What to dive and who with in Miami ?

[Tafflad]

Hi ... I am from the UK, and will travelling to Miami on business in a weeks time.

Considerring staying over on the weekend to get some dives in .... anbody got any suggestions for who I should dive with ...


secondly with limited time, any reccomendations for the 'must do ' dives.

My first thought was Oriskany, until I looked how far away from Miami it is, not a short drive :depressed:

 

[deepstops]

RJ Diving is pretty much the sole operation in Miami.

You'll probably get at least five people saying "go somewhere else" but the diving is actually pretty good in Miami and the variety and quality of wrecks can only be matched in Fort Lauderdale.

Here's RJ's schedule through the end of June:

June 3rd, Thursday @ 1:00 PM.....2 reefs (30') ***
June 4th, Friday @ 9:00 AM......2 reefs (30') ***
June 4th, Friday @ 1:00 PM.....The Princess Brittany (85') and the Neptune Site (30')
June 5th, Saturday @ 8:30 AM.....2 reefs (30')
June 5th, Saturday @ 1:00 PM......Tenneco Towers (110') and Graceland (45')**
June 6th, Sunday @ 8:30 AM.....The Biscayne (60') and a reef (30')
June 6th, Sunday @ 1:00 PM......The Belcher Barge (60') and the Neptune Site (40')
June 8th, Tuesday @ 1:00 PM.....2 reefs (30') ***
June 9th, Wednesday @ 1:00 PM......2 reefs (30') ***
June 9th, Wednesday @ 6:30 PM......The Sheri Lyn (110') and the pipes (45') NIGHT
June 10th, Thursday @ 1:00 PM.......2 reefs (30') ***
June 11th, Friday @ 9:00 AM.....The DEMA Trader (75') and a reef (30')
June 11th, Friday @ 1:00 PM......Private Charter NM
June 12th, Saturday @ 8:30 AM.......2 reefs (30')
June 12th, Saturday @ 1:00 PM......2 reefs (30')
June 13th, Sunday @ 8:30 AM......The Belcher Barge (60') and a reef (30')
June 13th, Sunday @ 1:00 PM......The Patricia (55') and the Tanks (45')
June 15th, Tuesday @ 1:00 PM.....2 reefs (30') ***
June 16th, Wednesday @ 1:00 PM.....2 reefs (30') ***
June 16th, Wednesday @ 6:30 PM....The Proteus (75') and a Reef (30') NIGHT
June 17th, Thursday @ 9:00 AM.....2 reefs (30') ***
June 17th, Thursday @ 1:00 PM......Private Charter BNP
June 18th, Friday @ 9:00 AM......2 reefs (30') ***
June 18th, Friday @ 1:00 PM......The Belcher Barge (60') and the pipes (45')
June 19th, Saturday @ 8:30 AM......2 reefs (30')
June 19th, Saturday @ 1:00 PM.....2 reefs (30')
June 20th, Sunday @ 8:30 AM....The Biscayne (60') and the Neptune Site (45')
June 20th, Sunday @ 1:00 PM.....the Belcher Barge (60') and a reef (30')
June 22nd, Tuesday @ 1:00 PM.....2 reefs (30') ***
June 23rd, Wednesday @ 1:00 PM......2 reefs (30') ***
June 23rd, Wednesday @ 6:30 PM.....the Orion (100') and a reef (30') NIGHT
June 24th, Thursday @ 1:00 PM.....2 reefs (30') ***
June 25th, Friday @ 9:00 AM......2 reefs (30') ***
June 25th, Friday @ 1:00 PM......the Ophelia Brian (110') and a reef (30')
June 26th, Saturday @ 8:30 AM.....2 reefs (30')
June 26th, Saturday @ 1:00 PM......the Doc De Mille (155') and the Ultra Freeze (130') Limited seating, proper certification required. Please call for prices and availability.
June 27th, Sunday @ 8:30 AM.......The Patricia (55') and the Matthew Lawrence (45') NO 7
June 27th, Sunday @ 1:00 PM......The Belcher Barge (60') and the Neptune Reef (40')
June 28th, Monday @ 1:00 PM.......Private Charter NMR
June 29th, Tuesday @ 1:00 PM.....2 reefs (30') ***
June 30th, Wednesday @ 1:00 PM......2 reefs (30') ***
June 30th, Wednesday @ 6:30 PM......The Ophelia Brian (110') and the Neptune Site (40') NIGHT
July 1st, Thursday @ 9:00 AM......reefs (30') ***
July 1st, Thursday @ 1:00 PM.....Private Charter BNP
July 2nd, Friday @ 9:00 AM.....2 reefs (30') ***
July 2nd, Friday @ 1:00 PM......Ms Karline (55') and the Tanks (45')

 

[DebbyDiver]

Ditto to what Brian posted. There is great wreck diving in Miami, and there are also some good reefs, and RJ is pretty much it.

 

[Tafflad]

so it's worth me staying over and diving some 'local wrecks'

I just looked at going to Pensacola for th "Big O" .... flights are not easy as none direct.
Not sure how practical/easy a drive would be.

Would you think it better I stay and dive local ... esp with limited time.

 

[DebbyDiver]

The diving down here is great. RJ's been in business for decades and the wrecks down there are great.

I personally love diving Fort Lauderdale and my favorite dive operator is Sea Experience. Maybe you'll want to dive a day or two in Miami and a day or two up here.

 

[deepstops]

so it's worth me staying over and diving some 'local wrecks'

I just looked at going to Pensacola for th "Big O" .... flights are not easy as none direct.
Not sure how practical/easy a drive would be.

Would you think it better I stay and dive local?? ... esp with limited time??

Absolutely. Pensacola is an 8 hour drive (one-way).

 

[Coralcop]

The northern gulf coast (Pensacola area) has been getting hammered with storms lately. You might want to check with anyone before plan a trip to the Big O. It's a pretty good distance offshore. I'm not sure if the oil spill is affecting that particular patch of the gulf right now, but that would be another consideration

 

[DebbyDiver]

The OP has come and gone by now. Hey, how about a trip report, Tafflad?

 

[CaptEsteban]

I would think again about a Pensacola trip.

Oil Hits Pensacola, but the Beach Stays Open | Mother Jones

 

[DebbyDiver]

I repeat:

The OP has come and gone by now. Hey, how about a trip report, Tafflad?