SomeGuy509
Registered
Hi All,
Kind of long post.
So I am heading down to South Florida for my honeymoon in December. My wife is a not a diver however so I will be making buddies as I go.
I am bringing all my own gear since we are going to be driving. I have AOW but the deepest I have been is 65ft. So for at least the first dive on the deeper wrecks I want to hit I plan to hire a guide. I have dove on long island sound in pitch black, 3ft of vis at 55ft, which was awesome though.
A lot of the time is going to be in West Palm beach area. There are so many operations there it's almost overwhelming to pick from. I actually did my OW the Jupiter Dive Center but I am curious to try some of the other ops (spread the love).
-Does it make more sense to do most of my booking with the same op? Maybe less likely for there to be an issue if there is a weather cancellation (double booked).
-Do most of the ops run weekdays? Or am I likely to deal with cancellations due to not being able to fill the boat enough? They all have dates on the calendar but given the time of year is it an issue?
-What about finding a buddy. From what I remember at least on the drift dive it was more of a group thing. Stick with the DM carrying the flag and you are good. Make friends with somebody on the boat?
Here is the plan I have right now:
Kind of long post.
So I am heading down to South Florida for my honeymoon in December. My wife is a not a diver however so I will be making buddies as I go.
I am bringing all my own gear since we are going to be driving. I have AOW but the deepest I have been is 65ft. So for at least the first dive on the deeper wrecks I want to hit I plan to hire a guide. I have dove on long island sound in pitch black, 3ft of vis at 55ft, which was awesome though.
A lot of the time is going to be in West Palm beach area. There are so many operations there it's almost overwhelming to pick from. I actually did my OW the Jupiter Dive Center but I am curious to try some of the other ops (spread the love).
-Does it make more sense to do most of my booking with the same op? Maybe less likely for there to be an issue if there is a weather cancellation (double booked).
-Do most of the ops run weekdays? Or am I likely to deal with cancellations due to not being able to fill the boat enough? They all have dates on the calendar but given the time of year is it an issue?
-What about finding a buddy. From what I remember at least on the drift dive it was more of a group thing. Stick with the DM carrying the flag and you are good. Make friends with somebody on the boat?
Here is the plan I have right now:
- Dec 17-19th Key largo. Driving down from Miami in the morning. I'm looking at going out with Horizon Divers or Conch Republic. I am at the Hampton so CRD is a little farther but not bad. The Rainbow Reef thing didn't appeal to me.
- 17th: Reef, confirmed with CRD.
- 18th: Spiegel Grove. Confirmed with CRD. Interestingly Horizon's prices are fixed even if you bring your own tanks and weights.
- 19th: Backup. Maybe another wreck?
- Dec 19th-21st Looe Key Reef Resort
- 19th: See above
- 20th: I'd like to hit the Vandenberg. I've already sent a note to Captains Corner
- 21st: Backup, maybe do something at Looe Key
- Dec 21st-29th: WPB, I am staying in the City Place area. I think the main things I have on my itinerary are to hit BHB and the 3 tank dive JDC is planning on the 22nd. Otherwise the schedule is open. Jupiter is a bit further north so I was looking at Narcosis and Pura Vida as options. Kyalami seem like a good weekday option because of the price.
- Dec 21st: BHB night dive with Pura Vida (confirmed)
- Dec 22nd: JDC 2 tank dive (confirmed)
- Dec 23rd: JDC 3 tank dive (confirmed)
- Dec 24th: ???
- Dec 25th: Looks like high tide is at 10am. Maybe a fellow scuba boarder wants to do BHB on Christmas day?
- Dec 26th: ???
- Dec 27th: ???
- Dec 28th: ???
- Dec 29th: ???