What to spend a week in FL?

[ChrisA]

I see some questions here about "what's the best dive operation in XX location?" but I have a wider, more open question

If I were to fly out to Florida from So California and wanted to spend a week diving there where is the best place in terms of "bang per buck". The deal is that my wiife and kids will all be in summer school but I have some time off. They don't dive so I have some time to kill. My diving style here is that I simply show up at a beach near my house and most of the time find others divers I know and dive with them. In FL I doubt I'd bump into anyone I know and I think most of the diving involves boats. I've not seen anything in Florida so I go it will all be new to me. Wrecks and reefs are both good

So I'm open to suggestions. I'm flying out of LAX. Which FL airport do I go to and then what to do after the plan lands? Again "bang per buck" is the criteria

My experiance level? I'm comfortable diving anying within the rec limits, low vis, night, whatever, got about a half dozen c-cards (no tech or profesional yet). I dive once or twice a week year round maybe 350 total dives.

[spatman]

we went to the keys last year, and there are more than enough dive spots to keep you busy for way more than a week. a lot of people also recommend the crystal springs area for the manatees, but i don't honestly know if that's seasonal...

[CompuDude]

Mantatees are seasonal; I have a friend who went just recently and gave a report to our dive club. Can't recall the season, but I seem to recall it was relatively cold.

If I was heading to Florida, I'd certainly want to check out the Spiegel Grove and perhaps the Oriskany, but I don't know the geography well enough to know if those two things usually happen on the same trip. Florida is a fairly long state...

Your trip sounds fun. I've considered doing something like this, too... see how much diving I can get in on a shoestring vacation.

[Murloc]

Florida is a long state, 500 miles to drive from Jacksonville to Key West...the good thing though is that almost everywhere you go on both coasts there are good dives to be found

major airports are gonna be Orlando, Tampa, Miami with others like Jax and such also receiving direct flights....hotels run about the same wherever you go but the high tourists spots such as Orlando do run higher...look for deals though as the more hotels in an area mean higher vacancy and some will lower their rates to fill a bed

one thought to consider is although FL is long, it has two coasts which are not too far apart...Ft Lauderdale to Naples is less then a 2 hour drive for example....so it's possible to stay on one coast for the dives there in one day and drive to another coast for diving and back to original point in another day

there are way too many good dive charters all over the state to actually pick "the best" and the same holds true as to the actual locations....Keys are good, Venice, Lauderdale and for fresh you have Gennie Springs, Crystal River, etc.....but Key Largo is probably a good place to start looking as it's almost exactly between Lauderdale and Key West and you couldn't dive all the spots around there in a week if you tried

I regret everyday I take a breath that I moved from FL

[scubasamurai]

biggest bang, fly into fort lauderdale through spirit airlines. do your diving in the key largo area. your hitting peak season so prices and crowds will be high. my advice do a dive card. buy like 6 to 10 dives through ocean divers and it cost 60-65 a for a two tank trip, as their regular prices are about 85 a two tank dive. stay away from the west coast tampa down to myers , nothing really to see and to get deep it takes at least an hour. if your into something fun, go to venice and try the shark tooth dive and you get some great teeth to take home

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by scubasamurai

biggest bang, fly into fort lauderdale through spirit airlines. do your diving in the key largo area. your hitting peak season so prices and crowds will be high. my advice do a dive card. buy like 6 to 10 dives through ocean divers and it cost 60-65 a for a two tank trip, as their regular prices are about 85 a two tank dive. stay away from the west coast tampa down to myers , nothing really to see and to get deep it takes at least an hour. if your into something fun, go to venice and try the shark tooth dive and you get some great teeth to take home

Two tanks? Seriously?

Is that a morning dive? Can you add an afternoon dive(s)?

If I can't get 3-4 dives per day in, I'm staying home.

[Splitlip]

Palm Beach (Boynton to Jupiter) a 2 tank trip will run about $60. A 3 tank trip atJupiter Dive Center is $85.00 with lunch.
Jupiter Dive Center, Scuba diving lessons at a PADI 5 Star facility, daily scuba diving trips in Jupiter, Florida.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by Splitlip

Palm Beach (Boynton to Jupiter) a 2 tank trip will run about $60. A 3 tank trip atJupiter Dive Center is $85.00 with lunch.
Jupiter Dive Center, Scuba diving lessons at a PADI 5 Star facility, daily scuba diving trips in Jupiter, Florida.

a) how's the diving?

b) how about 4 tanks?

[fireflock]

You can do 4 tanks a day in the Keys, as long as there are enough divers to keep the boats running.

[Splitlip]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

a) how's the diving?

b) how about 4 tanks?

Compudude, Jupiter Hole in the Wall is up your alley. I say that because I know from your posts you have quite a portfolio and you would enjoy this dive and it would be within your comfort level.
The dive is "advanced" and some would consider it technical. I have not done it since I was in my 20's. I will try and post some links. Lots of sharks and big fish.
If you go over to SB, Scubadiving.com or Spearboard in the East Cost florida section, you will find regulars that do it. If you go on those sites search, JDC, Jupiter, Hole in the wall or jupiter dive center.
Or call Gerry at Jupiter Dive Center. He is the owner and a super guy. He is a Jupiter diver and also GUE cerified. Sometimes the rules are a little different in this neck of the woods. The dive will not be DIR unless you bring a buddy or happen to hook up with one. I can fill you in on some of the local protocals if you ever plan on coming this way.

I truely think after 3 dives you'll be ready for the hot tub.

Old link I have, but I will find more
DEEP DIVE

(Frank Hammet was my open water instructor)