Taking your own boat

[Jrob4449]

Hi everyone, I recently got a Monterey 242 cruiser and would love to take it down around Florida to stay on and take it out to dive. I’m sure people have done this so any good suggestions for places to go, maps/apps to use for dive sites, marinas to stay at where you can stay on the boat. I’m currently a master diver with SSI and finishing my class to be a dive master, I also have some friends to dive with but non of them have experience with their own boat and diving. Thanks in advance!

 

[scubadada]

Where are you going to dive, someplace you can tie into a buoy or someplace you must drift? Doesn't seem like this is planned out.

 

[Jrob4449]

Where are you going to dive, someplace you can tie into a buoy or someplace you must drift? Doesn't seem like this is planned out.

Well nothing is planned out yet, hence the post for recommendations. The general idea is to go out to a sight and anchor or tie up to a buoy if they have them, then after diving some go back to the slip and chill, hangout, etc.

 

[Tracy]

I used to drag my boat down and bounce through the keys for a couple weeks during the winter.
Pennekamp state marina is very very nice and a short run out to dive sites.
There is also a very secure anchorage on the north east side of Islamorada if you want to stay for cheap.

 

[Bladebreaker65]

I have done this every year for the past 5-6 yrs. I tow a 21 Boston Whaler from Texas to Islamorada. The main trouble I see is you have a stern drive boat they typically draw more water, so running around the backwater shortcuts will be challenging. That is the one really surprising thing was how shallow things are in the keys. There are a lot of dive sites up and down the coast from Key Largo down to the Key West. Most designated dive sites have multiple mooring balls. I like the Islamorada area due to the central location to a lot of dive sites, and the more affordable price tags on places to stay. We stay at Breezy Palms they have their own boat ramp; marina and they store your trailer on site. however, a little shallow at low tide to get out 1.5 ft thru channel. after 150 yards or so goes to 5ft then averages 15-25 ft all the way to the reef about 4 miles. Look up Alligator lighthouse, Hens and Chickens, Davis reef, French Reef all within 10-45 min runs.