florida keys advice sought

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gnu-power - 14 Mar 2004 17:09 GMT

Hi,

My wife and I would like to celebrate our 10th anniversary in the
Florida Keys (we live near Daytona now). We would like to spend the
week from August 1st through August 6th down there. We plan on taking
our three kids (ages: 8-7-4) with us.

We are both experienced free-divers (with scuba experience)

We need some advice on the following matters:

1) which part of the keys is best adapted to *free* diving (not
scuba)? (we will probably take turns going down and pulling our kids
in tow in an inflatable boat - so it has to be near to shore)

2) where should we stay? We would like a cheap but clean
motel/house/condo/cabin *away form the noise*

3) do you think that it would be a good idea to rent a camper for this
trip?

4) any other tips?

Many thanks in advance,

GP

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NE333RO - 14 Mar 2004 22:12 GMT

>My wife and I would like to celebrate our 10th anniversary in the
>Florida Keys (we live near Daytona now). We would like to spend the
>week from August 1st through August 6th down there. We plan on taking
>our three kids (ages: 8-7-4) with us.

Bad choice of weeks unless it was on purpose. Thats the first week of
lobster season and it will be a nuthouse down there. Book now.

>We are both experienced free-divers (with scuba experience)
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>scuba)? (we will probably take turns going down and pulling our kids
>in tow in an inflatable boat - so it has to be near to shore)

Lots of current if you are anywhere near the passes so be careful. Long key
state park is nice if you like camping. There are even some decent skin diving
spots off the park, the down side being that unless you know where they are, it
really requires a motor boat to find them.

>2) where should we stay? We would like a cheap but clean
>motel/house/condo/cabin *away form the noise*
>3) do you think that it would be a good idea to rent a camper for this
>trip?

A small one if going to Long Key. It's been awhile but I remember there
being lots of low overhang.

>4) any other tips?

Pick a week other than the first week of lobster season.

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Lee Bell - 15 Mar 2004 01:34 GMT

>> My wife and I would like to celebrate our 10th anniversary in the
>> Florida Keys (we live near Daytona now). We would like to spend the
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Bad choice of weeks unless it was on purpose. Thats the first
> week of lobster season and it will be a nuthouse down there. Book now.

Oops. Don't even think of taking your family down for a snorkeling trip
during the first week of lobster season. It's not safe for an alert diver,
who can stay underwater as the boats sip overhead. It's no place at all for
a family.

Lee

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Lee Bell - 15 Mar 2004 01:32 GMT

> 1) which part of the keys is best adapted to *free* diving (not
> scuba)? (we will probably take turns going down and pulling our kids
> in tow in an inflatable boat - so it has to be near to shore)

This was an easy question until you said "has to be near to shore." There
are almost no diving or snorkeling sites that close to shore in the Keys.
There's some good snorkeling at Hens and Chickens Reef, near Islamorada, but
you'll need a boat to get there. Rentals are relatively inexpensive and
charts available in many stores. There's also some great shorkeling at Looe
Key, down near Big Pine Key, almost to Key West, but you need a boat there,
too. Sorry.

If you're not comitted to the Keys, try the Commercial Boulevard area of Ft.
Lauderdale. There's a nice reef within swimming distance of shore.

> 2) where should we stay? We would like a cheap but clean
> motel/house/condo/cabin *away form the noise*

There's no such thing as cheap and clean in the Keys . . . well, almost
nothing. Contact Jim Wyatt, Florida Keys Reef-Divers <jim@reef-divers.com>
and ask about the apartment above his shop. Jim is an owner operator and,
if he's not busy with technical divers or catering to his friends here on
rec.scuba, may even be willing to sell you guys a snorkeling ride or two.

> 3) do you think that it would be a good idea to rent a camper for this
> trip?

I don't think so, but that's a choice you have to make. There are only a
few camp grounds in the Keys and that tends to limit your options.

> 4) any other tips?

Feed the tarpon at Robbies in Islamorada. Ask anybody in the area how to
find them.

Lee

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