|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where exactly is Key Largo?
- Key Largo is the first island of the Keys, about halfways between Miami and Key West. The drive from Miami to Key Largo is about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Key Largo is the best place to dive from in the Keys, as we have Pennekamp State Park here (beautiful reefs) and 4 excellent wrecks. back
- Do we need a rental car?
- Since there is little to no public transportation in the Florida Keys, we recommend you rent a car if you are arriving by plane. There is a shuttle service between Fort Lauderdale and Miami airports and Key Largo, but to get around the Keys it is better to have a car and be able to independently conduct your trips e.g. to Key West.
- back
- What are the reefs and wrecks like?
- The reef system of the Florida Keys is the third largest living reef system in the world. The best dive sites can be reached from Key Largo. The reefs here are very well conserved (National Sanctuary) and mostly shallow (15 to 45 feet), ideal for leisurely relaxed diving. We often see large nurse sharks, reef sharks, huge eagle rays, large turtles, Jewfish, Barracudas, and many colorful fishes of all kinds. The wrecks (Spiegel Grove, Duane, Bibb) are deeper dives (80-129 feet), and are sensational divesites, as they have been prepared and secured for diving. We keep coming back from tours to the wrecks with speechless guests...
- back
- When is the best time of year to go diving in Key Largo?
- The best time of year to go diving in Key Largo is year-round. Underwater visibility depends on the distance of the Gulf Stream and the strength of the wind, and both are not predictable and not seasonal.
Winter (December to February): sometimes windy and choppy (seasick?), visibility mostly good to very good, water temperature 20-22 C, 69-76 F
Spring (March to April): less windy, sometimes choppy, visibility mostly good to very good, water temperature 24-26 C, 75-79 F
Summer (May to September): rarely windy, mostly calm seas, hurricane season starts mid-June, visibility mostly good to very good, water temperature 27-33 C, 83-87 F
Fall (Oktober bis November): rarely windy, mostly calm seas, hurricane season until mid-November, visibility mostly good to very good, water temperature 27-30 C, 76-82 F
back
- What time do the dive boats go out?
- The dive boats leave 2x per day, once in the morning and once in the afternooon (with 2 dives each). The wreck dives are mostly in the morning, as they are always deep dives.
- Checkin for the morning is generally at 8:00 am, for the afternoon at 12:30 pm.
- back
- Do you do night dives?
- We generally schedule night dives on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The booat goes out to the reef before sunset, and as the sun goes down the divers get into the water. Night dives are a one-tank dive trip.
- back
- Are the dives guided?
- Here in the Florida Keys there is always a Divemaster on board for your safety, but we do not provide free guides. At a very low price, you can book a dive guide (instructor or divemaster) who will take care of you from the minute you set foot on one of our diveboats. Our groups are limited to a maximum of 4 divers, so you can be sure you are getting all the attention you deserve. Our guides are very experienced and safety-oriented professionals who know our reefs and wrecks well. They are happy to show you the nicest spots underwater, and make sure you are safe and comfortable.
- back
- How much does the diving cost?
- Unguided diving on the reef is US$ 80 per person ($85 on a wreck trip), including boat ride, 2 dives, tanks and weights (excluding rental gear). Guided dives are US$ 30 extra per person (2 persons and up). Full rental equipment is $35 per day in the summer and $39 per day in the winter with a full suit. You can find the complete pricelist here.
- back
- How can I book, and how can I pay for the diving or package?
- At the time of booking we will put a $ 50 hold per person on your credit card ($100 for packages). We will only credit you that amount if you do not show up and do not notify us. Our cancellation policy is 7 days for classes and packages (14 days for private classes), 4 days for guided dives, and 2 days for dives. If you cancel before the policy, we void the hold. You can find our scure booking form here (password: scubafun). Upon arrival, you can pay by cash, check or credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover).
- back
- Can non-divers and snorkelers go out on the diveboats too?
- If there is enough room, we will be happy to take non-divers ("bubblewatchers") or snorkelers who would like to accompany divers. For pure snorkeling tours, the snorkel boat is more suitable. Please note that smetimes we may discourage non-divers from going out with us due to weather conditions and surf. This is solely for the safety of the non-divers.
- back
- How can I avoid getting seasick?
- Hints on how to avoid seasickness can be found in our infosheet "Etiquette for the boat diver". If you take the medication the night before, you will feel much better on the boat!
