Key West Fla Dive shop recommendation.

[DonH57]

We are visiting Key West around the 1st week of January and I'm considering doing a couple of reef dives considering water temps. Anyone familiar with their local dive shops that they would recommend? Thanks.

 

[CT Sean]

Lots of recommendations in the Florida Conch Divers forum. I personally have used and recommend Subtropic and Bonsai Diving. Different dive experiences but both good

 

[Deac in the Wake]

A group from our LDS just went out this past Monday with Southpoint Divers at the Hyatt. We were in town for a two-tank on the Vandenberg and I was impressed with their operation. They take their diving seriously but they're a fun group.

 

[Beowulf]

Was out with Subtropic Labor Day weekend. I'll never use them again. After failing CG inspection we had to wait for the re-inspection to go out. First dive out the ladder falls off the boat. Next day waiting for afternoon trip to return to go out for a night dive the boat ran out of gas. They finally returned but cancelled night dive. As soon as afternoon divers were off the boat they loaded up with beer and and pulled out of port. Did they really run out of gas or did they just want to go out drinking rather than the night dive. One of the DMs said they didn't run out of gas, he checked fuel himself before they left. BTW, they never checked c-cards and really didn't even seem to care if we filled out waivers. Also, our whole group brought tanks and asked that they be filled for the night dive. They didn't fill any of the air tanks only the Nitrox claiming they didn't know what we wanted in the air tanks. We called the trip short and went up to Largo to dive.

 

[HiQPen]

I had a great experience with Bonsai this past June and highly recommend them. A much more personalized adventure then you get on a cattle boat.

 

[dashthrash]

I know the guys at South Point..Like Deac said always professional and a good group of folks

 

[Chugwhump]

http://www.captainscorner.com/
I like Captains Corner.

Chug
Got my ice cream.

 

[NCBusguy]

I went out with SubTropic last January and they were very good. Just remember that diving the Keys in January is a challange. Out of four scheduled trips, I only got to go out once, the weather sabotaged the other trips.

 

[jeffloughridge]

I loved Subtropic, and have used them with great success...until this year. I was in Key West for a week in January, April, and July. I scheduled several trips with Subtropic each time, and never went out with them once. Every trip was cancelled due to no other divers.

As I explored other shops, I saw they had full boats; that made me wonder. When I went by the Subtropic shop, it looked like it had been visited by locusts; empty walls, display cases, and floors. I asked if they were going out of business and was told they were no longer doing retail.

By asking around, I was told the owner, Robin Lockwood had turned the day to day operation of the shop over to his son. Several sources were not encouraging in their assessment.

I don't know what happened to the shop, but I know they have gone from the first call I make when I know I am going to KW, to not even being in my phone book anymore.

My avatar was taken on the Starfish Enterprise a few years ago.

Very sad.

 

[Flightlead]

I second that. I can give a litany of issues with those guys. HORRIBLE! But I'm working and.....whooops no time.