Looe Key, John Pennekamp

[Jay Furr]

My wife and I are relatively recently certified divers; we got our
cards a couple of years ago and, since we live in Vermont, don't get
out as much as lucky folks who live in more southely climes. A few
days ago, we had a what-the-heck moment and decided to spend Christmas
week in the Florida Keys, just relaxing, doing not much of anything
(we've been to the Keys enough that we've done all the obligatory
tourist stuff long ago), and getting in two or three dives.

We'd like to dive John Pennekamp and see the Christ statue and
whatever else there is to see around there (and we know there's a lot)
and we also figure we should give Looe Key a try since we've heard
from literally hundreds of people that it's an outstanding place.
Hence our question to the group:

Can folks recommend good dive shops for Key Largo/John Pennekamp and
for Looe Key? We know that there are ZILLIONS of dive shops in the
Keys and some are extremely safe and reliable and trustworthy and
*some*... well, not so much. We've looked up lots of shops online
and a lot of them, as you'd expect, have really slick websites, but a
slick website doesn't mean diddly when you're out in the water. We'd
really appreciate recommendations from people who had good experiences
as well as any and all "FOR THE LOVE OF GOD STAY AWAY FROM THIS
SHOP..." warnings.

Tanks in advance for any thoughts folks have to share!

[Lee Bell]

Post by Jay Furr
My wife and I are relatively recently certified divers; we got our
cards a couple of years ago and, since we live in Vermont, don't get
out as much as lucky folks who live in more southely climes.

Move. With housing prices down the way they are down here. there won't be a
better time.

Post by Jay Furr
We'd like to dive John Pennekamp and see the Christ statue and
whatever else there is to see around there (and we know there's a lot)
and we also figure we should give Looe Key a try since we've heard
from literally hundreds of people that it's an outstanding place.

FYI, and not intending to be sarcastic at all, you won't be diving John
Pennekamp. Most of John Pennekamp is dry land and the rest is shallow water.
When people tell you they're diving in Pennekamp, they're usually in the Key
Largo Marine Sanctuary. It's not a big deal, I'm just a nit picker.

Looe Key is about 70 miles from Key Largo. You can certainly do both dives
in a single trip, but not many do. It's easiest for those that dive Key
Largo on the way down to Key West and drive about 30 miles back up to do
their dives on Looe Key.

Post by Jay Furr
Can folks recommend good dive shops for Key Largo/John Pennekamp and for
Looe Key? We know that there are ZILLIONS of dive shops in the
Keys and some are extremely safe and reliable and trustworthy and
*some*... well, not so much. We've looked up lots of shops online and a
lot of them, as
you'd expect, have really slick websites, but a slick website doesn't mean
diddly when you're out in the water. We'd really appreciate
recommendations from
people who had good experiences as well as any and all "FOR THE LOVE OF
GOD STAY AWAY FROM THIS SHOP..." warnings.
Tanks in advance for any thoughts folks have to share!

Pretty much any dive shop in the Key Largo area will do for the kind of
diving you express an interest in. I've used American Dive Center, Spencer
Slate's Atlantis Dive Center, Silent World and Quiesence. Of the bunch, I
like Quiesence best, but they were all fine for what you're considering. The
trick will be finding out who is going there. Ever since the Spiegel Grove
was placed in the area, it's been the number one dive cite around followed
by the more familiar Bibb and Duane. The Statue is pretty cool, but only for
a minute or two. Fortunately, it's surrounded by some pretty nice reefs. Pay
attention to any information you can get on visibility. The Statue area
blows out pretty easily.

The only dive operation I like around Looe Key has closed its doors. It sold
out to a friend of several members here who seems to have vanished from the
face of the earth. Perhaps Popeye still knows how to get hold of Rachael.
Nobody else seems to. If you can't fine her, you're pretty much on your own.
The Looe Key Resort boat will get you there and back, but is one of my least
favorite operators. Their prices are a bit on the high side and they charge
for water, hot dogs, you name it. The fill tech that was there last time I
was, didn't recognize that my DIN valve was not an A Clamp type and tried to
fill it with a standard connector. He didn't succeed, not even close.

If you've ever operated a small boat, you might try renting one around
Sugarloaf Key. Looe Key is very easy to find and, for about the same price
as a two tank, two hour trip, you can spend half or even a whole day diving
or snorkeling the site. It's good for both.

