anybody got any good scuba suggestions

[nimtz]

Actually got a block of days off this month and I'm looking to get certified somewhere warmer then the East Coast. Anybody had any good recommendations to get it done in South FL, say maybe Key West. Appreciate any help you guys got thanks...

 

[jsoceanlord]

scubadiving.com is the best web site - info on training, etc.


if nothing else, you can search around on the internet

 

[WrightAvia]

YEA MAKE SURE TO SCUBA WITH A BUDDY!

AND...make sure you get one of those big gnarly looking dive knives. That way if you run into sharks while diving you can reach over and grab your buddy by the swim fin, slice him/her a good one on the leg and then swim to shore or the boat.

Safety in numbers, makes diving BUDDIES, a good thing.

 

[UALHammer]

I live in Florida, and dive every chance I get.

Islamorada in the Upper Keys is the best place to go. The largest coral reef in the US is just offshore. There are dozens of dive operations where you can get certified. I can't help with picking out one vs. the other for training. Google Islamorada Scuba.

There are a few places in Key West, but the dives aren't as good. The best diving is the Upper Keys.

Another great place to dive is West Palm.

Have fun.

 

[airgator]

I live in West Palm now and was very impressed when I first dove hear. I was not expecting much at all, but the dives are very good and not far off at all. Not as good as the caribbean (Saba, Curacao, St. Maarten, etc,) but very under-rated in my opinion. Never dove the keys, just snorkeled.

 

[Kingairrick]

GRAND CAYMAN

I know it sound exotic, but it is only a 1 hour flight from Miami or Tampa. Best diving anywhere, and not much more expensive than the Keys. Direct flights on Cayman (ID90), Delta, American, and US Airways. Use the pass priv...you won't regret it.

 

[iaflyer]

I got certified last month - I learned all the skills in the pool through a local dive shop here in Michigan (Huron Scuba - very good place).

Part of the certification is 4 open water dives (ocean, lake, quarry,etc). Because we had plans for a vacation to Key West, I decided to finish it down there. My instructor recommended a place in Key West called Subtropic. Click here for their Website

They were great, everyone was friendly, and everything went smoothly. Highly recommend them. Ask for Nick - he was my instructor, good guy.

Scuba is lots of fun.

Iaflyer

 

[PositiveRate]

I did my PADI certification (full course) in Waikiki back in February. I found this guy online who does courses for under 200$ and it was private instruction.

It's a very small operation, but he was a great teacher, had great equipment and there were no extra charges. Also, it's pretty cool to learn on a hawaiin reef and swim with sea turtles while learning how to clear your mask, etc. We did the whole thing in 2 days for a grand total of $186.50 with tax.

www.coolbluescuba.com His name is Roger. There are a lot of hostels in waikiki as well where you can stay for under 20$/night. http://www.hiayh.org/hostels/hawaii/hawaii.htm

 

[RocketRob]

Once you get your certification, I highly recommend you get out to Palau in Micronesia (CAL flys there from Guam). One of Jacque Cousteau's favorites......... mine too!

http://www.visit-palau.com/

 

[cj610]

Scuba

I did all my pool training at a YMCA in Detroit. Then went down to Marathon and did my open water certification. There is a underwater national park down there. I can't remember what it is called. Good diving though. This was a few years back. There was a few different dive operators down there. I didn't have anything set up before I went down there. I just looked around and went with the one that looked safe and had the right price. Some hotels offer scuba training in their pool and then will take you out for a shallow intro dive. Look into that.

Like one person already mentioned, Grand Cayman can't be beat. The water down there is as clear as air. You can see forever. Lots of cool dive spots..."the wall",ships,reefs,boat dives,shore dives,stingrays,"Eden Rock". Lots of reputable looking dive operators.

Cozumel,Mexico comes in a close second. There you drift dive, cave dive.

 

[Swass]

I second the grand cayman, what a place.

 

[airgator]

Does anyone like to cave dive here? I will NEVER EVER do it! No F'n way. Ill stick to open water. What a $hitty way to go.

 

[surfnole]

I've done some cave diving. Its one of those things when you look back on your life and realize you were lucky you didn't die doing all crazy stuff you did.

In the north Florida panhandle, they have networks of springs connected by miles of underwater caves. Cave divers will go from one spring to another.

My best friend found two bodies in a cave. They had just died and were literally feet from the place where they could see natural daylight. It was a guy and a girl, and as he came upon them he knew something was wrong. Their lights were still on, but then he realized there was not air coming out of their mouth.

Time seems to stand still in a cave. The stupidest thing we did was drink beer and THEN illegaly enter a spring and go cave diving at night. One of the guys we went with wasn't certified and it was only his second or third time diving. We wound through a tunnel until we were 100 feet deep and then entered this tremendous room with a line strung across the ceiling. We went out aways across the line, and it was sheer blackness everywhere. No matter which way you pointed your light (except up), you saw nothing but black. It was intense.

 

[njcapt]

I did my PADI certification (full course) in Waikiki back in February. I found this guy online who does courses for under 200$ and it was private instruction.

www.coolbluescuba.com His name is Roger. There are a lot of hostels in waikiki as well where you can stay for under 20$/night. http://www.hiayh.org/hostels/hawaii/hawaii.htm

I just got back from Waikiki a couple of weeks ago, and saw his ads in the local tourist rags. Couldn't believe a legit course couls be done for that price. I was looking for a reason to go back there soon (I surfed seven times in six days), and this might just be it.

For an extra 30 bucks a night you can stay in a totally decent hotel. Ohana hotels have a $50 airline rate that can get you a room across the street from the beach. www.ohanahotels.com. My wife and I upgraded to a 11th floor corner room with two balconies facing Waikiki and Ala Moana beaches for $65 a night. Well worth it. Gonna give ol' Roger a call in the next couple of months.