New Diver Needs Help on Florida Vacation Spot

[brandond2005]

Hello everyone.

I'm from Kansas City and plan on taking a trip to Florida towards the end of May, but having a hard time deciding where to go. I'll be completing my class work and pool training here in KC and finish my certification in Florida, because I really don't want to do my open water certification dives in a muddy lake.

So far I have six Florida cities as options:
1. Destin
2. Panama City
3. Key West
4. Islamorda
5. Key Largo
6. Marathon

I have never been to any of these places so it's hard to determine which would make the best diving spot, I'm going to guess Key West would be ideal for diving.

I do have a few restrictions though:

1. I'd like to find a place that offers a lot of locations for a beginner diver. (What is a good max depth limit for a novice diver?)
2. All of the hotels we are looking at are on the beach, but I was wondering as far as snorkeling just off the beach if any of those cities would outshine another. I'm not sure how shallow or deep the water is or how much marine life there would be right off the beach in those three locations.
3. Can only stay in one city

Anyway if you guys could help provide me with some feedback that would be great. I've been searching around online, but you know how it is they each claim to be the best. haha.

Thanks in advance,
Brandon

[cudachaser]

I'd opt for either Key Largo or Lauderdale by the Sea (LBS).

Key Largo has many dive operations, my favorite is Ocean Divers. They will also help you with lodging and the reef dives are shallow.

At LBS you can beach dive and for boat dives I would suggest Parrot Island

[brandond2005]

Great. Well I just found out there are some places available in Islamorda, Key Largo, and Marathon as well.

I only mention those cities, because a friend of mine is in a time share organization and I can get discounted hotel costs so I would be able to extend the vacation.

[scubarobin]

Key Largo is excellent newbie diver location.
Lots and lots of dive ops to choose from, too.
Silent World
Ocean Divers
Sea Dwellers
Horizon Divers
HMS Minnow
Rainbow Reef
Amoray
Quiescence

[FishFood]

Scratch Destin and Panama City off your list.

The mid to eastern keys would be my choice.

[DMWiz]

Really you could dive all of the places you mention in the Keys and not limit yourself to just one of those! Personally, I would skip Key West if you just want to dive there otherwise, it is a place you want to visit if you get the chance.

As far as snorkeling "from shore" you would be better off in Ft. Lauderdale or Hollywood/Dania than in the Keys. You could stay in Ft. Lauderdale and dive from Key Largo to Islamorada and be back in the evening/night then dive Ft. Lauderdale the following day.

All of the sites down here (from West Palm to the Keys) offer a variety of dive sites perfect for beginner divers all the way to experienced divers. My personal choice if I had to pick just one would be Key Largo.

Feel free to PM me if you want/need more specific information.

Hope this helps you.

[mm2002]

Yep, lots of good diving from west palm to key largo. For some really fun (easy and safe) beach diving you should check out blue heron bridge. Perfect beginner spot in my opinion, and tons of wildlife to check out. I haven't been farther south yet, but I have lots of plans for spring and summer.

[Straegen]

After doing a crap ton of reading, it boils down to two places for me: Key Largo or Ft Lauderdale area. If you want to save some money, the Ft Lauderdale area is probably your best bet as you can stay a few miles from the beach and get a great rate.

[CPTOZZY]

My first post-certification dive trip was to Key Largo, and I dove with Sea Dwellers. I did a 3 day, six dive package with Hotel included. My Experience with them was not great. I stayed at the Holiday inn which was right next to the dock - Very convenient. The hotel was OK, but a bit overpriced in my opinion.
As for the diving: There was no guide on the dives, just general insrutctions about the reefs that were in the area and creatures we might see. The DM on the Boat insisted that at 2000 psi at least one person from each buddy pair surface, locate the dive boat, and then go back down again to finish the dive. 45 minutes Max dive time. When we surfaced and before we had climbed the ladder, they would separate the first stage from the tank, and pull the tank off your back - but they left the first stage open!

Of the Six dives (3 Days) we only dove 2 different reefs, Days 1 & 3 were the same reef, and compared to Roatan Honduras (where I had certified) the reefs were sparse.

6 months later I gave the Keys another try, but this time I went a bit further south to Islamorada, and dove with an outfit called Key Dives. The Diving was Absolutely outstanding, the reefs were plentiful, and the Dive operators of Keys Dives really cater to your comfort level. I have made several subsequent trips to the keys and each time I have dove with this outfit.
I usually stay at the Holiday Isle Resort. It's "OK" but Cheap. - It's clean and has TV and is cheap. Since my wife doesn't dive I usually will drive down when I get a 3 or 4 day weekend and stay there by myself. If My wife were joining me I would probably look for a bit nicer place

Hope this info Helps

[Diver Kat]

We do a time share in Marathon each year and the diving is great there. And it's a good central point (MM50) so if you want to pop up to Key Largo, or down to Big Pine Key, it's not too bad a drive to check out other dive sites. (We did some great shallow dives at Looe Key Reef out of Big Pine Key.)

In Key Largo we use Blue Water Divers - great boat, nice guys and great diving. We've also used Ocean divers, and they run a nice op as well. In Marathon we use Captain Hook's as they do discounted packages for multi-dive days - the saving can really add up. They also put a DM in the water every dive, no charge. You can hang with him, or do your own thing.

We'll be back there again in late June ... can't wait!