Naples/Marco Island

[georoc01]

FYI, I am headed to Naples for Thanksgiving week.

I have contacted a dive shop called Scuba Marco. They are planning on running boats all week. Sounds like the boat is a six pack. If anyone is interested in joining me, please contact them at

SCUBA Marco - sales, service dive shop on Marco Island, Florida

[amphibian7]

We are looking at Marco Island area in Florida over Christmas break, Did you dive when you were there over Thanksgiving? any hot spots that I should be sure to dive? How was the Dive shop you used? Thx.

[DMWiz]

I'm a little bias here, but if you're able I'd suggest you cross over Alligator Alley eastbound and dive this side of the state.

Or not =)

Welcome to the board!

Wiz

[amphibian7]

Any specific places / sites? We are planning at the last minute, so the keys are booked. So give me some area that are good diving and I will see what is available. Thx!

[Splitlip]

Scuba Diving Magazine - Palm Beach, Fla.

[DMWiz]

Any op from Dania to Jupiter would most likely have openings. All of the WWW are no longer diving this time of the year.

Wiz

[georoc01]

The only downside if you are staying in Naples is if you get blown out, which is what happened to me last year. Nothing like getting up to be on the road by 5:00 am only to show up at the dive op and find out that the boat isn't going out and having to turn around and drive 2 1/2 hours back home.

I agree the diving on the space coast is better, but sometimes you have to decide if the tradeoffs are worth it.

But the water was definitely not for WWW. It was 65 over Thanksgiving, and I haven't seen what it will be in a couple of weeks, but I doubt its warmed up since then.

[Splitlip]

Originally Posted by georoc01

The only downside if you are staying in Naples is if you get blown out, which is what happened to me last year. Nothing like getting up to be on the road by 5:00 am only to show up at the dive op and find out that the boat isn't going out and having to turn around and drive 2 1/2 hours back home.

I agree the diving on the space coast is better, but sometimes you have to decide if the tradeoffs are worth it.

But the water was definitely not for WWW. It was 65 over Thanksgiving, and I haven't seen what it will be in a couple of weeks, but I doubt its warmed up since then.

These can help in planning:

http://weather.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/fmtb.../am/amz650.txt

Jupiter Inlet District

Dive Reports:: Jupiter Dive Center, Scuba diving lessons at a PADI 5 Star facility, daily scuba diving trips in Jupiter, Florida

Today's Scuba Diving Conditions in West Palm Beach

Lake Worth Inlet

[DMWiz]

Originally Posted by georoc01

The only downside if you are staying in Naples is if you get blown out, which is what happened to me last year. Nothing like getting up to be on the road by 5:00 am only to show up at the dive op and find out that the boat isn't going out and having to turn around and drive 2 1/2 hours back home.

You absolutely have a point, look at this:

SATURDAY
NORTH WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS BECOMING NORTHEAST 10 TO
15 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET NEAR SHORE AND UP TO 8 TO 10 FEET IN THE
GULF STREAM. INTRACOASTAL WATERS CHOPPY IN EXPOSED AREAS. SLIGHT
CHANCE OF SHOWERS.

SATURDAY NIGHT
NORTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS BECOMING 15 TO
20 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET NEAR SHORE AND UP TO 7 TO 9 FEET IN THE
GULF STREAM. INTRACOASTAL WATERS CHOPPY IN EXPOSED AREAS. SLIGHT
CHANCE OF SHOWERS.

SUNDAY
EAST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. SEAS 6 TO 8 FEET. INTRACOASTAL
WATERS CHOPPY IN EXPOSED AREAS. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS.

SUNDAY NIGHT
EAST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. SEAS 4 TO 6 FEET.
INTRACOASTAL WATERS CHOPPY IN EXPOSED AREAS. SLIGHT CHANCE OF
SHOWERS.

Wiz