To the Keys!

[megzuwo]

Hey everyone,
So I hit up Key West...much more often than a Wisconsin-ite should (gotta love dating someone that lives in such a beautiful place!)...but have never dived there!

I'm getting leave from my deployment at the end of November and am planning on swinging through the Keys prior to heading home to Wisco for a week.

Does anyone have any info on Key West diving? Trying to get my ol' pops into diving and if he's up for it I'll force him into the water with me!

And option 2: if anyone lives in that region and are up for a few dives, and if i'm not in too rough of shape from the night life, I'd be interested in that too!

[Rileybri]

If you can find a dive op that will take you out there I would highly recomend getting out to Dry Tortugas NP!!!! Just stunning out there although it can be a bumpy ride getting there!

[JCAT]

Check my photos by clicking on the camera icon. Most of them are from Sombrero Reef off of Marathon. A short drive up US 1, just past 7 mile bridge. I would also check out dive ops on Looe Key. Marine Park, no fishing, so lots to see and take pictures of.

Eyes up and be safe coming home.

[Diver Kat]

We did the Keys this summer for 2 weeks and if you don't want to drive too far, Looe Key Marine Park is really nice. If you want to drive further, about 50 mile up from Key West and you're in Marathon - nice reefs and the Thunderbolt is a cool wreck ....

[JCAT]

I dove the Thunderbolt earlier this month, as far as wrecks go, its fair. I prob. will not dive it again for several more years. I am interested in diving the adolphus busch though, maybe next year.

[Splitlip]

Key West is not the best that The Keys offers for diving. You want to head North (or East) the Middle and Upper Keys for the best diving. Key West is for partying.
(The Green Parrot is hot now The GREEN PARROT BAR - Key West Florida )

Unless you are up for a long and costly boat ride to the Tortugas, I would plan on driving up for diving.

Sorry I cannot help with ops. I go off private boats when I am there.

[JCAT]

Agree with Split lip 100%

Here's some really bad pictures of the Thunderbolt, in case you interested.

[megzuwo]

!!! That looks amazing! Still a very new diver so have limited experience with places I've seen, ie: I've only dove while stationed in Cuba and have only seen the few beaches we have here-over and over.

And to me, that looks like a blast to dive through, I appreciate all of the insight everyone!

[Diveaholic]

If you have time to drive to Key Largo it is worth the trip. Ocean Divers is a great place to dive with. Nice reefs and a very cool wreck to dive is the Spiegel Grove.

[Bec3231]

Hey guys I am living in Key west and volunteering at Reef Relief that works to save the reefs we all love to dive on, just wanted to share that there is a benefit for this great cause this friday september 19th for anyone that will be down here, it would be amazing if you could come!! Here is the press release for it....


PIRATE POKER NIGHT FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 19TH

KEY WEST, Florida Keys — On September 19th, the Key West "pirates" will return to their glory days and spend the evening gambling their livelihoods away! Pirate Soul Museum is hosting a Poker Night with all proceeds to benefit Reef Relief, and would like to invite Key West citizens and visitors alike to join in the festivities. "It's the only day of the year when it's legal to steal booty and give it to the needy!" said Pirate Soul founder Pat Croce, former president of the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team and a nationally acclaimed life coach and author.
Reef Relief is a global non-profit membership organization dedicated to preserve and protect living coral reef ecosystems. For more information on Reef Relief visit www.reefrelief.org or call (305)294-3100.
The charity event coincides with the 4th annual local celebration of Talk Like a Pirate Day, a national holiday established in 1995 that encourages using piratical phrases to enliven everyday life. In addition to the United States, the holiday has been celebrated in a number of countries including Australia, Japan and Great Britain.
Pirate Soul's 4th Annual Sept. 19th events are set to begin at 9 a.m. with games geared towards families and children all day long, with a $5 donation for each player. At 5 p.m. tournament sign-in will commence and cards will be dealt at 5:45p.m. $50 initial buy-ins and $20 buy-backs will enable you to enjoy the whole night of card play! Prizes will be given away all day long, including some great grand prize packages for the Poker finalists.
A special thanks goes out the following businesses for all their hard work in making this possible: Rum Barrel Restaurant and Bar, Republic National Distributing Company, Michael Politano from Mako Vodka and of course Jeff Pearson and Millard McCleary of Reef Relief.
Please come out and help a great (and local!) cause, Reef Relief needs your assistance to better educate and help preserve our coral reef ecosystems.
For information about Talk Like a Pirate Day and the Reef Relief Poker Night, call Pirate Soul at 305-292-1113 or visit www.piratesoul.com. Pirate Soul Museum opened in January 2005, and showcases over 500 authentic pirate artifacts and state-of-the-art interactive technology spotlighting the Golden Age of Piracy, from 1690 to 1730.
For lodging information in Key West, contact the Key West Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-LAST-KEY, or visit the Keys Web site at The Official Tourism Council Web Site for the Florida Keys! Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Lower Keys, Key West