Got a dive trip recommendation?

[Scared Silly]

This does not add up.

Travel day
Three days diving
Non-Fly "off gas" day
Travel day

Equals six days.

You should do the Keys since its only three diving days!

One can still get in fours days of diving if flights are planned correctly. As such, if they do a couple of morning dives (i.e out of the water by 1-3 pm) then the next day get an afternoon flight they will have 20-24 hours. Which is plenty of time. This is our SOP for much of our travel.

 

[under water]

One can still get in fours days of diving if flights are planned correctly. As such, if they do a couple of morning dives (i.e out of the water by 1-3 pm) then the next day get an afternoon flight they will have 20-24 hours. Which is plenty of time. This is our SOP for much of our travel.

Same here.
If I was just going as far as the Keys, I would probably try to get there for an afternoon dive the first day as well!

 

[DeputyDan]

One can still get in fours days of diving if flights are planned correctly. As such, if they do a couple of morning dives (i.e out of the water by 1-3 pm) then the next day get an afternoon flight they will have 20-24 hours. Which is plenty of time. This is our SOP for much of our travel.

I understand that and would do the same.

The point of my post was to make sure the OP takes into consideration the no-fly time esp. since he has a beginner and yet to be certified diver accompanying him.

 

[Speargirl]

I can help you with your place to stay if you choose to come to the Keys. I have plenty of places and they all sleep up to at least 6 peeps. So that part would be covered I also can help with the dive shops down here to get you the best rates.
Becky

 

[under water]

Hey Becky,
I thought you would never show up in this thread ..
If I could talk friends to come down with us we would stay at your place, but there are just the two of us and no vacation time .. but working on it.
I think your place will work out well for Dave and his family.

 

[Speargirl]

I'm trying to get out of the box The Conch Box I'm sure I can work something out for ya

 

[pamawi]

I just got back from the Keys and was very happy with Rainbow Reef in Key Largo. I chose them because they put a guide in the water at no extra charge, they publish a schedule, they have a shallow and deep boat (I chose shallow) and because of the convenience to my hotel (Holiday Inn). They also offer a multi-dive discount that includes dives with both the Key Largo and Islamadora shop. I didn't dive in Islamadora.

Ocean Pointe Suites is a condo in Tavenier that is convenient to Islamadora. Here's a link to a private unit that I considered renting. Florida Keys Condo Rental

The owner Bryson was very friendly and his rate was better than the Holiday Inn. You can also look at ..VRBO® is Vacation Rentals by Owner® Vacation Homes Rentals by Owner and find lots of condos. I chose the Holiday Inn since it was just the two of us and I wanted to be close to my dive boat. I could walk over to the RR stand to find out the sea conditions and decide whether I wanted to go out or not. The Holiday Inn was very nice. Great beds, pool & hot tub, restaurant and convenience to several businesses at the MM100 marina. I recommend the glass bottom boat. I took my non-diving husband and he got to see a spotted eagle ray and lots of colorful fish and coral. Other things snorkel boat, casino boat, fishing boats.

On my dives I saw 6 spotted eagle rays swimming in formation, nurse shark swimming along the reef (not just lying on the bottom), reef shark, whole green moray eel (not just a head sticking out of a hole), lots of big groupers, trumpetfish, honeycomb cowfish and lots of colorful tropical fish and healthy coral. The first day was great but the second was pretty rough waves, strong current and surge even on the shallow sites. I chose not to dive the rest of the week due to 4-5 foot seas, so it's good to have a backup plan. We went to Key West to see the performers at the Mallory Square sunset party and went on an airboat tour near the Everglades.

I recommend eating at Sundowners in Key Largo on the bay side. I had Yellowtail Snapper with mango salsa while watching a great sunset. Outstanding!

The folks at Rainbow Reef were very friendly and made me feel very welcome. They put the tanks on the boat and change out the tanks between dives and remove the bc's from the tanks after the dives (unless you want to that yourself). You can stick with the guide or do your own thing. When the first person runs low on air, the guide circles back to the boat so the people low on air can go on up, but the others can stay down as long as they want. I've heard people say that RR runs a cattle boat. I suppose it can get more crowded on a weekend, but we only had 6 on a boat that is built for about 24 on Monday and 12 on Tuesday afternoon. The Tuesday morning boat didn't make, but they arranged for us to go out with nearby Horizon Divers instead. I decided to wait until the afternoon boat and go out with RR so I'd have a guide and Suzette for a buddy. They didn't even take my money for the first dive. They said just wait to see how much I dove that week and I could pay them at the end of the week. The hotels do give coupon books with a 10% discount for Rainbow reef along with several other businesses at the MM100 marina in Key Largo. I would ask RR where they recommend staying near their Islamadora shop.

 

[Scubadancer]

If you're set on Islamorada, you should try to dive in Key Largo or Looe Key. Quiessence in Key Largo only takes 6 divers. I've been with them several times, and they were consistently good. I dove with AquaNuts many years ago and they were horrible, though maybe they've gotten better. The crew was rude and condesending, and the hotel staff at Kelly's was rude.

 

[ScubaJW]

For that short period of time, I would agree with Florida Keys. Fly to Miami, and rent a car from Miami International airport - then drive to the Keys. Fort Lauderdale is about 45 minutes north of Miami, so I suggest you to take Miami. Less riding time and faster to the Keys!

My best experience with dive op in Key Largo is Quiescence. Their website is Quiescence Diving Services , Inc., One of Key Largo's Finest Diving Operations. They take 6 dives maximum on their boat and they have 3 boats (QI, QII, and QIII). The captain, Steve, is awesome and very laidback! I will use them again and again!

Hope you have decide on where to go with a great experience with your family.

 

[nw_diver]

We also just got back from the Keys. We did our advanced open water with Rainbow Reef but I originally chose them because they offered free guides. The guides are actually interns which is how they can afford to offer them for free. The first day I would agree with the cattle boat statement. The boat was full and crowded. The next two days there was only 8 of us so that was much better. The crew was all friendly but I thought the Captain was a little crabby. DJ the owner is very cool but I don't know how much he actually goes out on the boats. I would dive with them again. We stayed at the Holiday Inn which has a decent pool area. I think the Ramada offers a better package if you book with Rainbow Reef.

It was very rough when we went out and my wife and I both got a little sea sick. We took ginger supplements the rest of the week and didn't have any problems after that. We also dove in Key West with Bonsai divers which was the complete opposite from Rainbow Reef. The captain and owner took just my wife and I out. His 12 year son was the "dive master". Everything ended up being find but I admit was a little nervous. I thought the reef was nicer in Key Largo.

Anyway, I hope this helps.