FAQ's

Q.  Is it customary to tip the boat crew and/or your Instructor?

A.  The boat crew and your mates work very hard to ensure your safety and enjoyment of the upper Florida Keys adventure.  A tip of 10% - 20% of the cost of your dive or snorkel trip is customary.

Q.  When I watch the weather channel in the summer it appears that it rains a great deal in the area.  How does this affect the diving and snorkeling?

 A.   The forecasting you generally get is for the Miami and Ft. Lauderdale area, where in the summer months it does, in fact rain most everyday.  They get the typical afternoon thunder showers that most of the United States of America gets.  The upper Florida Keys, on the other hand, receive the occasional shower, but they are usually early morning or very late afternoon.  These showers are usually short lived and have little affect on diving and snorkeling.

Q.   Are the SCUBA and Snorkel trips guided?

A.  Generally guides are available for an additional fee.  Our reefs are very easy to navigate and guides are usually not needed.  If you prefer to have a guided tour you should schedule this one or two weeks in advance before your planned trip.

Q.  When should we check in for our scheduled trip?

A.  The very latest check in time for any boat trip is 30 minutes prior to your departure time.  If you need to be fitted with rental equipment you will need to be at the operation 45 minutes before the scheduled departure.

Q.  Can I get Training while on our vacation?

A.  What better place to learn diving and / or snorkeling than in the beautiful clear water of the Upper Florida Keys.  Most of our members offer various levels of training.  Some of our operators offer training through Instructor.  You will want to schedule any training a minimum of one to two weeks in advance of your trip.

Q.  Which is the best visibility the morning or the afternoon trip?

A.  The best visibility is always when the sun is at its highest.  With this in mind, the second dive of the morning trip and the first dive on the afternoon trip will have the best visibility.

Q.  What is the best time of year to plan an upper Florida Keys dive or snorkel adventure?

A.  There really is no bad time to visit the upper Florida Keys.  The weather is always beautiful and the water is always nice.  Please visit or weather page.

Q.  What part of the Florida Keys has the best diving and snorkeling?

A.  The Upper Florida Keys without a doubt has the best diving and snorkeling.  This is due in large part that a good portion of the area has been protected for over forty years.  The proximity of the Gulf Stream to our islands and the physical size of our islands block the Florida Bay water from mixing with the Atlantic Ocean.  This provides us with the cleanest water of the island chain.

Q.  Should I make reservations for our Adventure and how far in advance?

A.  Reservations are always recommended particularly for instruction or a guided dive.  Any reservation involving an Instructor or Dive master should be made a minimum of one to two weeks in advance.  IF you are planning to visit the upper Florida Keys during a school break such as Spring Break, Christmas Break, or summer vacation you should make your reservation at least a few days in advance.  If you are visiting us during the fall and winter months a reservation is recommended but not required.

Q.  What else is there to do in the upper Florida Keys besides SCUBA diving and Snorkeling?

A.  The upper Florida Keys are world famous for their fishing fleet.  Deep sea and backcountry flats fishing are world class.  You can also enjoy great kayaking, parasailing, jet skiing, and eco tours.  You can enjoy swimming with the dolphin or visit Theater of the Sea.  One must thing to do is to visit is our Diving History Museum.  If you still have any energy left, there are numerous night spots with lots of entertainment and local flavor.

If you have any other questions, please email us.