Family Trip to the Keys

[yknot]

I would suggest Islamorada.not far from largo but closer to better beach snorkeling like bahia honda state park.
Heres some must does while in the area:

1. Feed the tarpon at robbies marina- The kids and you will have a blast feedin 100lb# tarpon. They come out of the water to eat the fish outta your hand, its incredible.

2. World Wide Sportsman- If youre interested in fishing but, the restaurant's good too.

3. Bahia Honda state park- a must, good snorkeling right off the beach. Sponges little critters and fish. Shallow and fun.

Hobo's is my favorite restaurant in the keys. I think its mm104

Hope you have fun!

Could combine #1 and #2 at Islamorada Fsh Company. About Bahia Honda- how shallow would it be to do a shore dive? Last time in the Keys the three non divers with me wouldn't let me stop there. The only other place a shore dive looked at all feasible would be off Pidgeon Key at the dock behind one of the buildings. I did see students snorkling there and it didn't look to far out to one of the old 7 mile bridge supports. I tried to seek out shore diving opportunities but came up empty (no pun intended).

 

[Reel Crazy14]

Could combine #1 and #2 at Islamorada Fsh Company. About Bahia Honda- how shallow would it be to do a shore dive? Last time in the Keys the three non divers with me wouldn't let me stop there. The only other place a shore dive looked at all feasible would be off Pidgeon Key at the dock behind one of the buildings. I did see students snorkling there and it didn't look to far out to one of the old 7 mile bridge supports. I tried to seek out shore diving opportunities but came up empty (no pun intended).

Yeh thats true! Theres also some big mother tarpon that hang out at IFC but I dont think they let you feed them. Last time I was there, nurse sharks were also cruisin around. As for Bahia honda, it only gets 6 feet deep maximum unless you dive the channel which I wouldnt recommend because of the ridunculous current. I saw some eagle rays, a barracuda, a lobster, grunts. Some scattered coral but mostly sponges. I wouldnt compare it to a reef but it's a fun thing to do between dives. Oh yeh and make sure you snorkel the atlantic side instead of the gulf side

 

[KeyLargoBrent]

is practically non-existant! But by all means, plan on spending a day (more or less) at Bahia Honda State Park (mile marker 37 oceanside). Snorkel from the beaches (both sides) and pack a picnic lunch. This is an awesome state park!

For combination scuba/snorkel trips, plan on diving at Looe Key (just south of Bahia Honda) or further north in Key Largo.

I'll second the recommendation of The Islamorada Fish Co. for excellent sunset dining (dockside) along with schools of ravenous hand-fed Nurse Sharks and monster Tarpon!

 

[yknot]

I'll second the recommendation of The Islamorada Fish Co. for excellent sunset dining (dockside) along with schools of ravenous hand-fed Nurse Sharks and monster Tarpon!

And best of all-a free show with dinner. Unusual since "free" and "Florida" aren't often found in the same sentence. And yes, they will let you feed them as long as you don't mind reaching into a garbage can of chicken scraps. I will have to fake a breakdown next time I'm near Bahia Honda regardless of who I'm with. Also can't say enough about how much I enjoyed a side trip to Pigeon Key and the railroad camp.

 

[timhernandez]

Folks,

Based on your recommendations, here is my plan....

Leave the Upper Peninsula of Florida (Michigan) Drive 1/2 way, sleep, drive to Tampa to visit realitives, etc.

Leave Tampa and drive to Venice for the shark tooth hunt... Sounds like a blast, and would be a cool thing for the kids to have when they go back to reform school

From Venice, continue to Islamorada to a TBD place to stay (taking recommendations)
Stay for 6 days, diving, snorkelling, and being a tourist....

then return to the reality of life, knowing that if I were a rich man, I would live like that every day !!!

Again, thanks for all the advice, comments, and offers... Once the dates firm up, I'll let you know as I would love to meet, and dive, with you folks.

Regards,

-Tim

 

[timhernandez]

Reservations Made...

We are staying at the Neptunes Hideway Hotel, in Key Largo, July 11 - 15, heading back north on the 16th.

We will be in the Tampa area the 8th - 10th seeing family and hopefully stopping in Venice on the 11th enroute to Key Largo.

Any suggestions on Dive Shops on that route would be appreciated. Web sites are swell but, personal experiences are better.

I am looking for a few 'warm up' dives for my son and I to get back into the groove with a night dive near the end of our stay so he can experience the difference.

Again,

Thanks for all the great advice, the Islamorada Fish Company and Bahia Honda are now on the schedule thanks to your advice.

 

[HarleyDiver]

Reservations Made...

We are staying at the Neptunes Hideway Hotel, in Key Largo, July 11 - 15, heading back north on the 16th.

We will be in the Tampa area the 8th - 10th seeing family and hopefully stopping in Venice on the 11th enroute to Key Largo.

Any suggestions on Dive Shops on that route would be appreciated. Web sites are swell but, personal experiences are better.

I am looking for a few 'warm up' dives for my son and I to get back into the groove with a night dive near the end of our stay so he can experience the difference.

Again,

Thanks for all the great advice, the Islamorada Fish Company and Bahia Honda are now on the schedule thanks to your advice.

If your staying in Key Largo you can't do better than BlueWaterDivers, I dive with them everytime we go to the Keys.
They are great guys, and will go out of their way to make sure you get the most out of your stay. They are at MM100 right next to the African Queen & the Casino Boat. They have a nice 30' boat but limit each trip to a max of 10 divers. During the week you have a good chance of having only 4-6 divers on board.

We will be headed down as your returning. Enjoy the diving.

ps - here is a link to their website > http://www.bluewaterdiver.net/