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The Coasties. The USCG does an incredible job making the dive ops aware of what is and is not acceptable. We benefit from all that scrutiny. Mind you, I've dove all these areas, but not on every dive op in all these areas. My feeling is that safety is a huge priority here in the States compared to all others. If I were to rate them for safety:NetDoc, could you elaborate on the safety concerns with Caymans and Cozumel, and why key largo is safer?
Thanks
Thanks for all the input. Good info all around. Still haven't made up my mind. Looking into Catalina now as well, if anyone here has any ideas about diving there. Thanks again.
I would recommend a 5 day live aboard with Truth Aquatics out of Santa Barbara, CA. I have done this trip in August (last year) and in early October. Diving is unlike anything you have probably done, so that's a good thing. Water temps will be temperate and not tropical though. High 60's to low 70's most likely. So, a 5mm-7mm wetsuit-- so take that into consideration. I have dove everywhere you have and you should do the Channel Islands (southern) preferably at some point in time.
The Coasties. The USCG does an incredible job making the dive ops aware of what is and is not acceptable. We benefit from all that scrutiny. Mind you, I've dove all these areas, but not on every dive op in all these areas. My feeling is that safety is a huge priority here in the States compared to all others. If I were to rate them for safety:
I'm not saying that any of these areas are NOT safe. I'm just rating them as I see them.
- Key Largo
- Curacao
- Bonaire
- The Caymans
- Cozumel
Hello. I have a week in August to go diving, and am considering Key Largo for the sake of simplicity.
I have been to Bonaire, Curacao, The Cayman Islands, and Cozumel all multiple times.
I was wondering if spending a week in Key Largo would be quite similar but pale somewhat in comparison.
I like colourful and varied corals and interesting reef structures, and larger species and schools of fish and other water creatures.
I am not so much into macro or wrecks.
Appreciate any comments, suggestions, or insight.
Thanks!
Diving the Keys is hit and miss. I suggest you instead do Cozumel you want low hassle diving. If you do not mind (a lot of) driving (and really rude drivers), cancelled dives (because they got a better deal with a different group and get booted) too late to re-book (routine), highly variable conditions and burned out staff that are often rude and inflexible. Imagine the Seinfeld Soup Nazi if he was in charge of a dive boat! Too many rules, hold your fins this way, walk that way, fins on, fins not on, sit down, stand up, shut up and being stuck with a load of snorkelers. Oh and a well known instructor who let her students sit on my camera and resulting in about $600 dollars of damage after they had removed it from the DESIGNATED camera table to the bench so they could put their wet dive equipment on the table
I also experienced what Nemrod did. I didn't mention it in my earlier post cause I thought it was just my experience. I guess it might be just a little more widespread.
I got lots of "attitude" all the way from MIA airport to KL and back. I got attitude from the girl at the dive shop's front desk, divers were giving each other attitude on the dive boat, waitresses were yelling at each other in front of customers. The first mate on our dive boat mumbled for everyone to hear..."Here I go again begging for money for a living..." all inclusive of eyeroll and utter disgust, before "officially" asking the patrons to "Please Tip" with a fake smile from ear to ear. The atmosphere everywhere was full of resentment. I got the feeling that many workers in KL didn't want to be there because they felt their job and servicing their clientele was beneath them. Kind of sh*tty when you're on vacation to have to deal with that kind of stuff.
This was not in every establishment, but in enough places that it was simply unpleasant.