SoFla Folks - A couple of questions...

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David In NH - 23 Mar 2008 19:45 GMT

Hi guys!

As mentioned in an earlier post, I'm making plans to be in Florida (Gulf
Coast) with my wife in late April. I haven't booked a flight for myself yet
but she's coming into Fort Myers around 4:30 on Saturday afternoon. (4/26).
I'm planning on coming down and getting a few dives in before I pick her up.
My thoughts are beginning to take shape something like:

- Fly into Miami on Wednesday night and drive to Key Largo.
- Dive KL (probably with Ocean Divers) on Thursday (AM trip they have is to
Spiegel Grove, afternoon to French Reef)
- Dive KL (with O.D again) on Friday morning (Duane).
- Up to Lake Worth to visit and stay with my Dad.
- Saturday afternoon - Drive to Ft. Myers to meet the plane at 4:30.

Questions:
- Would I be able to get a morning charter in Boynton Beach on Saturday and
be able to make Ft. Myers in time for the flight arrival? (Google maps
thinks it is only 2 1/2 hours from BB to FM.). I'm not sure when the boats
in BB come back in and how long it would take to get back on the road. It
seems that Capt. Lynn would be doing an afternoon trip at 1:30 so she'd
probably be back in time for me to hit the road.
- Would diving a little further south (Fort Lauderdale?) make more sense?
Seems it might because it'd would start me off 1/2 hour closer.
- Any of you folks likely to be diving Saturday morning that I could hook up
with?
- Who are the locals recommending for BB and FLL these days?
- Would I be biting off too much to dive 4 dives on Thursday? (Only time
I've done 4 or more in a day was on a live-aboard).

Comments (positive or negative) on Ocean Divers? (Feel free to email me if
you aren't comfortable posting comments.)

Thanks all!

- Dave

Reply to this Message

mag3 - 23 Mar 2008 20:32 GMT

>Hi guys!

First, I'm not a SoFLA'ian (perhaps someday) but I do travel a lot there as
my Dad lives in the Bradenton/Sarasota area.

>As mentioned in an earlier post, I'm making plans to be in Florida (Gulf
>Coast) with my wife in late April. I haven't booked a flight for myself yet
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
>- Fly into Miami on Wednesday night and drive to Key Largo.

That's about 1.5hrs or so depending on traffic and other conditions. Be advised that
there's a lot of construction on US1 south of Fla. City and speeds will be limited.

>- Dive KL (probably with Ocean Divers) on Thursday (AM trip they have is to
>Spiegel Grove, afternoon to French Reef)
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>seems that Capt. Lynn would be doing an afternoon trip at 1:30 so she'd
>probably be back in time for me to hit the road.

IMHO it would be pushing it, but that's just me. I like to allow plenty of time
for these things. It helps that the boat has an afternoon trip scheduled. That
will make the crew wan tto get back to the dock on time. When it is scheduled
to return after the morning trip? After that, it's a matter of any clean up time
you'd need (shower etc.) and putting away your gear. I would also allow one
additional hr for travel in case of traffic or construction. So assuming the boat
is back by noon, and you take an hour to clean/pack up, you're on the road by
1pm. That's just making it by 4:30p.

>Comments (positive or negative) on Ocean Divers? (Feel free to email me if
>you aren't comfortable posting comments.)

I dove with them 2 months ago in mid-January. They're a full fledged PADI
dive shop, and a such, all the "rules" apply (no deco, no free ascents/descents
on wrecks, no full penetrations (swim thoroughs only) and everyone must be
buddied). They don't provide food on board, except for some orange slices at
the end of tne 2nd dive on the way back to port. Other than that, they're
reasonably professional people and I would dive with them again if in the area.

Be aware. The Spiegel Grove and Duane can be subject to significan currents and
OD will not hesitate to cancel a dive to either if the currents are too strong. It will
try to go to the other if the 1st at which it arrives is cancelled for that reason. I did
3 SG trips while I was there in Jan. The 2nd of those 3 was due to the Duane being
cancelled for stong currents. I've done the SG 4 times but the Duane only once.. and
I lost an U/W camera to the Duane that one time. It wasn't pretty. That dive ended
after 20 minutes and even the instructors we were with came back a little shaken.

____________________________________________
Regards,

Arnold

Reply to this Message

Lee Bell - 24 Mar 2008 02:07 GMT

> That's about 1.5hrs or so depending on traffic and other conditions. Be
> advised that
> there's a lot of construction on US1 south of Fla. City and speeds will be
> limited.

I was in the Keys last week. While there is construction going on, traffic
was still moving well. Regardless, 1.5 hours is a reasonable extimate unless
there's an accident on a narrow stretch.

>>- Would I be able to get a morning charter in Boynton Beach on Saturday
>>and
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>>seems that Capt. Lynn would be doing an afternoon trip at 1:30 so she'd
>>probably be back in time for me to hit the road.

Lynn has a pretty short turn around time. You could probably make it as long
as there are no accidents on I-75. It's your call. Personally, I'd consider
the consequences of failing to meet her at the airport in my thinking.

I don't know Ocean Divers, but they should be fine for the dives you're
planning.

Personally, I'd do the Spiegel and the Duane, but would skip French Reef.
YMMV.

Lee

Reply to this Message

mag3 - 24 Mar 2008 03:13 GMT

>> That's about 1.5hrs or so depending on traffic and other conditions. Be
>> advised that
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>was still moving well. Regardless, 1.5 hours is a reasonable extimate unless
>there's an accident on a narrow stretch.

Any ETA from officials on when they're going to fnish that stretch (with the bridge)?
____________________________________________
Regards,

Arnold

Reply to this Message

Lee Bell - 24 Mar 2008 04:04 GMT

> Any ETA from officials on when they're going to fnish that stretch (with
> the bridge)?

Not that I've heard, but I haven't made an effort to find out.

Lee

Reply to this Message

Grumman-581 - 24 Mar 2008 04:59 GMT

> Any ETA from officials on when they're going to fnish that stretch (with
> the bridge)?

Yeah, we should hope to actually live that long...

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