Took open water dive cert here and had a blast. Every staff member I interacted with was kind,…read morehelpful, passionate, and safety-conscious. I do wish they were better about inspecting their rental equipment. My OWD class saw a few non-safety-critical equipment issues like a mildly leaky BCD and torn wetsuits.

I have been going to the Florida Keys to go diving for over 10 years now and I have to say I have…read moreconverted from Rainbow reef to Islamorada Dive Center because the service is much friendlier, more accommodating, and the communication is so easy and straightforward. Keira is a pleasure to book with and work with to plan dive trips and she goes out of her way to make sure everyone has a pleasurable dive experience. Captain Jason is very safety forward and makes sure everyone gets on and off the boat securely. He is also so fun and always a pleasure to be on his boat. The instructors we dove with, KA, Tomos and Sonia were super patient and understanding of our different levels of experience. When we wanted to branch out and try new things like lobstering, they were very accommodating, and everyone was willing to work with us to be successful. I love that unlike at places in Key Largo such as Rainbow reef you can actually lobster and Spearfish with Islamorada, but they actually make sure you do it in a safe and responsible way which I really appreciate. I will definitely look forward to diving with this team again!

Don't wait like I did--plan your SCUBA Open Water cert now!…read more They're not joking about the concierge experience, btw. You get amazing service and education at such a reasonable price point. Book with this outfit and never look back. Plus, it's so much easier to get to than the more southern keys. It's hard to overstate the education and value I received from the fine people at Key Dives on the very South end of Upper Matecumbe key. My instructor was Nick C., and I can't say enough great things about the guy. His love for the job, his seemingly bottomless well of patience, and his motivation for teaching exactly what one needs to know in order to enjoy with safety and ease one of the most profound experiences a person will ever have in this life. If I could share that feeling, there'd be a 15-yr waiting list for open water certs. Nick's teaching style efficiently and effectively guided me to know and trust myself and most importantly--my equipment--building the confidence which I found to be crucial when you're so deep in an element you weren't evolved into. He made it easy for even me (adhd?) to absorb the amount of knowledge and experience needed to stay perfectly safe and comfortable in the water so that I could get down to the business of exploring the incredible world that exists below the water's surface. Nick's instruction additionally included steps on how to prep and preserve my own equipment, since I brought my own gear (they will outfit you with everything you need tho). IMO, that was above and beyond. Wrapping up, he was great with both my 11yr-old and my wife with 20 years experience and several other advanced certifications. Nick was in his element for both ends of the knowledge spectrum, often switching between the 3 of us in the same breath, able to shift deftly between helping the little one, myself, and instructing my wife. I also would like to reiterate that everyone I spoke with in the entire Key Dives operation were helpful, accommodating, fostering of the learning environment/process, and an absolute pleasure to be around. Everyone from instructors I was not attached to, to the boat's Captain were helpful and accomodating. I would be comfortable in sending my loved ones to learn under the care and instructions of the folks at Key Dives. Ask for Nick, and don't forget to tip. -jm

Only operator that went out on a Friday morning! IT was choppy but appreciate the crew saving our…read moredive when other poorly operators canceled on us (rainbow). Great crew did a great job. Next trip to Florida keys will be with key dives!

Lovely long reef on the U.S.S. Alligator, wrecked in the 1800s. It's not a wreck dive though there…read moreare some remnants of the ship and inorganic shapes. 26' deep. 9:40am, 64 minutes, 75 degrees, 45ft vis 11:00am, 55 min, 77 degs 5' surge at surface, slight current below but good visibility and calm. Not so overused like the reefs at Largo-- theres just 3 dive operators in this sleepy middle key. Saw: huge moray eels, turtles, lobster colonies, grouper, silver barracuda, nurse shark, conch, sea fans, brain coral, coral crab, shrimp, groupers, midnight (blue) parrotfish, squirrel fish. Highly recommend going out to this one with Seamonkeys.

