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Hobby Forum Index » Scuba » Trip Report - Key Largo...
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| Dan Bracuk... |
 Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 8:11 pm |
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The Providers
American Airlines http://www.aa.com
Alamo Rent a Car http://www.goalamo.com
Quiessence Divers http://www.keylargodiving.com/
Captain Slate's Atlantis Dive Centre
http://captainslate.com/Florida-Keys-Diving/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/
Pennekamp Park Dive Shop http://www.pennekamppark.com/scuba.html/
Summary
We spent 5 days in Key Largo and dove every day. We had two days of
good dive conditions, 2 mediocre, and 1 bad.
Preparing
Searching for a house to rent starts off easy. There are several to
choose from on the Internet. We sent out inquiries, got some replies,
and eventually picked a place. We sent the deposit and the rent and it
was all set. Then the guy reneged and we had to find another place. Oh
well.
We booked our flights by telephone because we were using points. It
cost a few dollars more to do it this way, but some things are just
worth it. A few years ago we booked online using points, and once the
first flight was booked, it was no longer available when we tried to
book the second.
Travel
This was more eventful than it should have been. Our morning flight to
Miami was delayed, then cancelled. Fortunately there was another one
in the afternoon that had enough space, so we were only mildly
inconvenienced. Instead of arriving in the afternoon, we arrived in
the evening. Last year when we went to Marathon, that would have been
a problem because we had to pick up our house keys from a real estate
office that was only open till 4 PM. This time we picked up the keys
from a neighbour, so it was no big deal.
Accommodations
Renting houses is so much nicer than staying in hotels. The house we
rented looked like a mobile home without the mobility. It was long and
narrow. It also had a covered patio. The cover was aluminum which
meant that on those occasions when it rained, we really heard it.
There was a pool and hot tub that we didn't use. There was also a nice
sun deck for gear drying.
Dive Shops
None of the dive shops were exceptionally good or exceptionally bad.
In fact, none were really bad at all. They all got you out and back,
and all provided something to drink on board. All offered unguided
dives lasting until you had 500 psi left or 60 minutes had elapsed,
whichever came first. Also, all were co-located with their dive boats
which is not always the case in the keys. There were differences
though.
We dove with Capt Slate once. This shop is on the ocean side leading
to shorter boat rides. They also had 72 cu ft aluminum tanks instead
of the normal 80s. This was plenty of air, and it was to have a
lighter tank, but they were narrower. This meant we had to adust our
tank straps. Fortunately ours are simple, but we have seen some that
are not. Come to think of it, I used to own one that is not. Also,
Capt Slate does not have two pound weights. That was a minor
inconvenience. I used a single four pounder instead of two 2s.
We also dove with Quiescence once. Their shop is on the gulf side so
the boat rides are a bit longer. They also have Al 80 tanks, but
theirs seem less buoyant. Those that like diving the deeper wrecks
should not pick this shop, they don't do that. They just do the
shallow reefs.
We dove with the Pennekamp Park Dive Shop three times. Their big
advantage is price. The other two places were charging $80 plus tank
rental. Pennekamp Park sold us a three day package for $150, tanks
included. They do have cattle boat potential though. They take up to
35 divers out. Fortunately the most on any of our trips was 18. Like
Capt Slade, they are on the ocean side, so the boat rides are shorter.
Finally, like Quiessence, they don't take you to the deeper sites.
A dive shop we didn't use was Scuba-Do. It had been recommended by
people on rec.scuba so we did check it out. It seems they run the shop
from the boat. We found their address, and their boat, but nobody was
on the boat. Plus when we phoned, we got voice mail. We ended up
taking our money elsewhere.
Diving
By choice, we only did shallow dives. The deepest we got was 40 ft.
Unfortunately there were easterly winds which created surge and
reduced the vis. On our first day, the vis was 15-20 ft. On the
mediocre days it was about 50 ft and it was crystal clear on the two
good days. Water temperature was 82-84 F.
The reefs were nice and we saw the normal collection of fish and
crustaceans. We also saw a huge loggerhead turtle. It's head was as
big as a child's.
One of our dive sites was a wreck - the Benwood. On wrecks divers
don't spread out as much and one buddy pair from another boat caught
my eye. They were both diving doubles, which, while unusual, is no big
deal. But I noticed one of them was wearing a drysuit. I have no idea
why.
Conclusion
There is good diving in the Florida Keys when the conditions are good.
However the shallowness of the sites makes them go bad quickly if
there are waves.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trip Dates
2008-06-24 to 2008-06-30
Dan Bracuk
Never use a big word when a diminutive one will do.
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| mag3... |
| Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 8:28 pm |
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On Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:11:31 -0400, Dan Bracuk <bracuk at (no spam) pathcom.com> wrote:
Two other good ones are:
Ocean Divers http://oceandivers.com/
and
Silent World: http://www.silentworldkeylargo.com/
Both go to the SG & Duane for deep wrecks.... I know that Ocean Divers
does as I did the SG with them several times.....
____________________________________________
Regards,
Arnold |
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| Dan Bracuk... |
| Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 9:07 pm |
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mag3 <zmpmag3-plongee at (no spam) yahoo.com> pounded away at his keyboard
resulting in:
:Two other good ones are:
:
: Ocean Divers http://oceandivers.com/
:and
: Silent World: http://www.silentworldkeylargo.com/
:
:Both go to the SG & Duane for deep wrecks.... I know that Ocean Divers
:does as I did the SG with them several times.....
For we shallow water wimps, Ocean Divers does afternoon shallow water
trips. We almost dove with them, but we cancelled when we saw the
water condition forecast on their board.
Silent World has it's shop on the north side of US1. We saw their
boat when we were at the Atlantis Dive Centre. Based on only that, we
suspect their shop and boats are not co-located.
