munkispank
Contributor
For anyone planning a winter trip to dive Florida; Just got back from quickie trip to key Largo for Thanksgiving- was strangely quiet this year???- Most boats I watched were half empty- and there did not seem to be as many people around.
weather- top temps were warm and sunny- 78-80, little wind. Water temps were clocked between 76 and 79(allegedly) at 40 ft, but it felt much closer to the 76. I am a little soft, and dove with a 3mm jumpsuit day one- froze my butt off- quickly added a 3mm short over the top, but was still pretty chilly after 20 mins under. My buddy wore a beanie and gloves too. I would recommend a fleece for the boat ride back also.
Seas were calm- 1-2ft max.
Boat- went with Silent World - very nice people-would recommend them - really good pre-dive briefs, very friendly, nice boat- was a little crowded when full (only one trip) with 13 divers, but most trips had 10 and below - plenty of room. I thought these guys were really cool as I had a package of dives, but had to cancel a morning and afternoon trip due to ear infection (or possible barautrauma- haven't seem a doc yet!!!) but they offered rainchecks for the unused dives- I rarely experience this with other op's, so this was a bonus.
Dives- nice locations- operator was very cool about asking divers where they wanted to go, trips out were short, and they try hard to go to different spots for those on multi-day packages. Vis was a little down- there has been some choppy weather and things are a little stirred up, but still nice dives, saw more soft corals than I have ever done in the Keys and huge nurse sharks, eagle rays, morays and barracuda. Tons of christmas tree worms too- nice for the festive season
now I just have to sort out my ear problem.....
happy diving
weather- top temps were warm and sunny- 78-80, little wind. Water temps were clocked between 76 and 79(allegedly) at 40 ft, but it felt much closer to the 76. I am a little soft, and dove with a 3mm jumpsuit day one- froze my butt off- quickly added a 3mm short over the top, but was still pretty chilly after 20 mins under. My buddy wore a beanie and gloves too. I would recommend a fleece for the boat ride back also.
Seas were calm- 1-2ft max.
Boat- went with Silent World - very nice people-would recommend them - really good pre-dive briefs, very friendly, nice boat- was a little crowded when full (only one trip) with 13 divers, but most trips had 10 and below - plenty of room. I thought these guys were really cool as I had a package of dives, but had to cancel a morning and afternoon trip due to ear infection (or possible barautrauma- haven't seem a doc yet!!!) but they offered rainchecks for the unused dives- I rarely experience this with other op's, so this was a bonus.
Dives- nice locations- operator was very cool about asking divers where they wanted to go, trips out were short, and they try hard to go to different spots for those on multi-day packages. Vis was a little down- there has been some choppy weather and things are a little stirred up, but still nice dives, saw more soft corals than I have ever done in the Keys and huge nurse sharks, eagle rays, morays and barracuda. Tons of christmas tree worms too- nice for the festive season
now I just have to sort out my ear problem.....
happy diving
