Keys/PB/Jupiter Trip Report

[sunshower]

I’m pretty sure the guy said he had a cert through IANTD but don’t know why they weren’t able to pull it online; I’m sure they would’ve if they could’ve. And this is where I part company with them; no reason they couldn’t have let that guy dive air. I don’t know if he is retired or took off a day from work but it was wasted; kinda screwed his teammate a bit but she went ahead and dive without him.

 

[tekkydiver]

I'm not even sure why certification is needed for nitrox. It's a much safer way to dive

 

[b1gcountry]

I'm not even sure why certification is needed for nitrox. It's a much safer way to dive

MOD and O2 CNS toxicity are two good reasons

 

[Cthippo]

Are they both requiring you to be nitrox certified AND to dive with it? If you show up with a nitrox card but a tank full of air are they going to refuse you?

 

[Jcp2]

Are they both requiring you to be nitrox certified AND to dive with it? If you show up with a nitrox card but a tank full of air are they going to refuse you?

According to their booking page all dives require nitrox. Of course, you can put whatever you want in your cylinder and label it whatever you want, but if something happens…
Why be that guy? Their boat, their rules.

 

[Catito]

Just a few quick thoughts on some recent diving in the Keys and Jupiter.

Islamorada Dive Center - we did a day with them, morning and afternoon. All shallow reef stuff. Viz wasn't great as Idalia had only recently been in the general area. Boat and crew were fine, store is nice. One thing I didn't like was their 45 minute limit on each dive. We came down there to dive and I don't feel an hour per dive is unreasonable. Don't know if that's become the norm in the area but it's ridiculous and I'd be inclined to dive with another shop on a future trip. Oh, I also disliked their policy of providing a water cooler but no cups; they literally told us to drink from our masks.

Horizon Divers was the next day. We went out to Speigel and did one dive. Current wasn't awful but was there. And viz was poor, didn't venture too far from our up line. I got nauseous during the dive and bagged the second dive, wasn't like conditions were ideal anyway. Shop/boat/crew were good; they actually had water and cups.

We headed to Key West where we planned to dive the Vandy but viz scrubbed it, the shop reported it was about 5'. We rented a scooter instead and had a blast ripping around the island. We also ended up in the Jimmy Buffett parade with a few thousand of our closest friends and that was pretty cool.

Jupiter Dive Center was next. I'd been out with them before, always been fine. Viz was again not awesome so we skipped the wreck trek and went to the MG111 instead. Saw a few groupers stacked up but only an ok dive. Did some reef on the second dive, forgetable. The most notable thing about the day was watching the shop reject a diver who forgot his nitrox card. I understand not letting him dive nitrox but they also refused to allow him to dive on air. We did a very simple dive with max depth around 80 or 90'. Air is completely fair for that but these guys are dicks about it. Looks like a straight up money grab to me. Their shop and their policy but they can lick my sack, I'll skip diving with them in the future.

Blue Heron Bridge - had a day off and did one easy dive here. Pura Vida were good for tanks and tips and we had a great two hours there; viz was great and tons of life. We went east to west and took our time checking out all the little patches of reef, saw the hammerhead statues, and then went over to the bridge pylons. I think those were my favorite; tons of life in there and love the way they create bits of light and shadows. No issue with parking or construction but it was also a Wednesday afternoon.

Salty Divers - our last day of diving and it was a blast, mostly. Two cool dives with lemons and sandbars. We picked up the wreck trek for our third dive; really cool to see all the groupers clustered on the Zion; tons of swirling baitfish hiding them; crazy to think Goliaths can be hidden but we were nearly on top of them before realizing it. So cool how they just sit in the current like it's nothing. And another decent group of them on the Bonaire. Great dives with the Salty crew but the day turned decidedly worse as we surfaced to find the Kyalami looking for a missing diver. They dove the wreck trek right before us. We listened as they alerted the coast guard and watched search vessels look for the diver. Conditions weren't particularly bad, current wasn't super strong and viz wasn't horrible; and the guy was young, seems like a head scratcher how things went sideways. It was an unpleasant reminder that diving isn't risk-free and **** happens; always pays to be prepped on your gear/skills and paying attention to your teammate.

If you've read this far then it's time for a few little bonus reviews. We hadn't planned on it but ended up trying different French places for breakfast; here are our thoughts. In Key West, go for La Creperie French Cafe; cool little place across from Blue Heaven and their crepes were delicious. In the Palm Beach Gardens area, don't judge the book by the cover - go to Paris in Town; we loved this place, the honey and lemon crepes were the bomb. And lastly, if you're in South Beach, check out A La Folie Cafe. Go for the mint and honey crepes, so good.

“Nice” language, bud.

Sheesh

 

[CosbySweater]

Nah, not buying it. I understand it’s their shop and their policy, already acknowledged that. But I don’t agree with the merit of it. They’ve taken an outlier position and one that is at times unfriendly to divers, like the guy they turned away the other day. And to be clear, the team there were not rude to him; my bone of contention is with the policy.

You may contend it’s clearly communicated; I think that’s a bit debatable but setting that aside, merely communicating a policy doesn’t validate it. They could just as easily tell everyone you can’t dive on their boat unless you’re completely kitted up in Scubapro gear. Telling people wouldn’t make it any more rational.

But back to the policy itself, the dive profile on air is completely within standard as taught by training agencies; and then there’s the tons of anecdotal experience, it’s not like divers have been dropping like flies on that profile over the last few decades. JDC have essentially turned the early 90s on their head. People were afraid of nitrox and now it’s air that’s not being allowed for an easy dive. Maybe they should alert the WRSTC and DAN as to the dangers of air.

It also raises an interesting question. If they’re going to deviate from standards used in teaching students, what’s actually guiding them and where do they draw the line on air and nitrox? Is a 40’ reef dive too dangerous for air?

And what are newer divers to think of this? They’re not taught that nitrox is a requirement. That’s not even taught in a nitrox class. This policy may be easy for them, and it certainly increases their revenue, and maybe it makes them feel warm and fuzzy, but it may confuse newer divers, offers modest benefit, and when a dude forgets his nitrox card, it unnecessarily costs him a day of diving. Nothing wrong with recommending nitrox for that dive but silly to take such an absolute position.

It has nothing to do with revenue. Turning away a diver who already paid to book a spot on the boat is proof of that. It has everything to do with liability. JDC isn’t on an island on this issue either. Several other SE Florida boats have the same requirement for dives below 60’.

The real question is why do you care how a business owner chooses to run their business? If they were unsafe, sure you can make a point about it but, JDC is clearly on the conservative end of the safety spectrum. Dive somewhere else if you don’t like it.