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Dive Review of Underseas Inc in
The Continental USA/Fla Keys

Underseas Inc, Apr, 2004,

by G Fulkerson, oh, usa . Report 1214.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 3 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 3 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 3 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments Good: Underseas can train a bunch of folks at once if you prearrange - will negotiate a reasonable rate for a big group. Use some contract instructors to beef up their own staff.

Bad: Windy and cooler than expected. We barely hit a window of 3 days of decent winds so the boats could go out. Looe Key is pretty tired looking compared to 20 years ago - they ought to consider closing parts of it in some rotation to let corals recover. Typical Keys schools of fish, a few turtles, one friendly Jewfish and several shark sightings in the 4 to 7 feet range. All 40 students successfully trained and return home safe. Hats off to the teachers who made the effort to lead this adventure for the kids. If you wanted to take a big group from school, scout troop or church to learn to dive - here is a spot. But know the weater is better for camping in winter, but better for diving in summer.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Bahamas, North Carolina, Caymans, Hawaii, Palau, Mexico
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather windy Seas choppy
Water Temp 70-72°F / 21-22°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 25-45 Ft/ 8-14 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Dive Operators very protective of the reefs - always encouraging control and asking people not to wear glovesd]
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
Corals 2 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 1 stars
Large Pelagics 1 stars

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

Subject Matter 3 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 3 stars Shore Facilities 2 stars
UW Photo Comments Where would you take 40 teenagers who live in Ohio, who had never been diving, to get fully certified - for about 700 bucks including transportation? The Florida Keys! In winter, Looe Key is an idea shallow accessable spot with ample camping and hotels about to support such an operation. Underseas was clearly taxed by this many novices - but they took it with good humor (for the most part, better than some of us chaperones) Classes were held at our KOA camp ground in Sugarloaf Key and boats left from Big Pine. Visibility was pretty poor due to recent heavy winds.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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