Key West Dive Operator Recommendations?

[billymac60]

I'm headed to the Keys with my 15 year old son who received his OW a couple of months ago and just finished his AOW. We ar going to spend most of our time up in Key Largo with Horizon Divers, but we're also going to spend a couple of days in Key West.

Any recommendations or advice? All the shops that I dove with in past years are long gone....

Thanks

Billy

 

[mike_s]

I dove with Sub Tropic about 4 years ago and was pleased with them.

 

[TEArrington]

I just asked a dive shop owner for a recommendation and he suggested Dive Key West was good.

 

[ScubaSam]

I dove with Southpoint Divers in Key West last month and would recommend them, very professional, knowledgeable and accommodating.

Southpointdivers Key West Scuba Diving

 

[mike_s]

I just asked a dive shop owner for a recommendation and he suggested Dive Key West was good.

I personally would stay away from any operators that are "price gouging" for trips to the vandenberg. Dive Key West I falls into this category.

they charge an extra $20 to $30 bucks to dive the Vandenberg, a site that is about the same distance from port as the other sites.

this extra charge goes directly in their pocket, not to offset the cost of sinking the ship, which was paid for with taxpayer money. they appear to be just trying to profit and charge more for a new site that is not further of a ride.

 

[SandyRobinson]

Last year, I had set up a dive trip with Subtropic. On the day of the trip, it was canceled; however, the shop employee/owner(?) went out of his way to get me on a boat with Captains Corner. I would recommend either based on my limited experience.

 

[dwatts]

I dove with Southpoint Divers in Key West last month and would recommend them, very professional, knowledgeable and accommodating.

Southpointdivers Key West Scuba Diving

Sam,

First things first.....
When you dove in Key West, did you dive any of the shallow reefs? If so, how were they? Have you dove off Key Largo? Specifically, Mollassus Reef?

I'm considering taking my wife to Key West later this summer. She is a shallow reef diver and LOVED Mollassus Reef. I just don't know how the reefs in Key West compare to the upper keys.

 

[mike_s]

in my humble opinion, the reefs in Key West "suck" compared to the rest of the keys. I think that you'll find a majority of folks here will agree with that assessment. (even if they word it diferently).

If you want to take your wife to see reefs, pick about any other spot in the Keys besides Key West.

Right now the big reason to go dive Key West is to dive the recently sunk Vandenberg.
other than that and a few other wrecks, the better diving in the keys is in places other than Key West.

just my opinion. -Mike

 

[ScubaSam]

Sam,

First things first.....
When you dove in Key West, did you dive any of the shallow reefs? If so, how were they? Have you dove off Key Largo? Specifically, Mollassus Reef?

I'm considering taking my wife to Key West later this summer. She is a shallow reef diver and LOVED Mollassus Reef. I just don't know how the reefs in Key West compare to the upper keys.

Hi, Doug. Thanks for the flowers.

I did do some shallow reefs when I was I Key West and agree with Mike's assessment. The Vandenberg is the main reason to dive Key West.

I was in Key Largo in Dec and am headed there tomorrow for ITK. Molasses Reef, City of Washington and any of the reef dives in Key Largo are far better than the reef dives in Key West.

 

[dwatts]

Thanks Mike and Sam. I had always heard that Key West diving wasn't anywhere close to the middle and upper keys...you both just confirmed that. I think we'll dive the upper keys (for her) and spend some "other" time in Key West.