New to the Keys, need some advise

[Reecard]

I want to take a dive trip to the Keys this year. But, I have no idea where to even start my search. There are so many nice dive sites, can anyone shed some light on where the best places are to dive? This would help me narrow my search.

Thanks in advance.

 

[jar546]

Start in the upper Keys and work your way south. More than enough dive sites and ops to choose from in a concentrated area around the upper Keys

 

[timg]

I live in Key largo, so I'll agree with jar546. How long will you be here? I talk to a lot of folks that start in Key Largo and work their way down. Personally if I wanted to do all of the Keys I'd go to the farthest point first (Key West) and work my way back. That way at the end of the trip you are near the mainland and don't have the 2 hour drive from Key West. Lots of great diving in the Keys.

What are you looking for? wreck/artificial reefs? Coral reefs?

Of course I am biased to Key Largo since I live here.

Enjoy the Keys... we sure do!

 

[Reecard]

I live in Key largo, so I'll agree with jar546. How long will you be here? I talk to a lot of folks that start in Key Largo and work their way down. Personally if I wanted to do all of the Keys I'd go to the farthest point first (Key West) and work my way back. That way at the end of the trip you are near the mainland and don't have the 2 hour drive from Key West. Lots of great diving in the Keys.

What are you looking for? wreck/artificial reefs? Coral reefs?

Of course I am biased to Key Largo since I live here.

Enjoy the Keys... we sure do!

Thanks for the advise. I would like to be down there for 5 days. I prefer coral reefs, but artifical are good also. I am not too picky when it comes to diving in "clear" water. With me being from Michigan, I look forward to any kind of diving...

 

[Garrobo]

Google "Upper Keys scuba diving." Go from there. I'd stick with the better operators on Largo, Tavernier and Ilamorada. Key Dives on Islamorada, Conch Republic and Keys Divers at Tavernier and too many to mention on Largo. I wouldn't waste my time on anything south of Islamorada unless you would be interested in Diving the Vandenburg off of Key West. Just my two dollars worth.

 

[Reecard]

Google "Upper Keys scuba diving." Go from there. I'd stick with the better operators on Largo, Tavernier and Ilamorada. Key Dives on Islamorada, Conch Republic and Keys Divers at Tavernier and too many to mention on Largo. I wouldn't waste my time on anything south of Islamorada unless you would be interested in Diving the Vandenburg off of Key West. Just my two dollars worth.

Thanks, this will help greatly.

 

[timg]

Thanks for the advise. I would like to be down there for 5 days. I prefer coral reefs, but artifical are good also. I am not too picky when it comes to diving in "clear" water. With me being from Michigan, I look forward to any kind of diving...

Plenty of both here in KL. Clear water is highly dependent on winds and tides. Lately it's been real windy and viz has been down a bit. But Wednesday it was flat calm and viz was over 50' on Molasses Reef, better than that in some places. If you are coming in the summer, June is usually pretty good for viz, water is 82-84 (a little warmer last year, up to 86 at times).

There is a wide variety, skill and depth-wise to choose from. I have a photo student now who does not have his AOW yet, so we stayed shallow all week and had a blast. He will have his AOW next week, and we will start doing the Duane and Spiegel Grove when he is ready. Lots of choices.

 

[Reecard]

Plenty of both here in KL. Clear water is highly dependent on winds and tides. Lately it's been real windy and viz has been down a bit. But Wednesday it was flat calm and viz was over 50' on Molasses Reef, better than that in some places. If you are coming in the summer, June is usually pretty good for viz, water is 82-84 (a little warmer last year, up to 86 at times).

There is a wide variety, skill and depth-wise to choose from. I have a photo student now who does not have his AOW yet, so we stayed shallow all week and had a blast. He will have his AOW next week, and we will start doing the Duane and Spiegel Grove when he is ready. Lots of choices.

Those water temps sounds great...it was 2° here this morning!! Thanks for the info, I will start my search.

 

[Rescue Diver68]

You would have to stay for several weeks to see all of the great dive sites in the upper Keys. Find a good dive shop and go where they take you and you will love it. I recommend diving with Conch Republic Divers out of Tavernier Creek if it logistically sensible for you depending on where you are staying. I wish I was going down again soon! Have fun!

 

[Blue Sparkle]

I wouldn't waste my time on anything south of Islamorada unless you would be interested in Diving the Vandenburg off of Key West. Just my two dollars worth.

I've dived a fair bit west (south) of Islamorada and I have found it quite enjoyable. I've also dived the upper keys, and liked it, so I'm not saying not to go there too. Here are some things I like in the lower keys:

1) I often dive out of Marathon, and we're often the only boat on the reef (six pack). It's nice not to be following or running into a pack. I like being able to come around a corner on a reef and have it be "undisturbed territory."

2) The Thunderbolt and Flagler's Barge are both fun and interesting to me (the Barge is very shallow; the Thunderbolt is a ~100' dive).

3) Sombrero Reef is a really nice spur and groove reef, with lots of relief, and can provide two dives back-to-back (one east, one west) (note that there are usually other boats at Sombrero).

4) Looe Key is like Sombrero, but "more." Really nice diving, I think.

5) Some of the other reefs out of Marathon are not as spectacular, structurally, but I still find them very enjoyable. No crowds (as mentioned above), plus plenty of life. I've had a few "personal first" dive finds there, such as octopus and (diving with) dolphins.

So in my opinion, definitely not a waste of time. If I were going tomorrow I would probably dive some in each place.

Blue Sparkle