Lee

[Dan Bracuk]

Jay Furr <***@furrs.org> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in:

:My wife and I are relatively recently certified divers; we got our
:cards a couple of years ago and, since we live in Vermont, don't get
:out as much as lucky folks who live in more southely climes. A few
:days ago, we had a what-the-heck moment and decided to spend Christmas
:week in the Florida Keys, just relaxing, doing not much of anything
:(we've been to the Keys enough that we've done all the obligatory
:tourist stuff long ago), and getting in two or three dives.
:
:We'd like to dive John Pennekamp and see the Christ statue and
:whatever else there is to see around there (and we know there's a lot)
:and we also figure we should give Looe Key a try since we've heard
:from literally hundreds of people that it's an outstanding place.
:Hence our question to the group:
:
:Can folks recommend good dive shops for Key Largo/John Pennekamp and
:for Looe Key? We know that there are ZILLIONS of dive shops in the
:Keys and some are extremely safe and reliable and trustworthy and
:*some*... well, not so much. We've looked up lots of shops online
:and a lot of them, as you'd expect, have really slick websites, but a
:slick website doesn't mean diddly when you're out in the water. We'd
:really appreciate recommendations from people who had good experiences
:as well as any and all "FOR THE LOVE OF GOD STAY AWAY FROM THIS
:SHOP..." warnings.
:
:Tanks in advance for any thoughts folks have to share!

Here is a report of my last trip to the Keys
http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/Trips/KeyLargo2008.htm

and the one before that
http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/Trips/FloridaKeys2007.htm

and Looe Key
http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/Trips/LowerFloridaKeys.htm

Capt Jim Wyatt's dive shop is no longer in business and it the only
one I recommend against.

Whatever you decide, enjoy your trip.


Dan Bracuk
Never use a big word when a diminutive one will do.


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[h***@hotmail.com]

Post by Jay Furr
My wife and I are relatively recently certified divers; we got our
cards a couple of years ago and, since we live in Vermont, don't get
out as much as lucky folks who live in more southely climes.  A few
days ago, we had a what-the-heck moment and decided to spend Christmas
week in the Florida Keys, just relaxing, doing not much of anything
(we've been to the Keys enough that we've done all the obligatory
tourist stuff long ago), and getting in two or three dives.
We'd like to dive John Pennekamp and see the Christ statue and
whatever else there is to see around there (and we know there's a lot)
and we also figure we should give Looe Key a try since we've heard
from literally hundreds of people that it's an outstanding place.
Can folks recommend good dive shops for Key Largo/John Pennekamp and
for Looe Key?  We know that there are ZILLIONS of dive shops in the
Keys and some are extremely safe and reliable and trustworthy and
*some*... well, not so much.   We've looked up lots of shops online
and a lot of them, as you'd expect, have really slick websites, but a
slick website doesn't mean diddly when you're out in the water.  We'd
really appreciate recommendations from people who had good experiences
as well as any and all "FOR THE LOVE OF GOD STAY AWAY FROM THIS
SHOP..." warnings.
Tanks in advance for any thoughts folks have to share!

I was in Looe Key a couple years ago. I'll have to look up who I dove
with, etc as it was my first time there so I don't recall off hand to
tell you. It was a nice time. No complaints l but it's not exactly
my ideal vacation place since it was at bit expensive. For the same
amount of money, I could have a better hotel and better diving in
Bonaire, Mexico or Costa Rica.

[Dan Bracuk]

***@hotmail.com pounded away at his keyboard resulting in:

:I was in Looe Key a couple years ago. I'll have to look up who I dove
:with, etc as it was my first time there so I don't recall off hand to
:tell you. It was a nice time. No complaints l but it's not exactly
:my ideal vacation place since it was at bit expensive. For the same
:amount of money, I could have a better hotel and better diving in
:Bonaire, Mexico or Costa Rica.

For the keys, I prefer to rent a house than stay in a hotel. Makes
for a much nicer vacation.

Dan Bracuk
Never use a big word when a diminutive one will do.


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[h***@hotmail.com]

:I was in Looe Key a couple years ago.  I'll have to look up who I dove
:with, etc as it was my first time there so I don't recall off hand to
:tell you.  It was a nice time.  No complaints l but it's not exactly
:my ideal vacation place since it was at bit expensive.  For the same
:amount of money, I could have a better hotel and better diving in
:Bonaire, Mexico or Costa Rica.
For the keys, I prefer to rent a house than stay in a hotel.  Makes
for a much nicer vacation.
Dan Bracuk
Never use a big word when a diminutive one will do.

Good point.