7 replies to this topic

[ncdivegirl]

I am trying to plan a quick vacation and get some good dives in, Key Largo is definate, and have friend who may come but can not do the "O" is there any good Open Water diving she can do while I do the "O" or do I just plan to do Key Largo and plan the "O" Later...............any suggeations would be appreciated.
R

[netmage]

I am trying to plan a quick vacation and get some good dives in, Key Largo is definate, and have friend who may come but can not do the "O" is there any good Open Water diving she can do while I do the "O" or do I just plan to do Key Largo and plan the "O" Later...............any suggeations would be appreciated.

You realize The Oriskany is up near Penscola....? About 730 miles from Key Largo....

While I've not done the "O", or other Pensacola sites, diving in the Gulf means long boat rides for generally poorer conditions than say Key Largo... Colder, Greener water, and less viz... The 'O' is a 1-2 hour boat ride depending on the op and their cruising speed.

Why can't she do the 'O'....? Key Largo 'generally' is two different types of diving.... extremely shallow patch reefs, i.e. Molasses, 15-30'; or AOW wrecks like the Duane, Grove, Bibb, Eagle.... So it's either ~30' or 130'... (yes I know I'm generalizing....)

For more variety you can head north to Pompano area for ~20' shallow sites, ~40-80' wrecks and reefs and deeper wrecks to your hearts content....
The reefs in Broward and Palm Beach counties are more ledge systems we run as drifts right off shore... dosn't get much easier than that....

It's ~90 mins from Pompano to Key Largo so taking in both locales is certainly do-able over a few days trip.

And the reefs are better more north, Boynton is my fav, I tend to think Jupiter is a bit dusty and patchy.... But Hole In The Wall and 50 Goliaths at once is a sight to see...

-Tim

[Capn Jack]

I am trying to plan a quick vacation and get some good dives in, Key Largo is definate, and have friend who may come but can not do the "O" is there any good Open Water diving she can do while I do the "O" or do I just plan to do Key Largo and plan the "O" Later...............any suggeations would be appreciated.
R

Are you talking about the Oriskany? She's off Pensacola - which is about a 10-12 hour drive from Key Largo. Around Key Largo there are all kinds of good dive sites from beginner on up... Maybe you're thinking the Spiegel Grove (which is a nice dive in good conditions, especially now that she's sitting upright)

[pmarie]

I am trying to plan a quick vacation and get some good dives in, Key Largo is definate, and have friend who may come but can not do the "O" is there any good Open Water diving she can do while I do the "O" or do I just plan to do Key Largo and plan the "O" Later...............any suggeations would be appreciated.

You realize The Oriskany is up near Penscola....? About 730 miles from Key Largo....

While I've not done the "O", or other Pensacola sites, diving in the Gulf means long boat rides for generally poorer conditions than say Key Largo... Colder, Greener water, and less viz... The 'O' is a 1-2 hour boat ride depending on the op and their cruising speed.

Why can't she do the 'O'....? Key Largo 'generally' is two different types of diving.... extremely shallow patch reefs, i.e. Molasses, 15-30'; or AOW wrecks like the Duane, Grove, Bibb, Eagle.... So it's either ~30' or 130'... (yes I know I'm generalizing....)

For more variety you can head north to Pompano area for ~20' shallow sites, ~40-80' wrecks and reefs and deeper wrecks to your hearts content....
The reefs in Broward and Palm Beach counties are more ledge systems we run as drifts right off shore... dosn't get much easier than that....

It's ~90 mins from Pompano to Key Largo so taking in both locales is certainly do-able over a few days trip.

And the reefs are better more north, Boynton is my fav, I tend to think Jupiter is a bit dusty and patchy.... But Hole In The Wall and 50 Goliaths at once is a sight to see...

-Tim

What Tim said!! If you go a little further south to Islamorada they have some deeper reefs or conch wall off of Tavernier. But Tim is without a doubt correct. The reefs are prettier from Pompano north. My favorite reef system is Jupiter though.....I saw a lemon shark on Friday!!!! Not to mention the numerous Goliaths, turtles and other sharks

[ncdivegirl]

I am trying to plan a quick vacation and get some good dives in, Key Largo is definate, and have friend who may come but can not do the "O" is there any good Open Water diving she can do while I do the "O" or do I just plan to do Key Largo and plan the "O" Later...............any suggeations would be appreciated.

You realize The Oriskany is up near Penscola....? About 730 miles from Key Largo....

While I've not done the "O", or other Pensacola sites, diving in the Gulf means long boat rides for generally poorer conditions than say Key Largo... Colder, Greener water, and less viz... The 'O' is a 1-2 hour boat ride depending on the op and their cruising speed.

Why can't she do the 'O'....? Key Largo 'generally' is two different types of diving.... extremely shallow patch reefs, i.e. Molasses, 15-30'; or AOW wrecks like the Duane, Grove, Bibb, Eagle.... So it's either ~30' or 130'... (yes I know I'm generalizing....)

For more variety you can head north to Pompano area for ~20' shallow sites, ~40-80' wrecks and reefs and deeper wrecks to your hearts content....
The reefs in Broward and Palm Beach counties are more ledge systems we run as drifts right off shore... dosn't get much easier than that....

It's ~90 mins from Pompano to Key Largo so taking in both locales is certainly do-able over a few days trip.

And the reefs are better more north, Boynton is my fav, I tend to think Jupiter is a bit dusty and patchy.... But Hole In The Wall and 50 Goliaths at once is a sight to see...

-Tim

What Tim said!! If you go a little further south to Islamorada they have some deeper reefs or conch wall off of Tavernier. But Tim is without a doubt correct. The reefs are prettier from Pompano north. My favorite reef system is Jupiter though.....I saw a lemon shark on Friday!!!! Not to mention the numerous Goliaths, turtles and other sharks

[ncdivegirl]

I am really getting good info and yes I did know the distances that we will be covering, that was one of the reasons I wanted help in planning and for the different styles of diving that me and her have. There are some great suggestions and responses thanks

[ScubaDadMiami]

I'd make it two trips. That would be a lot of driving that would make for some down time if you tried to do it all in one trip. I would not suggest trying to dive the Oriskany outside of the Summer months.

[dive_sail_etc]

I'd make it two trips. That would be a lot of driving that would make for some down time if you tried to do it all in one trip. I would not suggest trying to dive the Oriskany outside of the Summer months.

Ditto SDM's advice, especially on the amount of driving involved. I just returned to SW Georgia from the Keys and the weather was above average for mid winter. Per the local dive ops, about every third or fourth day the easterly trades abate while continental weather fronts push through, creating optimal surface conditions.

Finally (finally FINALLY) dived the Duane! Photos worthy of my (now world famous) Singapore Two Step to follow.