Florida Keys SCUBA Dive and Snorkel Charters

Diving and snorkeling in the Keys is thought by many to be as good as it gets anywhere in the world.

While you can spot some interesting marine life just off the beach, to really experience the thrill of nature's own personal salt water aquarium, you have to go off shore (2-5 miles) to the reef. This means you need to either rent a boat and go yourself (recommended for only very experienced boaters or if you take a local captain along the first trip out) or go with a charter operation.

Charters fall into two categories: party boats/dive shops and custom charter boats.

• Party boats typically carry from 6-60 people and make two trips to the same location on the reef tract each day.

• Custom charters typically carry up to six people, most often a single group, make one trip a day, and tailor their locations to the interests and skills of the group.

For an individual or a couple, a custom dive charter will cost more than a party boat. If you have a group of 4-6, the costs of a private charter will be more competitive.

We represent a small group of dive/snorkel charters who will provide you with a great day on the water no matter what your budget or interests may be. The truth is, while the reef is always there waiting, wind, tide and weather can conspire to turn one trip into the dive experience you will cherish forever and another into "the dive trip to hell." The dive businesses we represent have been chosen because they are the best. Not only are they the best at what they do, they will not sacrifice your comfort for a few dollars income. They will tell you what the conditions are like, they will advise you on the skill/experience level required for the trip, and they will not treat you to an experience which will have you re-evaluating your interest in getting into the water ever again.

If you make your dive plans through us, you will not have to worry about your safety and comfort. If you do not work through us, please check and verify the conditions before you venture out. Conditions (good) include visibility (60+ feet), wind (10 knots or less), and seas (two feet or less).

While planning your dive/snorkel trip to the Keys, keep in mind that the Summer is best. Hotel rates are low, the water temperature will be in the mid to high 80's, and water and weather conditions are generally ideal.

One more piece of advice. Keep your schedule flexible. If you are coming for a week, don't wait until the last day to get out on the water. Schedule your trips early in your stay. If conditions are not suitable, you can slide your excursion back a day or two until they improve.

Certification: You do not need to be certified to snorkel, and if you have never done it before, your captain and crew will show you how. If you are at all comfortable in the water, you should find it easy and a lot of fun. If you would like to try diving, you have several options. You can take a one-day "discover SCUBA" course, or go for complete SCUBA certification. Basic open water recreational certification takes about 5 days, the last two days spent diving. But you can shorten the length of time you need to spend training here by doing your class and pool work back home and save your certification dives for when you come to the Keys. We would be happy to arrange to help you get certified - from resort course, through recreational, to advanced technical and deep diving. Just let us know.

Important: SCUBA diving requires that you are physically fit and reasonably pulled together mentally. If you plan to take the resort course or become certified, it is a very good idea to investigate PADI or NAUI health guidelines and review any questions or issues you might have with a physician experienced in dive medicine. This is especially true for individuals with disabilities. If you can not find a suitably qualified physician, let us know. We might be able to connect you with one of our very experienced local doctors.

Note: because of the risks involved in recreational diving, we are very cautious about who we recommend and represent. Unexpected medical emergencies can occur in even the best conditions. We work only with businesses that are well-trained and well-experienced and can handle any problem efficiently and expertly. Further, sometimes crews just miss the boat on the basics. These are the businesses we choose not to work with at all. Two examples are Stike Zone Charters in the Lower Keys and Kelly's Aquanuts in the Upper Keys. Both organizations were reported by the Florida Keys Keynoter as having left divers behind last year. In the Strikezone case, the divers were able to swim to another boat. In the Kelly's case, however, there were no other boats in the area. The divers were able to swim to a marker and climb out of the water. They stayed there through the night and well into the next day, when they were finally spotted by a passing sailor and rescued by the Marine Patrol.

For information and assistance with reservations, please call us at 800 403-2154