By the way mag3, your decision to not join us was a good one. But if
you want to join us on the Aqua Cat next June, we'll do our best to
get you to like liveaboards.
Dan Bracuk
Never use a big word when a diminutive one will do.
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| ben bradlee... |
| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 8:14 pm |
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"mag3" <zmpmag3-plongee at (no spam) yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:3p2574ls1mmqd1n5cuo6pqa2d61i1u6hpv at (no spam) 4ax.com...
Quote: On Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:26:44 GMT, mag3 <zmpmag3-plongee at (no spam) yahoo.com> wrote:
On Mon, 7 Jul 2008 15:25:19 -0500, "ben bradlee" <NoWay at (no spam) Way.Bite.Me
wrote:
"mag3" <zmpmag3-plongee at (no spam) yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:a7t4749juqbovrjlrop8tpnbjh1ss21hd1 at (no spam) 4ax.com...
It sucks
to be on "Wall St." right now.
As it sucks to be an investor right now. The key is diversification.
You
just need to plan dive sites closer to home.
OTOH, if you meant "diversify my dive sites," I'm doing all I can there,
but the
pickens are very slim in my local area. It's either Dutch Springs, or NJ
Shore
boat dives. And I'm doing a lot of those.....
Indeed, that is what I meant. I'm lucky that there are numerous close
places to dive except during the worst of the winter months. I'm getting
ready to post a dive report but it isn't done yet. Seems like there is just
not enough time to do everything. |
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| David In NH... |
| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 9:45 pm |
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"mag3" <zmpmag3-plongee at (no spam) yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:a7t4749juqbovrjlrop8tpnbjh1ss21hd1 at (no spam) 4ax.com...
Quote: On Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:07:37 -0400, Dan Bracuk <b......uk at (no spam) pathcom.com
wrote:
Silent World has it's shop on the north side of US1. We saw their
boat when we were at the Atlantis Dive Centre. Based on only that, we
suspect their shop and boats are not co-located.
They are not. But no worse than Halls, Diving Center in Marathon, for
example.
I dove with them last April and the ship-to-shop distance is around 5 miles.
All it meant was that I had to sign up at the shop and then turn around and
go back north to the boat. No problems with that though and they were great
folks. Did 6 dives with them and would definitely go back to them.
- Dave |
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| mag3... |
| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 9:48 pm |
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On Tue, 8 Jul 2008 07:40:24 -0700 (PDT), Greg Mossman <mossman at (no spam) qnet.com> wrote:
Quote: Keep your eyes out for deals in this economy, I just found round trip
tix LAX-CZM in mid-December for only $415 on CO. That would be a
great deal with today's fuel prices just going from LAX to Florida or
Cancun, but it's stellar flying direct to CZM, especially since it's
still low season there and you can stay very cheap. Even though I'm
broke, I managed to talk myself into another dive trip to wind up
2008.
Besides, if all you're doing at work is watching the market (and your
clients' funds) decline, you're better off on vacation.
I'm not a Money Mgr (I wish...). I'm in IT. But we're getting hit just as
hard. And I can be easily replaced by someone half my age and salary....
It's very tough times out there. I won't be spending a lot for at least the
next year. I'll do my annual FFK/Springs pilgrimage in Jan. 2009 but that's it for now.
____________________________________________
Regards,
Arnold |
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| Greg Mossman... |
| Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 4:47 pm |
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On Jul 10, 6:53 pm, mag3 <zmpmag3-plon... at (no spam) yahoo.com> wrote:
Quote: It also helps that you have another person. I'm usually traveling alone, so I consider
it an accomplishment.
Not exactly. You've never seen Janna pack.
Quote: I have every confidence in you.  I would never waste an opportunity to
photograph in French Polynesia. I'd figure out a way to make it happen..
If not video, then at least digital U/W. Last time I was in Bora Bora I did
both. I think I'd only do still U/W this time. My DC600 is very easy to carry.
I'm done with video for awhile, at least until I can figure out how to
edit the 75 or so tapes I've collected. But shooting still is a
pain. My Titan housing was appropriately named. It's huge and weighs
a ton, even without two big strobes attached. |
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| Dan Bracuk... |
| Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 10:42 pm |
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mag3 <zmpmag3-plongee at (no spam) yahoo.com> pounded away at his keyboard
resulting in:
:I have been able to do 5 bags by myself with wheels and straps. It's
:tough, but it can be done. 2 stardard "checked," My camcorder Pellican,
:my 22" rollaboard and my laptop. The 2 standard checked bags have wheels
:so it makes it easy.
Boy you guys bring a lot of stuff with you. For me and the missus,
her only piece of checked luggage normally weighs about 40 lbs and my
only piece is usually 37 or 38. She carries on a backpack and purse.
I carry on a gym bag and small camera bag.
At the end of the week, I usually conclude that I packed too much.
Dan Bracuk
Never use a big word when a diminutive one will do.
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| Dan Bracuk... |
| Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 6:39 pm |
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mag3 <zmpmag3-plongee at (no spam) yahoo.com> pounded away at his keyboard
resulting in:
:How much of your SCUBA gear do you bring?
Wetsuit, fins, BC, 2 masks, regulator. Sometimes a shorty. The
missus also brings a couple of lycra suits.
Dan Bracuk
Never use a big word when a diminutive one will do.
----== Posted via Pronews.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.pronews.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! >100,000 Newsgroups
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| John Hanson... |
| Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 9:24 am |
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On Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:11:31 -0400, Dan Bracuk <bracuk at (no spam) pathcom.com>
wrote in rec.scuba:
<snip another excellent Bracuk report>
Quote:
Conclusion
There is good diving in the Florida Keys when the conditions are good.
However the shallowness of the sites makes them go bad quickly if
there are waves.
Dive deep;-) |
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