What are your favorite dives in The Keys?

[jerrycsr]

Hi everyone,

It looks like we're heading to The Keys the last week in July. I am an experienced diver, but I'm bringing with me four newly certified divers, one who is 15 years old.

What are your favorite dives in The Keys? I'd love to hit some places that are pristine or not so damaged by human traffic.

Thanks for the replies!

 

[100days-a-year]

Middle to lower Keys area with Looe Key,Adolphus Busch,Thunderbolt,Sombrero light and Delta shoals being my favorites for taking newer divers.The Busch and Thunderbolt are deeper than 100' so we usually have 2 experienced divers per new person.The others are mostly shallow reef areas less than 30' and perfect for pics and general tomfoolery.

 

[Bomber]

Jerry

Key Largo and Marathon get most of the traffic and so do their reefs. There's a lot of convenience that goes with that though. It's a trade off.

My favorite diving was always with Gloria at Lady Cyana in Islamorada. Since they've closed, Pat and John at Ocean Quest (Smugglers Cove) in Islamorada have replaced them. Have them take you to the Eagle and also what we call the "Garden" area. Sort of to the North and inside from Alligator light, in front of Cheeca Rocks. That area is seldom visited by any of the other dive ops and is about as un-touched as it gets in the keys. Also they visit some wall areas south of Crocker that no one else goes to also.

A alternative dive op would be Barbara and Bob at Divers City, they moved from Key Largo to Tavernier also.

Divers City is on Tavernier Creek and Ocean Quest is on Snake Creek.

http://www.oceanquestdivecenter.com/

http://www.diverscityusa.com/main.htm

 

[Charlie99]

www.reef-divers.com

Nice spur and groove reef with lots of life. Shallow depths make is suitable for the newly certified divers going with you. Only about 20 miles from Key West and its various topside attractions.

Charlie