Diver Comments on Key Largo/Florida Keys Dive Operations - Comments Recieved through 1-22-04

Click on name of operation in the table below to go to their website, click on comment location number to go to the comment provided.  Use the up arrow to return to the table

1. Ocean Divers has several large boats and is a first class operation .Also sea dwellers this shop is a friendly bunch and only has one boat and from past history they tend to stay on the reefs that are not real deep. I dive with both operations and highly recommend both.

2. For the person looking for a good dive operation in Key Largo.... Try Quiescence. My favorite. 6 pack boats, great drivers and staff.

3. We dove with Horizon Divers in Key Largo for two weeks last summer.  They were excellent, can't not say or think of anything bad or even questionable.  One of the best dive trips we've taken.  They have a few staff instructors that were working with people when we were diving that looked okay, personally we did not take any classes from them. 

4. I went with a couple of friends over Thanksgiving and it was awesome as usual. I always dive with Jeff Jarwis from HMS Minnow and he is wonderful. 6 pack boat, special rates for the hotel, if you dive more than 3 times you get a discount per dive. I would not even consider diving with anybody else. ... And if you stay at the Holiday Inn you will walk to the boat since it is right there at the Holiday Inn marina. Here is his website: www.hmsminnow.com If you want to see pictures of what can you see there go to: www.pambucol.com and them click on Pictures and then click on Key Largo 11.27.2003 This is my website and I have a lot of pictures from Key Largo. Vlad PS.

5. I had the pleasure of diving in Key Largo about 2 years ago through a store named Dive Key West Inc. They were knowledgeable, friendly and safe and I would not hesitate to go with them again. Actually, I am leaving for Florida in a day or two and if time permits, I am going to try to make it back to Key West. If I do, I plan to contact this outfit again. Their address is:  3128 N. Roosevelt Blvd  Key West, FL 33040  (305) 296-3823  (800) 426-0707

6. I dove out of Amoray Dive Resort in Key Largo over Labor Day. It was AWESOME!! Great accommodations and were treated excellent!  Would highly recommend!!! There was a group of six of us. They have a "cattle boat" and they have a "six-pack (JustInTime). The six pack is the way to go. The resort is owned by a brother and sister team, Amy and Justin. They were first class!  While we were down there we dove the Speigel Grove, USCG Duane, French Reef , Molasses Reef and the Benwood Wreck. They have a website  http://www.amoray.com . This is a group that I plan to dive with again.  Happy diving and dive safe.

7. Wendy and I dove Key Largo last year with Conch Republic Diver Center. REALLY Good shop. Two days, two drift dives on reef/walls and two shallower reef dives. They helped with hotel and recommended good restaurants and bars. The killer part was the dehumidified and heated overnight storage of all the wet gear so it was warm and dry the next morning! That about aced it for me!  We also dove this past month with South Beach scuba using a shop out of Key Largo. Can't remember name but their dives were two shallow reefs within about 100 yds of each other. Not good so ask where the boat is planning to go.

8. My daughter and I dove Key Largo in Aug. We dove with Silent World. We had great dives and they tried to take you where you wanted to go. Capts. and dive master were very helpful in all aspects of the trips. The dive shop I deal with uses Kelly's on the bay. I have not used them but plan to on my next trip to Key Largo.

9. Go Ocean Divers, but its kinda like herding horses on a boat.  You might better go with this guy http://www.hmsminnow.com/  He a little six packers with plenty of room to move around.

10. I have dived in Key LARGO recently (last week Nov thru first week of December) while staffing a PADI IDC.  In fact, I will be going back to staff more IDCs at Ocean Divers next week for 11 days and again in Feb, and March.   I would recommend Horizon Divers   Horizon Divers, Key Largo, Florida Keys Diving and Snorkeling and Ocean Divers    OCEAN DIVERS-Key Largo FL as the vendors of choice.  Both are first class operators and I have had numerous interactions, over long periods of time with both, while staffing 11 day IDCs  at each facility.    If your customer is open to going down further into the Middle Keys I suggest they utilize Abyss Pro Dive Center  Abyss Dive Center - Marathon -Marathon FL .  The owners, Bill & Heidi Farrell, have for more than 13 years exceeded the expectations and needs of me and my customers.  During that time, I have gotten nothing less than rave reviews from anyone I have referred to them. 

11. We dive Key Largo 4-6 times a year with groups. We always dive with Sea Dwellers and stay at the Holiday Inn. They are across the street from each other and the boat, Sea Dweller III, is docked at the Holiday Inn which is very convenient. The gang at Sea Dwellers is great and very accommodating always choosing the best sites with regards to visibility and conditions. Boat rides are typically short, thirty minutes or less and the variety of dive sites is excellent. Sea Dweller instructors are knowledgeable and helpful. I would recommend Scott as probably the best instructor but all are good. Sea Dwellers can make all of the arrangements for individuals or groups. We've been diving with and recommending Sea Dwellers for over ten years and have never had any complaints. Go and enjoy.

