Since I have lived, worked, taught in both areas, here is my take from north to south.
They are all great diving areas for different reasons. Each has plenty to see.
- Jupiter: deeper, drift diving - stronger current, but bigger critters - if you are hunter, the diving here is for you. Yes it is more advanced but it sounds like you both have more than enough experience to handle anything.
There is a reason why the Blue Heron Bridge (there is a long ongoing thread here with lots of info/pics/conditions) was listed as one of the US's top ten best free (no cost - but a fill) shore dive sites. It is loaded with life - just look at the posted pics. Timing is important with the tides, but then any of the usual "Bridge Trolls" would be happy to be your guides that day.
Drift diving off the many great charter ops - is easy. Follow the guide with the ball for safety, take your SMBs when you are ready to come up - shoot your SMB during your safety stop. So much to see - turtles are my favorite, goliath groupers, and the reefs are full of critters. There are many great dive ops there and I have in previous threads recommended plenty of them.
This also included some wrecks such as the "corrididor" a drift dive thru 4 consecutive wrecks in a row. Easy enough to take AOW students.
- Boynton Beach: Delray ledge is one of my favorites. The Castor is a great wreck to dive (deep) but the currents can be challenging. Underwater Explorers in Boynton Beach (ScubaKevDM here on SB) has lots of SB fans.
- Local shore diving - contact some of the local SBers for advise on places like Dania Beach and LTBS.
- Ft. Lauderdale - I haven't dove there as much, but Tennaco Towers was a blast. Good dive ops there including Sea Xperience.
- Miami - someone else can give you more advice here - but the is where the beaches (& Ft. Laud) are if you want to play in the sand, also night life, singles, shopping.
- Key Largo (upper Keys) where I currently live - true no real beaches, these islands are surrounded by mangrove, but the reefs are "Reefs to dive for" - Famous and lots of life - most 30ft deep or less, tons of life. Deep wrecks: Speigel Grove & Duane most popular, in 130 ft of sand but the decks are at 100ft with all the diving above that. A few threads here to read on the variable currents, but you go up and down mooring balls. You have enough experience and training for these or hire a guide for those dives.
- Middle Keys - some diving and tons of fishing charters and its a pretty drive down on Overseas Hwy from Key Largo to Key West (about 2 hours)
- Key West/Lower Keys - some reef diving including the Vandeberg (also sits in 130 ft but most of the dive and alot of structure to see at 90 ft and above/again variable currents), lots of night life, touristy/artsy shopping, historical tours: (Hemingway, Truman White House, Forts, Me Fischer Atocha, etc.), and of course the sunset at Mallory Square.
And don't forget we have great Springs in the North & Central areas of FL - open water springs, caverns, and caves. Again, lots of local SBers can give you specific info, including great guides.
February - the height (or should I say low temp) of our winter season, expect colder waters hi 60's and even colder air - thick wetsuit recommended (the locals may be in dry suits). Also unpredicatable winter storms from the north that can blow out diving for several days at a time. But you can also get spectacular clear viz and critters that aren't usually in the area - like the rare Blanket Octopus on Molasses Reef in early March (another Scubaboard thread)
If you post your plans on SB for SoFl (WPB, Ft. Laud, Blue Heron Bridge), I'm sure there will be a few SBers who will come out to dive with you or have a
or
with you at one of their favorite pubs/eateries.
If you come to the Key Largo, feel free to contact me with questions (whether you dive with more or another dive op - I have friends at many) and to drop by to say hi :wavey:
in' at us). HOWEVER - I also really wished I had more time in West Palm... the reefs blew me away - they were gorgeous. Not to mention the turtles! Plus the Blue Heron Bridge is there, an experience I have to save for another time. So I would agree that West Palm is definitely a good option! It's definitely going to be the focus of my next trip to S Fl.
