Urgent.. Liveaboard cancelled — How’s diving in Miami?

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We've had perfect weather for diving during the Fall in Florida and really bad weather too. I remember a 2 week vacation when we dragged all that gear with us and didn't get to dive at all. The air temp was nice and sunny but there had been recent storms and it stayed really windy and rough and nobody was diving.

What was most frustrating was that everyone keep saying "We're going out tomorrow!" And tomorrow would come and they would say "Not today, but it's looking better and we'll be going out tomorrow!" We drove all over southern Florida and the Keys for 2 weeks, chasing around for a diving opportunity that never materialized. So I still say "cut your losses and leave for a place with a good upcoming forecast" because Florida and the Bahamas will still be there for another time. Do what you need to do now to salvage your hard-earned vacation!

But if you prefer to stay in Florida, then make some contingency plans for alternate vacation activities besides diving, because it may or may not happen. But whatever happens I really hope that you have a great trip!
 
Liveaboard to the Bahamas — Not exactly cancelled but I’m not going on a 3 days of diving when I booked for 7 days trip.

I’m thinking about either cancelling my flight to Miami or flying there as planned and get some diving done there. Is diving like in California where you have to book through a charter and bring all your gear every day along with a tank? I didn’t enjoy that at all in California and would avoid it if I can.

Any suggestions? Open to any recommendations for shops and what I can do. I have the whole week to dive.
You haven't mentioned dates. If the liveaboard was canceled due to Weather, I assume that the trip is in the next few days. If so then you might be looking at rough seas all up and down the coast of South Florida.
Check out:
Windfinder.com - Wind and weather forecast Boynton Beach

It looks like 8-9 foot seas through Sunday in Boynton Beach

Also:
Windfinder.com - Wind and weather forecast Key Largo/Tarpon Basin

It looks like 4-6 foot seas through Sunday in Key Largo

With those odds, you really might want to consider taking @KathyV 's advice and looking for something in the Caribbean, alternative activities or postponing all-together.
 
I saw Blue Heron Bridge mentioned as a dive option; I got to do that once, and glad of it, it is indeed a cool, distinctive dive. Being shallow, it can be a long one! But the dependence on diving around high tide means you're probably looking at one dive there on a given day, and unless things have changed you (or someone with you, if you're with a buddy or group) is supposed to tow a dive float (the only time I've done that).

So be aware.

Richard.
 
We've had perfect weather for diving during the Fall in Florida and really bad weather too. I remember a 2 week vacation when we dragged all that gear with us and didn't get to dive at all. The air temp was nice and sunny but there had been recent storms and it stayed really windy and rough and nobody was diving.

What was most frustrating was that everyone keep saying "We're going out tomorrow!" And tomorrow would come and they would say "Not today, but it's looking better and we'll be going out tomorrow!" We drove all over southern Florida and the Keys for 2 weeks, chasing around for a diving opportunity that never materialized. So I still say "cut your losses and leave for a place with a good upcoming forecast" because Florida and the Bahamas will still be there for another time. Do what you need to do now to salvage your hard-earned vacation!

But if you prefer to stay in Florida, then make some contingency plans for alternate vacation activities besides diving, because it may or may not happen. But whatever happens I really hope that you have a great trip!

Weather here isn’t great.. I called the dive centers around and all of them said no diving this weekend!!
 
You haven't mentioned dates. If the liveaboard was canceled due to Weather, I assume that the trip is in the next few days. If so then you might be looking at rough seas all up and down the coast of South Florida.
Check out:
Windfinder.com - Wind and weather forecast Boynton Beach

It looks like 8-9 foot seas through Sunday in Boynton Beach

Also:
Windfinder.com - Wind and weather forecast Key Largo/Tarpon Basin

It looks like 4-6 foot seas through Sunday in Key Largo

With those odds, you really might want to consider taking @KathyV 's advice and looking for something in the Caribbean, alternative activities or postponing all-together.

I just arrived in Florida. Wanted to at least spend my time elsewhere then in Arizona. It seems like no diving this weekend here!:(
 
I suspect I know which charter this is.... its a great operation. I always get DAN trip insurance though.... you never know what can happen, including having a delayed plane flight that might cause you to miss the boat.

Anyway: if I were in your shoes and the forecast for the Keys looked OK, that's where I'd head. Almost all Keys operators will rent you all the gear and tanks but you'll have to pay separately for those. Key Largo is a short drive from MIA as long as you're not in rush hour traffic.

If further up the SE coast has better marine conditions, I'd head there. Note that most of the operators in the Jupiter and WPB can rent everything as well, but not all, so its always good to check ahead of time. As an example, Jupiter Dive Center can rent you anything you need: I've even rented pony bottles from them when I'm traveling back into town.

If the marine forecast is looking bad for the Keys and Jupiter/WPB, I'd fully cancel. About the only place you can dive in SE Florida when the marine conditions kick up is Blue Heron Bridge, which is a great dive, but not one I'd travel across the country to make.

I learned my lesson the hard way. I have all my gears except the tank and weights. I called some dive centers around and all of them said no diving this weekend!!
 
We've had perfect weather for diving during the Fall in Florida and really bad weather too. I remember a 2 week vacation when we dragged all that gear with us and didn't get to dive at all. The air temp was nice and sunny but there had been recent storms and it stayed really windy and rough and nobody was diving.

What was most frustrating was that everyone keep saying "We're going out tomorrow!" And tomorrow would come and they would say "Not today, but it's looking better and we'll be going out tomorrow!" We drove all over southern Florida and the Keys for 2 weeks, chasing around for a diving opportunity that never materialized. So I still say "cut your losses and leave for a place with a good upcoming forecast" because Florida and the Bahamas will still be there for another time. Do what you need to do now to salvage your hard-earned vacation!

But if you prefer to stay in Florida, then make some contingency plans for alternate vacation activities besides diving, because it may or may not happen. But whatever happens I really hope that you have a great trip!

Do you think I can still do some shore divings? I just got new gears and new camera so I just want to test them out in the water!!
 
I agree that South FL (but not Miami) and the Keys are the best FL diving in my experience, but I haven't been there in awhile. But you should also consider that MIA airport is a gateway to many destinations in the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America - so you could easily fly to another dive destination since your plans have changed.

Years ago we had reservations for a Florida dive vacation but the area was hit hard by a hurricane shortly before we were scheduled to travel and there was extensive damage to the region. Our original dive vacation plans were canceled but we were still able to use our already reserved flights to Florida and catch a connecting flight to a Caribbean destination that had not been hit by the storms - and we were glad that we were able to make the change. It costs a little more than we had originally planned, but we had a wonderful vacation and that's the most important thing.

You might enjoy the valet diving provided by some Cayman dive resorts, and you won't have to schlep your gear all week! I know that the Clearly Cayman valet dive resorts are offering some fall specials, see the link below. They are all-inclusive, so it is like a livaboard on land, only more comfortable.

Are you traveling alone? There might be a single supplement fee. You can add-on afternoon dives and/or a drinks package if you wish.

Also take a look at Sunset House on Grand Cayman.

Good luck!

https://www.clearlycayman.com/fall/

Is it too late now to book something for Cayman Islands to go tomorrow??
 
Is it too late now to book something for Cayman Islands to go tomorrow??


It is already 10:48 pm in Cayman. You can try to call tomorrow, hotel to make arrangements for a place to stay in Cayman or elsewhere in the Caribbean.
 
Do you think I can still do some shore divings? I just got new gears and new camera so I just want to test them out in the water!!

Maybe, some of the folks that dive Florida more regularly may be able to advise you.
 
https://xf2.scubaboard.com/community/forums/cave-diving.45/

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