Can anyone help with recommending a dive school please?

[PoohBears#1fan]

We're a family of 4 Open Water Divers and are in Orlando for a month in August, we'd really like to dive whilst out there (happy to stay on the coast for a night or 2 to facilitate that), we won't be bringing any kit so will need somewhere that offers guided dives and kit hire.

We have done Divequest before (& probably will again) but would love a recommendation for a school to dive in the ocean with please?

 

[lovethattink]

Maybe calling Scuba Quest Orlando Dive Shop on Orange Blossom Trail? Since they sell the gear, I'd think they'd be able to point you in the right direction.

 

[PoohBears#1fan]

Thank you, I was really hoping to find a personal recommendation of a school someone has dived with.

Anyone?

 

[kjp]

I know it's not an ocean dive, but my family did some dives American Pro Dive Center in Crystal River, which is about 1 1/2 hours from Orlando. They were decent dives, and we enjoyed seeing the manatees.

 

[bearzabout]

The best serious diving in Florida is in the Keys (if you like wreck diving). Since you are staying for a while, would you consider a 4.5 hour one way trip to Key Largo just south of Miami? We have spent weeks diving there. Look up the Spiegel Grove if you like big wrecks. We use Conch Republic in Tavernier just south of Key Largo. They have a great staff, big boats and post their schedule online so you know where they are going on which days. The schedule can change due to weather. We got our Nitrox certification with them.

I hear Quiessence in Key Largo has nice small boats for 6. Both should have all gear available for rent but remember your C card. They will probably want you to do a reef dive first to make sure you are good divers and are happy with your gear before doing the 100' deep wreck. There are other wrecks if you want to dive for a few days. The three additional wrecks off Key Largo are the Eagle, Duane and Bibb if you want to research these. Summer is the best time to dive because the water is generally warm and calm, unless a hurricane has formed. In other words, don't book too far ahead. Either place can recommend lodging for a night of two.

There are other wrecks off Marathon and Key West if you want to do a week of different dives.

 

[loves to dive]

If you like drift diving Splash Down Divers in Boyton Beach is our favorite dive operator. http://www.splashdowndivers.com/. We've used them a number of times. The keys are o.k. if you like wrecks but not the best reef diving because most of the reefs have been ruined. Quiessence is a good operator, we have used them a number of times, pretty easy diving there. We are Master Divers (both my honey and myself, my son is an open water diver) and we prefer West Palm Beach area to the Keys. Again it is drift diving and can have some pretty wicked current but they have some healthy reefs and some pretty decent wrecks.

 

[bearzabout]

Hey Loves To Dive: Can you tell me more about diving the West Palm Beach area? What dive sites do you like the most? My hubby did a night dive there 20 some years ago. I'm surprised to hear the reef is still OK. He has been diving for 49 years and it is a bit depressing to see the condition of the reef in many locations. He really loves wreck diving and is used to some pretty wild drift diving from his dives in Cozumel and Australia.