Dive Review of Ocean Divers, Sea Dwellers, Conch Republic Divers/Bayside Resort in
The Continental USA

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Ocean Divers, Sea Dwellers, Conch Republic Divers/Bayside Resort, Oct, 2006, by S.A. Harmer, CA, USA . Report 3063.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Key Largo: Bayside Resort: Ocean Divers, Sea Dwellers, and Conch Republic Divers, September 30-October 10, 2006, Jay & Sheila Harmer (jbsaharmer@prodigy.net), Burbank, CA Experience: >1000, 275 dives. vis 25-55 Feet, water 84 Fahrenheit, Currents 1-2 knots, except on wrecks. All these operators all have good boats w/t marine heads, fresh water showers, oxygen, etc. and all provided full fills. Ocean Divers had the friendliest crew w/t complementary fruit drinks, and used steel tanks, Conch Republic the best diver briefings, in fact sometimes to long and detailed, with Sea Dwellers, the best overall. We dove the reefs of Penekamp Park that are all about 30-45 minutes from the dock to the moorings. All these operators limited the reef dives 60 minuets with the bottom at 20-35 feet. All good dives but I was surprised the general lack of marine life in an area that has been protected so long. We were “weathered out” two days due to wind and chop. In addition, we dove three times on the Spiegel Grove, a purposely-sunk U.S. warship that had been extensively prepped for diver safety, at 70-110 ft and could have gone deeper. These dive sites took about an hour to reach and always had some current in the 2-4 kts. range and once with a sharp thermo cline to 72 F. Bayside Resort was clean, well managed, reasonably priced, & diver tolerant with tile floors & plenty of towels. Not much room for gear to dry but the outside railings were acceptable. It has easy parking, small pool to swim or test gear, small sand patio area and dock for sunset celebrations and a good central location with several dive operators, grocery, drugstore, laundry, & ATM all within four-block distance. Nice music & entertainment provided by waterfront restaurant next door. Surprises: To dive the wrecks (Grove, Duane, Bibb) you need a fat logbook >100 dives (indicating a dive of 80ft or greater in the last 60 days) or advanced diver certificates. If you do not meet the above requirements, you must arrange for a guide at extra cost. In addition, we were suppressed at the $10 charge for a medallion permit to dive the wrecks. While we believe that dive operators and the wreck association have every right to set unique conditions for their diving operations we wish these restrictions were stated in their advertisements.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	0-25 dives
Where else diving	Southern California, Western Pacific, Caribbean,
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	choppy, currents
Water Temp	84-72°F / 29-22°C	Wetsuit Thickness	0
Water Visibility	25-55 Ft/ 8-17 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	Time (60 min) Wrecks (fat logbook or guide)
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter	N/A	Boat Facilities	N/A
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	[None]

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Dive Review of Ocean Divers, Sea Dwellers, Conch Republic Divers/Bayside Resort in The Continental USA

Ocean Divers, Sea Dwellers, Conch Republic Divers/Bayside Resort, Oct, 2006,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Ocean Divers, Sea Dwellers, Conch Republic Divers/Bayside Resort in
The Continental USA