Florida Keys Diving

[TRACI]

So how is diving in the Florida Keys? I live in Texas, and have only been diving in Cozumel, but I am open to other dive locations.

I would like to try to find another dive spot that is in the same budget as Cozumel, I keep going back because it is so cheap to vacation there

[comet24]

I like diving the Keys and have gone every winter for the last 4 years. Will be there again in a few weeks. But then I have family on the SW coast so I visit them for a few days and then drive over and hit the keys for some diving. Normally I dive in Key Largo which is easy to get to and has some great diving. I have spent a week in Key West when I was younger and ended up doing more partying then diving.

If your looking for some wreck diving Key Largo is good. Everyone dives the Spiegel Grove. Which you should do but also get a dive in on the Daune which I think is a better wreck.

[Kokomo]

Florida Keys are great! It's Caribbean diving at home. The reefs aren't in quite as good of shape as some of the islands but for being in our country...you can't beat it. We've been to Key Largo twice. We'll be in Key West in a couple weeks and then back to Key Largo in July. Good wrecks...lots of fish...we even saw a hammerhead in Key largo.

[BuzzGA]

The diving in the Keys is great. I grew up diving the area and hit the water there over Christmas for the first time in about 10 years and while the reefs were a little more beat up than I remember, over all they were in pretty good shape. One of the nice things is you can dive pretty shallow if you aren't looking to hit wrecks. We did some reefs when we were there and had to dig a hole to get to 40'...so bottom time really is not something you have to worry about. Lots of dive operators on nearly every corner who can set you up with what ever you want...reef, wreck, both. Have fun!

[ReefHound]

Well, the bottom time limitation is most charters want you back on the boat after 60 minutes which sucks. When I shore dive off Pensacola or Navarre I can sometimes get over two hours on a tank.

[rox@ucf11]

sorry to hijack the post but whats to see shore diving off of pensacola (is this the jetties or something?)

[jeepbrew]

Key Largo & Islamorada are the best of the Keys to dive from in my opinion. Key Largo is #1 (Grove, Duane, & Bibb) and the Eagle (Islamorada) is a great wreck dive.

[jeepbrew]

Originally Posted by rox@ucf11

sorry to hijack the post but whats to see shore diving off of pensacola (is this the jetties or something?)

Someone else can chime in for this one, but the USS Massachusetts is also about a mile off the coast. It is a cool wreck in about 25 ft of water (ship actually sticks out of the water). Any kind of boat should be able to get you there. I dove it off of one of my waverunners.

[Diver Kat]

We've done several trips to the Keys, usually staying at a time share in Marathon or booking a dive package in Key Largo - love the wrecks as well as the shallow reefs. Did the Spiegel Grove last trip, and it was really amazing!

I think we get away with our vacations to Coz being a bit cheaper - just because the diving & the food is so inexpensive there, but the Keys are great as well, and it's nice to check out different dive spots.

[rox@ucf11]

Originally Posted by jeepbrew

Someone else can chime in for this one, but the USS Massachusetts is also about a mile off the coast. It is a cool wreck in about 25 ft of water (ship actually sticks out of the water). Any kind of boat should be able to get you there. I dove it off of one of my waverunners.

now this sounds pretty awesome i also have a pair of wave runners I may have to travel over there at some point