Spiegel Grove dive charter

[Dive-aholic]

I'm looking for a dive boat that goes out to the Spiegel Grove. I found the Rainbow Reef online. It looks promising because 1/2 of us aren't divers and they offer bubblewatcher rates of $15. They also have a 6 pack that we could book (there are 6 of us) for the trip. Any experiences with them? Any recommendations for others that could accomodate 3 divers and 3 non divers for a 2 tank trip?

 

[wreckchick]

There are plenty of dive-ops that will do what you're asking, but a trip to the SG for non-divers is really just a boat ride, there won't be anything for them to do on that site. If you're planning on coming in to a reef for dive #2 they can snorkel there, but a bubble watcher is usually just sitting on the boat. On my boat I highly discourage non-divers from coming out on wreck days just because of the boredom factor. Obviously, I'll make exceptions, but it's not an ideal day for a non-diver.

Rachel

 

[MsParamedic]

What Rachel said!

 

[HowardE]

Obviously, I'll make exceptions, but it's not an ideal day for a non-diver.
Rachel

Yeah... They'll probably just get sea sick. Not fun for non-divers. (or anyone for that matter)

 

[deepstops]

I'm looking for a dive boat that goes out to the Spiegel Grove. I found the Rainbow Reef online. It looks promising because 1/2 of us aren't divers and they offer bubblewatcher rates of $15. They also have a 6 pack that we could book (there are 6 of us) for the trip. Any experiences with them? Any recommendations for others that could accomodate 3 divers and 3 non divers for a 2 tank trip?

I was originally going to say they are quite a distance from the SG but I see they have a new Key Largo location as well. I did a trip with their Islamorada shop 2 years ago and they did a good trip for our group of five. IIRC, they were actually on the south end of Islamorada.

 

[Dive-aholic]

Thanks for the replies so far. We've decided the SG trip will be just for the divers. And only one of the non divers is interested, or rather willing (some are afraid of being on a boat), to bubble watch, and possibly snorkel on the reef trip. It looks like we'll be going on 2 trips.

So, any other comments on the Rainbow Reef shop or any other boats that go to the SG?

Also, any suggestions on things for the landlubbers to do in the Key Largo area for about 4 hours while we're off diving?

 

[KeyLargoBrent]

Also, any suggestions on things for the landlubbers to do in the Key Largo area for about 4 hours while we're off diving?

For starters, there's sunworshipping, the Wild Bird Center, a marine park (Theater of the Sea), shopping (Rain Barrel & Treasure Village), dolphin swim programs (Dolphin's Plus), parasailing (Key Largo Parasail), glassbottom boat tours (Key Largo Princess & Spirit of Pennekamp), a casino boat (Sun Cruz), eco-tours (Caribbean Watersports), fishing charters (private or party boat), sailing and snorkeling charters (Quicksilver & Reef Roamer), kayak rentals and guided paddling excursions (Florida Bay Outfitters), John Pennekamp State Park, and more than a few tiki bars. Enjoy!

 

[Skeeter1097]

My wife is a none diver. I would not ask her to do it again. Go on out a dive boat for 4 hr. so I can have fun while she was bored to death. I had to talk her shopping in the keys the next day.

 

[wreckchick]

... and for dive charter recommendations (although I don't know much about Rainbow Reef), I vote for Bluewater Divers. <see KeyLargoBrent above>

Rachel

 

[Dive-aholic]

For starters, there's sunworshipping, the Wild Bird Center, a marine park (Theater of the Sea), shopping (Rain Barrel & Treasure Village), dolphin swim programs (Dolphin's Plus), parasailing (Key Largo Parasail), glassbottom boat tours (Key Largo Princess & Spirit of Pennekamp), a casino boat (Sun Cruz), eco-tours (Caribbean Watersports), fishing charters (private or party boat), sailing and snorkeling charters (Quicksilver & Reef Roamer), kayak rentals and guided paddling excursions (Florida Bay Outfitters), John Pennekamp State Park, and more than a few tiki bars. Enjoy!

Thanks for the suggestions. I may have to check out some of these. I have a feeling they'll be shopping and at the tiki bars. As much as they like Vegas and Atlantic City, I can't even see them getting on a casino boat!

My wife is a none diver. I would not ask her to do it again. Go on out a dive boat for 4 hr. so I can have fun while she was bored to death. I had to talk her shopping in the keys the next day.

The one non diver that may go actually enjoys that kind of stuff, has done it before. I'm thinking we may even get her into the water to snorkel.