Printable Frequently Asked Questions

• What are water temperatures like?
• What are the sea conditions like?

• What equipment should I bring from home?
• How much will diving cost me?

• Which are the best dive shops in the Middle Keys?
• Do I need reservations?
• What shops take clients diving in Pennekamp Park?
• Should I choose a "6-pack" boat (6 or fewer divers) over a big boat (as many as 20 divers on the boat)?
• Where should I stay (lodging) in the Middle Keys?

• How is the health of the reef these days?

• I only have 3 days to dive. Where should I go?

DIVING INSTRUCTION

• Can I learn to dive or increase my certification while I'm visiting?
• I don't have time to learn to dive, but I'd still like to try diving. Can I go on a "sample" dive?

WEATHER

• What are water temperatures like?
  Water temps vary considerably between the Winter and Summer months. In Winter (October to March), expect temps in mid-70s F. You will need a wetsuit. In Summer (April to September), water temps are in the mid to upper 80s F. A light wetsuit or skins are recommended to avoid abrasions or sea lice (jellyfish), but the temperature is delightful.

• What are the sea conditions like?
  Sea conditions vary with the seasons (like water temperature). In the Winter months (October to March), seas are rougher than in Summer (April to September). Winter seas are generally 3 to 6 feet (more than 4 is generally undiveable). Summer seas are generally 1 to 3 feet (beautiful).

COST

• What equipment should I bring from home?
  The question of what equipment to purchase vs. rent is an old one. All equipment can be rented from local Keys diveshops, however we personally always prefer to use our own MFS (Mask Fins Snorkel), regulators, BCDs, and wetsuits. Leave the tanks and weights at home. Writing tablets and other toys are fun and handy.

• How much will diving cost me?
  Cost varies on rental gear needs and the diveshop chosen. See our diveshop section for comparative pricing. Expect to pay about $55 per 2-tank dive (with tank/wts). Beware of low-ball prices. Considering how much a vacationer expects to pay on a trip, why save $10 on a divetrip and have a much less pleasant dive? YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!! Divers are notoriously cheap, and those cheapskates should expect poor service and no amenities.

DIVESHOPS / LODGING INFO

• Which are the best dive shops in the Middle Keys?
  Some shops specialize in customer service (higher prices), some in low-ball prices (lower service). 6-pack boats only take 6 clients and the captain (no divemaster, but fewer competing divers). Big boats are more comfortable in rougher seas, but getting off the boat after 19 other divers is no fun (rig up in the back! Be 1^st in the water.). We are reluctant to recommend shops, but pay attention to how long they've been in business check our database. As this is perhaps the most competitive scubadiving area in the world, those who last are probably doing something right.

• Do I need reservations?
  During the High Season (November to April), or on weekends, if you have a diveshop that you particularly want to dive with, then reservations are strongly suggested, especially with the 6-pack boats. During the Low Season (May to October), the boats generally have plenty of room, although reservations are still a good idea.

• What shops take clients diving in Pennekamp Park?
  Pennekamp Park is only inside the Upper Keys diving vicinity. In the Middle Keys, the entire reef is still part of the National Park (all Keys waters are). Go North to visit Pennekamp; but the diving is very good in the Middle Keys.

• Should I choose a "6-pack" boat (6 or fewer divers) over a big boat (as many as 20 divers on the boat)?
       A six-pack is an uninspected vessel of any size. The Coast Guard limits uninspected vessels to 6 paying passengers, thus the name. Inspected vessels may carry a greater number of paying passengers as determined by Coast Guard criteria. Some carry 7-12, others 20 or more. Inspected vessels have much more safety equipment such as float-off life rafts, certified fuel tanks, automatic fire extinguishing systems, Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), compartmentation, stability certification, and annual inspections of boat and safety equipment.
       Depending on the size and layout of the boat you may or may not have more space on a 6-pack. If possible it is advisable to check the operation's website for boat pictures & features to help make your choice.
       Remember, boats DO sink from time to time, and safety is an important factor to remember when choosing a dive operator!
       The 6-packs can cater nicely to small groups. You'll definitely get to know your fellow divers. Typical 6-pack boats aren't tiny, but they also aren't huge (25-35'). They will bounce around more in rough seas.
       The big boats (40-50' long) are capable of carrying 20-30 divers, and during High Season will often fill up. That's a lot of people and a LOT of dive gear (hence the derogatory nickname "cattle-cars"). If you set up your gear towards the front (bow) of the boat, it may take you 20 minutes to get off the boat once you reach your divesite. Seasickness generally hits when the boat is stopped and bouncing around. Thus, always arrive at the boat early and setup your gear as near to the back as possible. The big boats are more stable in rough seas than the little guys, and often they will have small amenities like camera rinse-barrels, Kool-Aid, cut-up fruit, etc. on board. They will also have multiple crewmen to help the divers.

• Where should I stay (lodging) in the Middle Keys?
  Price, convenience, service, pool vs. no-pool, on-site diveshop, all make this a tough question to answer. Expect to pay about 40 percent more in the High Season (November to April). Prices range from $40 to $180 per night in Low Season (May to October). Some hotels/motels are dive resorts, offering lodging/diving packages where the boat leaves from/returns to the resort (convenience). Check our Lodging Database for more information.

REEF / WILDLIFE CONDITIONS

• How is the health of the reef these days?
  Thanks to diver education, fishing restrictions, and pollution controls, things have improved over where we were 5 years ago. However, compared with 15 or 20 years ago, the reefs are much less vibrant. In the summertime, the water temperatures have been so high in recent years that the coral bleaches white (not good). Nevertheless, the reefs are still among the best in the world. Comparing Eden today with where it was 15 years ago is somewhat unfair. It's still absolutely beautiful, especially when visibility is good.

SITE RECOMMENDATIONS

• I only have 3 days to dive. Where should I go?
  This depends on your skill and experience level. We need to get more experience with Middle Keys diving before making recommendations here.

DIVING INSTRUCTION

• Can I learn to dive or increase my certification while I'm visiting?
  Certainly yes. Most diveshops have a large range of classes from Open Water Diver (step 1) through Divemaster. A few even offer Instructor training. This is something you'll definitely need reservations for.

• I don't have time to learn to dive, but I'd still like to try diving. Can I go on a "sample" dive?
  Most diveshops offer a "Resort Course", which involves about 4 hours of instruction (including time in a pool with scuba gear), after which you will go diving (40 feet or less) in the company of your instructor. You will be able to dive as much as you like for 2 weeks following the course, but always you must be in the company of an Instructor (and always only on shallow dives of 40' or less).

Feel free to ask us a question

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