Diving in Miami, Florida

[Digger]

Right then guys, I've got a mate who needs to learn to dive. She's a bit nervous about the whole thing, so I could do with someone who's been to a centre out there, or who has mates in the area etc. that might be able to help.

She's going to Miami, and then on to the Florida Quays(Keys? Who knows) so it needs to be pretty local to that. It needs to be a PADI centre or someone who offers PADI courses.

Has anyone got an idea of prices out there? There is the option to learn here, but I get the feeling learning out there would be easier for her, as I can't see her in Stoney cove in a 7mm semi!!!

Feel free to PM or e-mail me, or post on the boards.

Thanks in advance guys,

Digs.

[Dr Stevil]

Florida Keys would be the better bet, it'll cost a lot more than learning in the Red Sea, I was in Key Largo for a month in 2000 and there's a fair few scuba shops there, they're pretty much  all on the main road which goes thru the Keys 'cos there's very little else there apart from the buildings either side of the road. There's actually a decent pub in Key Largo on Caribbean Drive, think it's called "Sharky's" and I think it's part of a diving operation too IIRC. Nearby, Pickles Reef is one of my favourite ever dives, ~90mins at 6m, eagle rays, nurse sharks etc etc.
Dnet carries an advert for some florida operation.   http://www.aqua-nuts.com/
HTH
Steve

[John Gulliver]

I haven't dived with Aquanuts but I've stayed one night at Kelly's. It's a pretty good motel. Aquanuts has a good reputation. As Steve says, there are lots of diveshops/schools in Key Largo. I've dived with American Diving Headquarters, which is quite a good operation. There are also many diveshops/schools on the other Florida keys, all the way down to Key West.
This link lists the diveshops in Key largo http://floridakeys.com/keylargo/diving/charters.htm
PS Sea Dwellers might be worth checking out as they evidently include twice as many dives in the course as their competitors.
http://www.sea-dwellers.com/