- back
- What if I haven't been diving in a long time?
- If you haven't been diving for 1-2 or more years, we recommend you take a Refresher course. This includes a morning in the pool and rehearsing all the exercises for safety and security plus some theoretical basics, and then 2 boat dives in the afternoon with an instructor. After that you will feel safe and relaxed again, and will be able to enjoy your diving adventures here in full.
- back
- What does an "Advanced Open Water Course" give me?
- The "Advanced Open Water Course" includes some advanced diving theory (no exams) and 5 different dives. Mandatory dives are a deep dive and a navigation dive, and you can pick the remaining three dives from: wreck dive, night dive, boat dive, search & recovery dive, fish id dive, underwater photography, Nitrox dive ($12 extra for Nitrox) and peak performance buoyancy dive. All these dives are with an instructor and lots of fun, so this course is a great alternative to just taking guided dives, and you get a lot of additional experience in different diving situations. You also get a really good book and your certification as an "Advanced Open Water Diver", which means you can then go to 100 feet instead of just 60 feet as an Open Water Diver. And the gear is included in the class as well (as in all our dive classes). You can find all the prices here.
- back
- What paperwork do I need to go diving?
To go diving with us, you should bring all your diving certifications, and if possible your log book.
We do not require a medical statement from your doctor if you can answer all the questions on the PADI Medical Statement with NO. If this is not possible, please bring a medical statement from your doctor that you are fit to dive.- back
- Which wetsuit should I bring?
- If you do not own a wetsuit, we'll be happy to supply you with a rental. In the summer, you don't really need a wetsuit - a shorty is more than enough. In the spring and fall we dive in 3mm, in the winter we use 5mm.
- back
- What about scuba rental gear?
We will take care of all your rental gear needs! If you bring your own equipment or parts of it, we will make sure you are completely equipped. Our rental gear is new, very well maintained and reliable. We also have weight-integrated BCDs if you prefer to dive without a weightbelt. In all of our entry-level classes, our state-of-the-art rental equipment is already included in the course price.- back
- Do you also organize accommodations and other activities?
- We will be happy to book your hotel room or efficiency for you, and we know all about the local attractions, and will happily organize those for you. You can just come here, lean back and enjoy your vacation! We also offer vacation packages with diving and other activities.
- back
- Which Hotel do you recommend in Key Largo?
- Our partner resort consists of several small houses and cottages, that have beautifully and tastefully decorated, very clean double rooms, efficiencies and suites. The resort is very diver-friendly and off the beaten track of the major hotel chains, an oasis of relaxation! Depending on your taste and the size of your wallet ;-) there is something for every diver. The resort has its own sandy beach, from which you can watch and enjoy the "Million-Dollar-Sunsets". And there is a very nice pool. The owner of the resort puts every earned penny back into enhancing the rooms and premises even more. Our Scuba-Fun recommendation! We will be happy to book your stay there. You can find more info and pictures here.
- back
- Are there beaches in Key Largo?
- The Florida Keys are limestone islands, the sandz beaches are all artificial. In Key Largo there are a few beaches in Pennekamp State Park and some resorts have their own beaches, other than that zou have to travel south quite a bit, for example to Bahia Honda. Some of our partner resorts in Key Largo have their own sandy beach.
- back
- Which clothes should I bring?
- Here in the Florida Keys the style is very casual, even in better restaurants you will hardly find anything else than shorts and t-shirts. A sweater or jacket is recommended, however, as locals love their airconditioners... A rain jacket is also a good idea, in case it gets rainy when you are out on a boat. Other than that, it is sufficient to bring a few t-shirts and shorts; also you can buy anything here that you may have forgotten at home. "Topless" is not a big hit in the USA!
- back
- Can you tell me about tipping?
- If you are happy with the service, everybody appreciates a tip.
- The crews on the diveboats main income is tips, so $5 to $10 per person and trip is a good start. The crew divides the tip amongst themselves. Instructors and guides do not participate in the crews' tips, so please tip them separately, about 10 to 20% of the course price ot the guiding fee.
- back
- Back to top
- English: Home | About Us | Instruction | Info | FAQ | Partners | Contact us | Disclaimer
- Deutsch: Startseite | Team | Tauchen | Kurse | Aktivitäten | Infos | FAQ | Preise | Links | Kontakt | Shop | Impressum
