Which dive shop to use?

[Rosesrfree]

Heading to the Florida Keys with no real destination in mind. Curious if I could get some feedback regarding Dive Ops down in the area. Im looking to get Nitrox certified while down there.

Any and all help would be appreciated.

Thank you all kindly!

Rosesrfree

 

[WreckWriter]

Quiescense
Atlantis
Ocean Divers

In no particular order. They're all excellent long extablished shops and can handle all your diving needs (including nitrox class).

All are in Key Largo.

Tom

 

[Wendy]

I have a friend that is an instructor in Miami. Her website is www.runawaylobster.com. Maybe you could start there, get the cert and then travel on down to the keys. Depending on her schedule she may be able to do dives with you in the keys as well.

 

[WreckWriter]

Wendy once bubbled...
I have a friend that is an instructor in Miami. Her website is www.runawaylobster.com. Maybe you could start there, get the cert and then travel on down to the keys. Depending on her schedule she may be able to do dives with you in the keys as well.

I've dived with her a few times, including some great wreck penetrations. She's a great diver and a great person too!

Tom

 

[Wendy]

Aren't you an e-diver too?

 

[WreckWriter]

Wendy once bubbled...
Aren't you an e-diver too?

Yes but not terribly active there lately.

Tom

 

[FloridaSpork]

I've only been to the Keys once. I had a good experience and a bad one. The good one was with Abyss Dive Center. They're in Marathon behind the Holiday Inn at MM 54 (oceanside). They were very pleasant and very professional. No cattle boats here. We had eight people on board: the captain, DM and six divers. The captain was excellent and our DM Brian was top-notch and very helpful. The dive with them was very laid back and relaxing. I'd highly recommend them. Their website is http://www.abyssdive.com. And according to their website, they also do instruction so you should be able to get your Nitrox from them, too.

The bad experience was with Hall's Dive Center, also in Marathon. They're a few miles down the road from Abyss. In my opinion, as well as those of our instructors and fellow divers, the DM's and other crew were not at all professional, not helpful and generally got in the way. The captain, however, was pretty good. They really packed 'em in on the boat... if I remember right there were 16-18 divers with several snorkelers thrown in. I'd recommend staying away from them.

As for the rest of the Keys, I can't really say anything since I haven't been anywhere else. But like WreckWriter said, I hear a lot of good things about Ocean Divers in Largo.

Hope this helps!

 

[kwesler]

Tavernier Dive Center...about mm 91 great people, and, for me, the "right sized" boat. usually less than 12 divers.

www.tavernierdivecenter.com

Ken

 

[Beachman]

I winter in the Upper Keys and know just about all the dive ops from Key Largo to Marathon. Tavernier is the best in my opinion. Talk to Mike HoSingLoy (owner/captain) or Wendy (wife/boss).

Key Largo and the ops around MM 100 don't start to compare with the Tavernier experience. Fewer tourists and much more laid back.....more of a true "keys experience".

 

[kwesler]

do you DM for Tavernier? Perhaps we have been on the boat together?

Ken