One of the most beautiful reefs I ever dove at. Right below the lighthouse the the middle of open…read moresea lies a huge tropical underwater treasure of healthy fish, corals and predators. I was on my friends boat and we were doing some fishing about three hundred feet from the lighthouse. The fishing was good, yellow tail snappers were in huge schools and my friend was catching them without any wait or hesitation. I decided to jump in the water with my spear gun and take a few shots at the snappers. caught three and a small amber jack, My streak was brought to a heart stopping pause in minutes. I have been around sharks while diving and to be honest with you I am not scared of them. So i dive just a little above the school but remained mostly in the surface to get air (I was not diving with tanks). A huge bull shark came to the site. He was massive, I had never encountered such large animal on the open ocean. He was calm and collected for a while, just circling and acting very territorial. Suddenly something snapped and that beast became extremely possessive and went to a feeding frenzy. Everything happened so fast and I was able to witness first hand hoe aggressive this creatures can be. He destroyed halve the school of fish in one gulp. My friend was reeling in a yellow tail snapper, the shark swam on his back, flipped and gulped the fish without any hesitation, the line was instantly cut. The visibility was so clear that 40 feet of water seemed like 10. My friend saw the shark when he took his catch and the maneuvers that he did to get it. It was great to share the same story but from two different angles. I was scared for my life; Never have I had my heart beat so fast out of my chest, and certainly not for a fish. There is a first time for everything!!! Its incredible how their jaws can extend out of their mouths. The scariest part was when i turned around and my eyes were no longer seeing him, I could feel the scare as if i was being chased by him, So i changed my course and began swimming backwards toward the boat but keeping my eyss locked on the shark. My buddy was waiting for me,ladder down and ready to pull me onto the platform of the boat where i continued watching that monster destroy the rest of the school of fish. Lesson learned; Chum in the water stay out don't go spearfishing. This thing came out of nowhere, definitely a stealth master and one of the top predators in the ocean.

If you want to go fishing just for fun and don't want to catch any fish DON'T book a trip on Pretty…read moreWork. This boat with Capt Jordan and his mate Billy catch fish. Not very relaxing at all. They made us reel in fish the whole time. Like it was a job. I mean WTF I'm on vacation for God's sake !

Decided to stop by Bud N Mary's to see the Tarpons. Cool stop if your heading down to the Keys. You…read morecan also charter a fishing boat at the Marina. Such a cool spot, just to take a break! Kids will definitely enjoy it!

My family just finished our open water dive certification with Jayme H. At CRD and had an amazing…read moreexperience! Jayme is an excellent teacher, so fun and easy to get along with! She's honestly treated us like family! She gave us tons of tips and tricks to make things as easy as possible. Very knowledgeable about our dive spots and found lots of sea creatures for us to see. She even braided my daughters hair prior to diving because she know how tangled curly hair can get in the salt water. We would highly recommend CRD for your open water certification and recommend Jayme even more!!!!! We will be bringing ing our oldest son back for his certification when he is ready!!!

Fantastic Personalized Experience with a Woman-Owned Business! Highly Recommend!…read more Our family had an unforgettable dive experience with Conch Republic Diving on Christmas Eve afternoon. We booked the dive with only about an hour's notice, and they truly went above and beyond to accommodate us. The team arranged for a private boat just for our group, which included my wife, three sons, my mother-in-law, and myself. We were taken out to two amazing dive sites--Betty's and Davy Crocker--which were absolutely breathtaking. We saw incredible wildlife, including green moray eels, dozens of nurse sharks, and schools of reef fish so big we had to swim through them. The dive sites were gorgeous, and the underwater scenery was just stunning. Our dive guide, Will, was excellent. He did a fantastic job handling our group, which included both my two younger sons who are still new to open water diving, as well as my mother-in-law who is also a beginner. Will made sure everyone was comfortable, safe, and having a great time, adjusting to our varying skill levels with ease. Ashley, the first mate and owner of the company, was super friendly, bubbly, and passionate about what she does. As a woman-owned small business, you can feel the level of care and attention to detail in everything they do. Ashley's dedication to providing a top-tier experience really stood out, and it made the whole trip feel more personal. She made sure to include thoughtful touches that went beyond just the diving. The boats are state-of-the-art and updated, with warm water showers to rinse off after the dive, which was a nice luxury. They also provide reef-safe sunscreen to help protect the environment, which we really appreciated. One especially thoughtful touch was the leave-in conditioner for long hair--a small but impactful detail that made a big difference for us and left us all feeling a little better than they found us. Captain Greg was very confident and clearly experienced, which made us feel safe and secure the whole time. On top of the amazing diving experience, they have a fantastic selection of merch--fun, serious, and even a bit goofy! It was a nice touch, and we ended up buying some fun souvenirs. What really stood out to us, though, was the level of personalized service. Conch Republic Diving seems focused on making each trip unique and enjoyable, which really sets them apart from some of the larger companies around. They truly care about their guests and it shows in every aspect of their service. Overall, we couldn't have asked for a better diving trip, and we highly recommend Conch Republic Diving for anyone looking for a more personal, top-quality dive experience with a business that truly loves what they do. We'll definitely be diving with them again on our next trip!

