in Thursday night Dec 5, and the cruise leaves on the 7th. With my day in town being a weekday, I'm guessing it'll be harder to meet the locals, too. The more I've looked around on the web, the more it seems like I could have spent the entire vacation diving in south Florida! You all are so lucky to have so much warm water diving around you...

I own only my mask and snorkel, so I'll need to rent everything else. I haven't booked my hotel yet, but the group I'm joining on the cruise is recommending Dania Beach, exactly as you predicted.

Thanks for the leads on the dive boats!