12. As to the people looking a dive operation in Key Largo, we were there in August for lobster season. We went with Island Ventures. The owners name was Brian. He has a small operation (two boats) and did an outstanding job.

13. Recommendations for Key Largo are Sea Dwellers and Horizon Divers.  We've been diving with SD for many years.  You can't beat the professionalism of the captains/owners and the instructional staff.  Horizon is just across the canal from them, and has an equally good group, although a higher turn over in staffing.

14. A friend of mine who gets your newsletter forwarded this to me and asked me to comment.  I live in Key Largo and recently retired from the National Park Service where I was a underwater archeologist, and a dive instructor for the National Park Service, and NAUI, PADI, NASDS.  My last assignment was diving in Biscayne National Park, which are the keys to the north of Key Largo.  Any way, I recommend Quiescence Dive Shop in Key Largo.  We used this dive shop for the maintenance of our equipt. and for training of new divers and advanced courses.  They are top notch instructors.  Spirited, detailed, and thorough.  Their classes are not "fast" and don't take shortcuts like many shops do that are in the tourist areas.  I have used them for my sport diving as well as I like their boat.  They have a couple of very comfortable 6-packs, well equipped and staffed.  By staying with the 6-pack, you don't get the large cattle boats with way too many divers to get in your way on the boat and in the water that are so typical of resort areas.  Because of their reputation and setup there are several other institutions and universities that use their services all the time as well.  You'll have a great time diving in the Keys with them.  Their web site is www.quiescence.com.  Telephone 305-451-2440 

15. We had a group of 20-21 people there between Christmas and New Years diving out of Silent World.  They have 2 boats holding a maximum of 14 divers.  I certified 7 Open Water and 4 Advanced students while there.  The shop and crew were very accommodating and fun to dive with.  They typically do not put a DM in the water on your dives unless you ask for it.  Five-2 tank boat dives cost us under $200 each with other packages available.  They will also take snorkelers out for $25.  If you're going to take the Advanced Class, request Lilly as the instructor.  She was the friendliest and most attentive crew member we worked with.

16. If anyone is interested in going to Key Largo to do some diving or to take a class, I would Highly recommend Horizon Divers, www.horizondivers.com. This is a top notch diving outfit. Joe and Bobbie are two of the nicest people I have met. I have dove with them about a half a dozen times and took my dive master class with them. The were rated #1 dive operator in 2003. They have a great boat, and their dive charters and classes are among the best value around. I would recommend doing a package with them and staying at the Ramada. It is a very nice hotel with a nice pool. It is also next door to Horizon Divers.

17. I was in Key Largo back in October. I dove with Sea Dwellers and Ocean Divers. I did not like Sea Dwellers because they limit your bottom time (100 ft. for 20 mins. on the Spiegel Grove - even w/ 30% NITROX). I did not like traveling over 1000 miles to be time/depth limited on the Spiegel Grove. They also use very minimal surface interval times in order to get you back to the dock for the next group to jump on.  I really liked Ocean Divers. They let you "dive your own dive". They only ask that you pop up to the surface after an hour and just let the dive master know you're okay. Their boats are HUGE and crew is outstanding.  I also dove with Aqua Nuts/Kelly's on the Bay a few years ago. They are a nice outfit as well. Also, most of the dive shops will not let you dive the Spiegel Grove unless you have your advanced certification.

18. I dove out of Amoray Dive Resort in Key Largo over Labor Day.  It was AWESOME!!!  Great accommodations and were treated excellent.  Would highly recommend. There was a group of six of us. They have a "cattle boat" and a "six-pack (JustInTime)". The six-pack is the way to go.  The resort is owned by a brother and sister team, Amy and Justin.  They were first class!  While we were down there we dove the Spiegel Grove, Benwood Wreck, USCG Duane, French Reef and Molasses Reef.  This is a group I plan to dive with again!!.  BTW they have a website.....  http://www.amoray.com . 

19. It's been a while ('98?), but I was highly impressed by a dive shop down there.. It's actually on Tavernier Key, west of Key Largo about 5-10 Min, but if it is run by the same guys, I would go with no other.. They dive the John Penneykamp park, and you can stay in Key Largo..  Tavernier Divers was run by a very efficient guy who was a retired NASA and Navy diver.. He was the guy who jumped out of the helicopter to help fish Apollo's 6, 7, & 8 out of the water.. You felt very secure with him as the dive master. You just tell by everything you saw and heard that safety was their specialty. I just have to believe their training would be top notch, but I didn't take any classes with them..  They were a little "too military" at times, like briefings, but it was for your own good.. We had some rough seas.. I saw one guy rescued; A "tired diver" caught in the current.. It was professional and quick.. Rodale's mag always rates them high.. 

