South FL in Nov - ISO lots of cheap bottom time

[dlwalke]

Hey there,

I'm very much a beginner. I'll be in South Florida for 2 weeks in November and would like to get in a bunch of bottom. I have some new equipment and want to get use to using it (a Transpac and a Cobra), and of course I just want to be diving and see neat stuff. As a newbie, I am not looking so much for challenging dives (e.g., deep, offshore, etc. - also don't see deep as compatible with a lot of bottom time). And since all this diving equipment (and other stuff) has already put a pretty big dent in my wallet, I am looking for diving opportunities that are less expensive than other diving opportunities. I will prbably get a bookof some sort about diving in FL (i'm sure there are at least a few - like maybe something from Lonely Planet), but am soliciting opinions here as well - obviously. So, any tips as to where to go (geographic or operators) etc.

Thanks,
Dave:help:

 

[Padipro]

Check out this site. It has some information about the Boat operations here in South FLA as well as phone numbers. Most of the prices are going to be close to the same no matter which shop you go to, the compitision down here is stiff. If you're looking for a outfit that has a nice boat, great people, and will take good care of you, try Prodive. They have a 60 foot dive boat, one of the nicest down here, and run quite a few trips with openwater classes on board so the diving will be easy but with some very nice sites to see.

If you have any more questions PM me and I"ll try to give you some more info.

Scott

 

[kelpmermaid]

You might want to check Amazon for books by Ned Deloach.

 

[blawler1]

Anywhere you go in The Keys, the reef development is in 30' to 35' of water which translates to well over 4+ hours of possible bottom time daily.

Key Largo/Islamorda is the closest and offers the most extensive options for sites and operators.

Marathon has sheltered sites that can be dived when seas make other sites less than perfect.

Looe Key is a highly regarded dive in the lower Keys in under 30'.

Key West is always a blast. Even if the diving sucks(which is rare)the party never fails.

 

[dlwalke]

Thanks for all the good tips. I am down there for a conference, so it sounds like a lucky coincidence that this also seems to be the perfect place for a new diver to get some underwater time - i.e., warm water in Nov, lots of stuff to see in shallow water, etc. From what I've seen on the web, based on a limited and perhaps unrepresentative sampling, the prices seem to be a bit less expensive away from Key Largo...like $45 for a two tank dive in Key West and $60 in Key Largo. Also, I had not considered, but now realize that some shops offer discounts for multiple dives. Excellent!

While down there, I might like to get a class or two in - particularly in buoyancy control and shore diving. Given that I will be diving with a new back-inflate wing BC and that I hear these are sometimes more difficult to get used to than a jacket style BC, I think I might benefit from a buoyancy control class. Does this seem reasonable? Has anyone had such a class and did they find it worthwhile? Also, I'd love to do a night dive. Don't know if thats allowed as I have not yet had any training in that (scheduled for next year when I take Advanced OW), but I suppose I could take a class as a stand alone if I work it into my budget.

Anyhow, thanks again
Dave

 

[Padipro]

Dave,

Key Largo is a very touristy place and it is more expensive then say the middle or lower Keys. Marathon is a nice place, not to much further down the road, and is far less expensive then Key Largo. My wife and I have been to Marathon several times and while it's not as new and remodeled as Key Largo it's very nice and reasonably priced.

Hope you enjoy your trip, let us know where you went and how it was when you get back.

Scott

 

[AltonK]

in Key Largo Silent world Dive center has some good multi-day dive deals.
But if you have the time you should try Biscayne National Park and if you'd like to try a drift dive get up to Ft. lauderdale and try shore diving off commercial blvd. by
Anglin's Fishing Pier
or Lantana and drift dive with Craig on the Starfish Enterprise

 

[plongere]

Just returned form two weeks in the keys. Great diving, lots of fun. I stongly recommend Looe Key (Mile Post 27.5). The reef was in excellent condition with lots of fish. Diving was easy from a Cat. Three tank dive for $45.00. Give it a shot!

In Key West we dove with Reef Raiders / Sea Breeze. It is a larger operator, but a great operation, great service. Register on the dock behind the Galleon Resort. We dove these guys two days. For the $$ and service, I think this is a top operator in Key West. We WILL dive these guys again.

Key Largo has lots to see, but also lots of people seeing it. There seems to be a dive operator every twenty feet or so. We dove on Christ of the Abyss. It was cool, good photo op, very shallow, but lots of divers kicking stuff up and lot of snorklers, etc. etc.

We only snorkled the Siegle Grover due to safety considerations. Currents can be tough there we were told, but the day we went there was NO current, but the wind was kicking up quite a chop. We decided not to dive since we were completing two weeks of heavy diving, I am overweight, and we were flying in 28 hours, so we passed. Snorkling over the Siegle Grove was a blast. It is a VERY LARGE SHIP. Well.... maybe next time.

If you are a movie buff and remember the movie African Queen with Humphrey Bogart and Katherin Hepburn, the boat "African Queen" is located in Key Largo (~ Mile Post 100) out of the water on a set of davits, on the canal between the Ramada Inn and the Holiday Inn. Great Photo op.

In Key Largo we used two operators.

On our way to Key West, we stopped for three days in Key Largo. We wanted to dive the Christ and reef. We hooked up with Blue Water Divers, located on the canal between the Ramada Inn and Holdiay Inn. The first day my wife ended up getting sick and we aborted our second dive. We rebooked for the next day, but had to cancel. We tried for a third time but had to cancel that too, still sick and remained so for two more days.

When we got home and got our credit card bill, Blue Water Divers had charged us for one of the days of cancelled diving (There were four of us so it came to $220.00). On one had I understand because we didn't cancel 24 hours ahead, on the other hand, he knew my wife was sick and when we cancelled he didn't say he was going to charge us, our phone call was just abruptly diconnected. If we were going to be charged I would have sent the kids out to get some of the $$ back. The boat was good, and crew was good. It is their business practices I disagree with. Oh well... Live and learn, but I won't dive this outfit again. You make your own call on this one.

On the way back from Key West we dove with the Dual Porpoise outfit. It is also located in the canal next to the Holiday Inn. It is a small boat, I think 8 max, but it is fast. Captain is ex-marine and a real card. Good outfit I recommend.

There is no shore diving I could find, as the reef is 3 - 6 miles out. Check with Discount Divers for recommendations and gear. They are in every major town in the keys and very helpful. Good luck and enjoy, we did!

 

[Walter]

Where will you be? "South Florida" is a big place. Keys? SE Florida? SW Florida? If Keys or SW Florida, you're pretty much stuck with charters, but if you'll be in SE Florida, there are some excellent beach dives as well.

 

[plongere]

Walter..

How far up the coast do you have to go for shore diving? We are thinking about going to Ft. Lauderdale and then over the Sarasota this fall/winter.

Can you recommend some decent shore diving areas?