The crew at SeaMonkey Divers have been really accommodating and helpful to our group of 4 with…read morevaried experience levels. From prepping all the gear, providing water and snacks on the boat, and making sure everyone is good to go - made for a smooth trip. Underwater, the sites were all close by, and the pace was nice and relaxed. Plenty of marine life from moray eels, nurse sharks, sting rays, conches, turtles, barracudas, and schools of fishes. Overall, a great group to dive with and I highly recommend them.

Seamonkey's was a must do dive experience! Family owned, intimate, and they are very knowledgeable…read more Great place that will accommodate any skill level. Dave and Marty are a lovely couple with lots of experience, and they know this spot through and through. RUN, don't walk and enjoy a trip with Sea Monkey's!!

I booked this half day private charter for my boyfriend and I, while visiting Islamorada. We had…read morerequested Charlie for our captain, per other recommendations from friends. He was very accommodating in finding a day and time that worked for us, very hospitable, and had a great personality! Charlie texts you several times before the boat day, to make sure directions on everything are clear- I really appreciated receiving the EXACT directions with pictures and precise details. His "Tiki Tiki" boat was brand new and beautiful, and I enjoyed bringing our own drinks and snacks on the boat (he parks next to a food boat, if you'd rather buy food). The sandbar was a lot of fun, and Charlie brought many toys for us to play with on the water (kayak, rafts, beer pong table, noodles, etc). Definitely enough equipment to keep you busy for the day! The sandbar was a bit busy (even on a weekday), but he tried to find us an area where no one was blaring their music, so we could play our own. Charlie took several pictures and videos for us that he emailed us later in the week. I really enjoyed having all those, in addition to mine. Only constructive criticism I have, would be that I booked a half day "tour", and had mentioned going snorkeling and doing the catch/release of baby sharks. I was under the impression that was all set up as the plan for the day. However, we went straight to the sandbar and spent the day there; little bit of a letdown as we wanted to do other activities as well- other than that it was a great day! The water was clear, we saw some fish (and lots of dogs), and the weather was perfect- we had a great day with Captain Charlie!

There is NOTHING better to do with your time in the Islamorada/Key Largo area than spend the day…read morewith Key Largo Adventures! Charlie is a magical Captain who creates special moments throughout your entire experience on his boat. Of course the Sandbar is beautiful but the hospitality is what sets this charter apart from the rest. His boat was beautiful and we were comfortable as can be all day long. We are already planning our next trip back and can not stop staring at photos from our special day. Can not recommend Key Largo Adventures enough!

If hindsight were a thing, I'd probably want to redo my 1st experience of Molasses Reef as a…read moresnorkeling trip.  Unfortunately, I actually went there initiallly via a glass-bottom boat tour, and as a result we saw virtually no fish :-( Maybe it wasn't the boat but the time of day we went - regardless, I expected to see tons of different fish, but I actually saw less than a hundred of maybe three different species... It also might have been the fact that the boat's engines were so loud that they scared off a majority of the fish we might have seen.  Whatever the actual cause, I suggest that you skip the boat tour and come here to snorkel instead.

My buddy and my best night dive ever - multiple sharks and eels, including a free-swimming one…read more Just about everything else you'd want in a dive - a ray and octopus, an 1887 wreck. The reef has fantastical shapes which provide ledges, holes and lots of growth for the fish. In addition, the water had bioluminescence (turn your lights off)

Been out with them on several occasions. Great time every time!! I highly recommend them!!read more

We booked the 10am reef snorkel and everything was perfect from start to finish. The instructions…read morefor location and process to check in were clear in the email sent prior. The employees were very nice and welcoming, the gear was decent quality and very clean, and the captain and boat mates Brock and Brody were engaging and attentive. The boat ride was comfortable and Amen, the captain, navigated skillfully to alligator reef with a bonus second location away from the lighthouse. There is was deeper and so much fun to explore. We saw so many fish including barracuda, nurse sharks, parrotfish, etc plus some rays. The best snorkeling by far we've ever done!

We all love Captain Slate! Diving with Slate his Crew is not your average experience! Book into the…read moreCreature Feature to see what made Captain Slate famous! He's a dive legend for sure! Slate's can take you to all the good spots in the upper Keys. They have excellent knowledge and can get you to all the wrecks and the hidden gems. they've been operating for almost 50 years and have hard earned experience under their belts! Captain Slate's Scuba Adventures is truly a Florida Institution. Don't miss the opportunity to dive with the best in the Keys!

These guys are clowns. Unprofessional. signed up to dive. Arrived at dock, I was the only one…read morethere. no crew, no diving. these bozos were to lazy to call, text or email me. don't dive with these jerks