20. Tim at Sherwood Scuba here. In reference to the person looking for a dive operation in Key Largo, a friend of mine, Steve Campbell, has recently joined a dive operation in Key Largo called Crystal Clear Charters. Steve's a great guy; I worked with him at a shop in Birmingham, AL several years ago, and dived with him in Saba (when I lived down there). I'm sure he'd appreciate the business 305-853-1111. So as not to show favoritism, there's also Amy Slate's Amoray Dive Center 305-451-3595.

21. One of my good friends dive Key Largo quite frequently. He and his wife have gone with several shops but there favorites are "Ocean Divers" @ 800-451-1113 and "Scuba-Do" @ 800-516-0110 or Scuba-Do.com. Of these two, Scuba-Do was the smaller boat but they spoil you with service. They have since drove a little farther to Tavernier Dive Center @ 800-787-9797 to go out on the bigger wrecks: Eagle, Duane, Bibb and the Grove. On last months trip, they tried a shop in Islamorado called "Rainbow Reef Dive Center" @ 800-457-4354 which goes out to Alligator Reef to see lots of barracuda and some jewfish. Overall, my friend says he'll definitely go back there again. These four operations are the only ones of the many he's tried and highly recommends.

22. We usually have our own boat but for all other services we use:  Florida Keys Dive Shop, 90500 Overseas Hwy, Tavernier, FL  (305) 852-4599.  Have always heard good things about their charter from others who have used them.  Was there for the holidays and the current was pretty strong.

23. Didn't dive in Key Largo, but did spend four days in Marathon, about 50 miles farther south, from 3-7 January. Dove with Abyss Dive behind the Holiday Inn, with excellent service and experiences. Most of the dives are on 25-35 foot bottom reefs, less than five miles from the shop by comfortable boat with only six divers, good services, courteous and entertaining captains. Shop has a deal with the Holiday Inn less than 60 feet way for a combination dive package and late check outs. I highly recommend Bill Ferrell's operation at Marathon.

24. Hi, we dove with Horizon Divers in Key Largo and it was very nice.  I took an Advanced class and enjoyed the teachers.  They are on the ocean side so getting out to the dive was quicker than an operator on the other side.  Once they did not have enough people to go out and so we joined a group on the other side.  They set it up and took me over.  The Speigal Grove is a large wreck and last year it had some life on it, but not near what we have here (it has only been sunk a few years).  The currents were swift though so they make you pay a master diver to swim with you if you aren't advanced.



25. Atlantis dive center   Capt. Spencer Slate   great operator  and  great  crew

26. A group of my friends and I went to Key Largo in October. We used Captain Slate's Dive Center (first dive center on the left as you get into Key Largo). They were absolutely awesome. They weren't the cheapest place (that was Aqua Nuts, but they had a couple of lawsuits pending, and a couple we knew had a camera stolen off one of their boats).   Captain Slate's basically stays in John Pennecamp Marine Park, but they also do a few wreck dives (we did the Spiegel Grove, but passed on the Duane and Bibb because of currents).  The park itself is amazing, and the captain and crew were extremely knowledgeable and helpful. We did 16 dives with them, a few on the same dive sites (south South Dry Rocks was like striding off into an aquarium), but different sides of the reefs. Once they figured out what we had already seen, they went out of their way to take us to different sites, even if it was well out of the way.  I would highly recommend them to anyone who wants to be well taken care of. They were exceptionally accommodating (one of our group has back problems and has to be helped into and out of the water) and professional. 

27. I went to the Keys a lot a couple of years ago. Here's my experience:  Silent World - the cheapest of all, but you get what you pay for. They took us to the same wreck 3 out of 4 dives in one day and the 3rd time on the wreck there were so many other dive boats there, we had to specially mark the anchor because it was so crowded.  Diver's City - A very good shop, although I haven't been with them since they moved to a new location. Their boats can accomodate about 16 divers, yet they won't usually allow more than 10-12 on a trip so you don't get that cattle call feeling. They also use all steel tanks so you don't have to wear as much weight. I did my first deep wreck dive with them on the Duane and was uncomfortable diving with a strange buddy so they went out of their way to contact a local guy to come out and be my buddy on the dive. Tavernier Divers - an excellent shop, always my first choice. They have been the most expensive shop that I've gone with in the Keys, but again, you get what you pay for. Their boats are spotless and their staff is very professional. A lot of dive shops in the Key Largo area try to limit your dive time to 1 hour/dive, but one night dive with Tavernier, we were in the water for 90 minutes and they were just happy that we had an incredible dive (still the best night dive I've ever had at Pillars). Also, Tavernier seems to have more regular trips to the Duane and the Eagle than other shops.  Florida Keys Dive Center - a very friendly shop. They are definitely on island time. Their boats could use some help; I ended up with green slime on my dive bag from the underside of the benches. They take snorkelers out on the boat with divers so you may be limited to very shallow reefs if snorkelers are on the boat.