Trip Report - Diving Key Largo with Rainbow Reef Dive Center

[CajunDiva]

We just returned from an 8 day trip to Key Largo and I wanted to share our experiences while the memories are still fresh

Having past experience with this dive op, we chose to dive with Rainbow Reef Dive Center. They have a very informative and comprehensive website and I was able to research our options thoroughly. RRDC offers dive packages which include discounted lodging at several properties located strategically around the marina at Key Largo. This seemed advantageous to us since we wanted to stay at a property near the dive shop. This trip we decided to try out "Suites at Key Largo", which has now become "Key West Inn". One phone call to RRDC was all it took...they took care of the hotel reservation for us and we received e-mail confirmations. The arrangements were taken care of as promised and upon arrival our room (well, really more like a small townhouse) was ready for us. Each unit at Key West Inn has a downstairs area with living room (including queen sized sleeper sofa), bathroom, kitchen and balcony overlooking the marina as well as a large bedroom upstairs with an additional bathroom. We found that while the unit was not pristine, it was more than adequate and for $99/night we felt like we got quite a good deal. It was located right across the canal from "Sharky's", a local restaurant frequented by the dive community in Key Largo. There is live music every night, but they shut it down around 10:00 pm, so it's not a sleep disturbance unless you go to bed very early. We enjoyed sitting out on our screened in balcony each evening listening to the music...free entertainment!

Regarding the diving, I don't think we could have picked a better dive op to dive with. RRDC is a well-run operation. They have three boats located right at the head of the canal behind their dive kiosk at the marina as well as a retail store and offices on the main highway coming into Key Largo. We stopped at the store on the way into town and were able to confirm our dive arrangements.

We chose to dive mornings and take the afternoons off to "play". Each morning we arrived at the boat to find a very organized check-in and boat assignment process. Boats were boarded and departed promptly each morning in order to assure time for two leisurely dives at a variety of dive sites in the waters of Key Largo. Where RRDC really shines is with their employees. All members of the staff I interacted with were incredibly helpful and friendly. Emphasis was placed on safety and information was well communicated. There was always a staff member there to assist you to the back of the boat and into the water, and the same process was reversed when you concluded your dive. Dive guides are included on each dive at no additional charge. If you prefer to dive on your own it's no problem, they just make sure to review all of this information before each dive. After each dive, the captain performed a roll call to make sure all divers were present and accounted for.

We were able to sample all three boats and found that there was room to move around and gear up without any problems. The captain gave comprehensive safety briefings before departure and dive briefings at each site. Not one time did I have a tank with less than 3100 psi. The staff at RRDC is obviously skilled with their air compressor . One area that could use a little tweaking are the camera tanks. Only because there were several divers with very large cameras, I had a few issues with having enough room in the tanks for my camera.

We dove with RRDC for five days and sampled reef diving as well as wreck diving. I was truly amazed at not only the quantity, but the quality of the fish life in Key Largo. We spotted numerous species of fish including a couple we had never seen before! I had a field day taking pictures and shooting video. The day we dove the USS Spiegel Grove, there was absolutely zero current and the visibility was really good. It was by far my best ever dive on the Grove, and I have a new respect for that magnificent vessel. In the future I will be enthusiastic about diving her each and every time we visit the area.

Overall I would give Rainbow Reef Dive Center the highest of marks. They have made loyal customers out of us and we will continue to visit Key Largo and dive with them whenever the opportunity arises. During our five days of diving, I accumulated numerous photos and video clips. I am doing my best to learn how to edit the images but haven't made lots of progress just yet. So here is my best effort at putting together a few of my favorites from the week...please be gentle

[MG11]

That's a great video!

The 2 minute mark and seeing the surge action really brings back memories.

Mike

[CajunDiva]

I hear ya Mike. As the poster child for seasickness, I have a few memories of my own Thankfully I have discovered medication that eliminates that problem

[LynnB]

Thanks for sharing your video. Maybe one day we will be able to meet there! I just got back from diving Palm Beach and it was awesome!!! Hope I will be able to do it every few months!
Glad you had a great time. did you dive with Jesus? We missed him as the night dive we did he had something else and he only works there a few days.
But yeah they are a great op to dive with. We love em too!

[CajunDiva]

Yay Lynn...I wanna make that happen! I am hearing from so many of our dive buddies who want to go and check out RRDC. Maybe we can all coordinate for next summer and just charter a whole boat

ABSOLUTELY, we dove with Jesus. I don't think we could go there and not dive with him...it just wouldn't seem right. He works on Mondays and Fridays, so we had the opportunity to dive two days with him. He's just as great as I remember!

Seriously...consider next July - lets plan way ahead so we can make it happen

---------- Post Merged at 12:42 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 12:19 PM ----------

H

[DPEXP]

I dove with RR for the first time about a month ago, I was very impressed and will be going back again soon.

[bottomfeeder22]

Yesss, next July will be perfect.... see ya there cajunD!

[ScubaSteve1962]

Yay Lynn...I wanna make that happen! I am hearing from so many of our dive buddies who want to go and check out RRDC. Maybe we can all coordinate for next summer and just charter a whole boat

ABSOLUTELY, we dove with Jesus. I don't think we could go there and not dive with him...it just wouldn't seem right. He works on Mondays and Fridays, so we had the opportunity to dive two days with him. He's just as great as I remember!

Seriously...consider next July - lets plan way ahead so we can make it happen

---------- Post Merged at 12:42 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 12:19 PM ----------

H

Jesus is a great guide, just don't let him see any dolphins, he'll try and keep up with them. So far in my limited experience RRDC is by far a great op to dive with.

[CajunDiva]

Yesss, next July will be perfect.... see ya there cajunD!

It's a date! Remember that Rainbow Reef is a great place for dive classes - they train instructors! So it would be a good time to bring that "special" lady to get her OW certification so we can spend some time with her too

---------- Post Merged at 10:18 AM ---------- Previous Post was at 10:06 AM ----------

So far in my limited experience RRDC is by far a great op to dive with.

When we first started diving with RRDC in 2004, we had about the same experience level as you do. We kept going back and diving with them two or three times a year and they really inspired us to become better, more competent divers. We got our AOW at RRDC and went on to travel the world, experiencing things that most people only dream of.

Now we have about 450 dives behind us, but the enthusiasm for diving continues to grow. This was our first trip back to Key Largo in four years and it was even more special than before. We actually saw things there this trip that we haven't seen anywhere else before...like a juvenile high hat - ever heard of that At first we thought it was a juvenile drum, but then we looked it up and learned something new!

So just keep diving...your experience level isn't as limited as you think

[clarydavis]

great video...thanks for posting... dove with them several times over the years, and enjoyed each trip. will choose them again in the future.