Dive Review of Florida Keys Dive Center in
The Continental USA/Florida Keys - Tavernier

Other dive reports on Florida Keys Dive Center

Other The Continental USA reports
Subscriber Content Preview
Active subscribers go here

Florida Keys Dive Center, Dec, 2007, by L. B., MA, USA ( 2 reports). Report 3778.
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	Dove Snapper Ledge, Pickles, Horsehoe Ledge, Crocker Plateau and the Eagle. Diving around Tavernier the fish life was great, but the reef felt more overgrown with algae than it has been looking back over the past ten years. Very little small life - shrimps, etc, - other than Xmas tree worms. Only small patches of living coral and a few big brain corals. Lots of green morays and a few spotteds, lobsters, small nurse sharks & stingrays. Florida Keys Dive Center was busy with the underwater Santa Claus dive the first day and felt rather zoo-y. The second day of diving had two deep dives: The Eagle at 70-100 feet was followed by a second dive on Crocker Plateau which is around 50 feet. The Captain gave us only a 20 minute surface interval and got snarky when another diver asked for a bit longer. The proposed limit of one hour on the second dive was therefore meaningless as our bottom time was limited to around 20 minutes. The shallower area we were directed towards was downcurrent from the boat and not much shallower. It would have been a very pleasant second dive if enough time had been given in between. Other divers on board clearly chose to wait longer on deck before entering and then were able to have a slightly longer dive. The other two days were both shallow reefs where the short surface interval was less of an issue, but it was still a bit rushed to get gear changed over and get re-hydrated in between. Regularly had 1500 psi left at the end of each dive. While there is a time limit, given the afternoon dives, the short surface intervals felt a bit unsafe and unnecessarily rushed, as there was always plenty of time back at dock between morning and afternoon. The dive crew was fine for us given that we are reasonably experienced, but seemed more attentive to the lobster hunters on board than to several beginners that could have used a bit more help and encouragement. (Really miss Lady Cyana Divers.) Water temps were around 75-77 F below - for a full hour below taking something warmer than a 3/2 wetsuit would probably be helpful. Stayed at Ocean Pointe - a bit worn, but perfectly fine and comfortable. Pricey for a couple, but good for a family especially if some are non-divers.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	101-250 dives
Where else diving	Hawaii, Caribbean, Bali
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	75-77°F / 24-25°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	40-60 Ft/ 12-18 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	One hour or 500 psi
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		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	Clearly marked separate rinse bucket for cameras, but it got a bit crowded with several sloshing around in it. No separate camera table.

Leave a comment (Subscribers only -- 200 words max)
Subscribers can comment here

Subscribers can post comments, ask the reviewer questions, as well as getting immediate and complete access to ALL 695 dive reviews of The Continental USA and all other dive destinations. Complete access to all issues and Chapbooks is also included.

Other dive reports on Florida Keys Dive Center

All The Continental USA Dive Reviews and Reports
Diving Guide to The Continental USA
Diving Reviews for All Dive Destinations

Want to assemble your own collection of The Continental USA reports in one place?
Use the Mini Chapbook Facility to create your personalized collection.

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.

Undercurrent Home

Page computed and displayed in 0.15 seconds

Get more dive info like these and other important scuba updates sent monthly to your email. And a FREE Recent Issue of Undercurrent
Get a free monthly email and a sample issue!

Dive Review of Florida Keys Dive Center in The Continental USA/Florida Keys - Tavernier

Florida Keys Dive Center, Dec, 2007,

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 Florida Keys Dive Center in
The Continental USA/Florida Keys - Tavernier