kcmiller10
Registered
Husband and I will be in Key Largo and Marathon for 1 week each this July. Bringing our own gear/tanks and looking for small (6 pack) dive operators in each area to do more customized diving. Any suggestions?
Key Largo & Marathon - Small Dive Operators??
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Rich Keller
Contributor
I highly recommend these people, they are at MM80.
Seamonkey's Scuba Diving Islamorada / Tavernier Florida Keys - Voted Best 6 Pack Dive
Seamonkey's Scuba Diving Islamorada / Tavernier Florida Keys - Voted Best 6 Pack Dive
sportxlh
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In Key Largo: Quiescence Quiescence Diving Services, World Class Diving in Key Largo, FL
I've only been on bigger boats on Marathon
I've only been on bigger boats on Marathon
scubaguy655
Contributor
Quiescence is a good choice for a 6-pack. DIVE KEY LARGO - SCUBA with HMS MINNOW DIVING CHARTERS, Florida Keys Pennekamp Sanctuary is another good option
Keep in mind that SeaMonkeys is in Islamorada, while Quiescence is in Key Largo. Quiescence will have access to everywhere in the Pennekamp Park area, including the good dive sites to the north like Carysfort, as well as the Spiegel Grove wreck which is a "don't miss" Keys dive.
SeaMonkeys will be diving sites further south and, while there is excellent reef diving in Islamorada, in my view Key Largo has the edge in terms of variety of locations, wrecks and marine life. If this is a rare or your first trip to the Keys then Key Largo and Quiescence is the way to go.
Not knocking the other op, great reviews and reputation. But I have used Quiescence for many years and can also say they are top-notch, with the edge going to the areas that they dive.
Don't dive much in Marathon proper as it is not as nice reef-wise as Key Largo. But, my absolute recommendation is that, if you stay there after Key Largo, to drive just a bit further south to Big Pine Key and dive Looe Key sanctuary which is arguably the most beautiful reef in all of the Keys. Only 15-20 mins drive from marathon. Google it and you will find several ops. Not sure if any are 6 packs, but, I can tell you, I would rather take a bigger boat to Looe Key than a six pack to the reefs near Marathon. I would rate Looe Key as another "don't miss" dive.
The Keys in July rock! Typically are calm, warm, great vis, no lobster season zoo, and very light crowds during the weekdays.
Enjoy your dives!
SeaMonkeys will be diving sites further south and, while there is excellent reef diving in Islamorada, in my view Key Largo has the edge in terms of variety of locations, wrecks and marine life. If this is a rare or your first trip to the Keys then Key Largo and Quiescence is the way to go.
Not knocking the other op, great reviews and reputation. But I have used Quiescence for many years and can also say they are top-notch, with the edge going to the areas that they dive.
Don't dive much in Marathon proper as it is not as nice reef-wise as Key Largo. But, my absolute recommendation is that, if you stay there after Key Largo, to drive just a bit further south to Big Pine Key and dive Looe Key sanctuary which is arguably the most beautiful reef in all of the Keys. Only 15-20 mins drive from marathon. Google it and you will find several ops. Not sure if any are 6 packs, but, I can tell you, I would rather take a bigger boat to Looe Key than a six pack to the reefs near Marathon. I would rate Looe Key as another "don't miss" dive.
The Keys in July rock! Typically are calm, warm, great vis, no lobster season zoo, and very light crowds during the weekdays.
Enjoy your dives!
Last edited:
OP
kcmiller10
Registered
Thanks for everyone's input...have info on Quiescence and HMS minnow. We are actually renting a boat for a week while in Marathon so may not do much diving with an Op down there, but the Big Pine Key info is interesting and will share with the husband.
SandyRobinson
Contributor
May want to try Sail Fish Scuba.
If you are renting your own boat in Marathon, assuming it is a decent size boat capable of short offshore trips (ie not a skiff or a pontoon boat, but a center console or regular boat 18' or more with charts or GPS-- but you don't really need GPS to Looe Key) you should be able to make the trip to Looe Key. It is not that far by boat and definitely worth the trip. Looe Key has lots of mooring buoys (mandatory) and you can easily dive it on your own. Best of all, Looe Key is 20-40' so your tanks will last a long time. The boat rental place should be able to tell you how to get there.
For a Key Largo 6-pack, I've used HMS Minnow for over two decades, though I've not visited for a while and have not met the newest owner. The previous owners, Gerry and Jeff treated me like family, and if I was the first to book, got my choice of dive sites. DIVE KEY LARGO - SCUBA with HMS MINNOW DIVING CHARTERS, Florida Keys Pennekamp Sanctuary
captboob
Registered
The Busch wreck is a couple hundred foot long ship that was sank nearby Looe Key maybe 15 years ago. We were there a week after they sank it and then maybe 8 years later. (my log book is home and I am not) Current was rippin on the return visit but was nice on the bottom as always. Don't miss it.. google it
---------- Post added June 3rd, 2015 at 03:30 PM ----------
The Busch wreck is a couple hundred foot long ship that was sank nearby Looe Key maybe 15 years ago. We were there a week after they sank it and then maybe 8 years later. (my log book is home and I am not) Current was rippin on the return visit but was nice on the bottom as always. Don't miss it.. google it
---------- Post added June 3rd, 2015 at 03:30 PM ----------
The Busch wreck is a couple hundred foot long ship that was sank nearby Looe Key maybe 15 years ago. We were there a week after they sank it and then maybe 8 years later. (my log book is home and I am not) Current was rippin on the return visit but was nice on the bottom as always. Don't miss it.. google it
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