Dive shop in Miami or Ft. Lauderdale

[KJHorton]

My son and I are taking the open water course but our check out dives are the weekend we leave for our cruise. If we arrive a couple of days ahead of time, I was thinking maybe we could do our check out dives in Ft. Lauderdale or Miami and complete our certification before we board the ship.

 

Any recommendations for dive shops in either city or nearby?

 

Thanks.

[nrh322]

I used to work at Force E scuba in Boca Raton. They have a branch in Ft. Lauderdale. Great shop. Great people. :)

 

http://www.force-e.com/index.shtml

[wolfie2012]

I've heard good things about Force E Scuba, but have never used them personally. I typically use FillExpress when I'm down there. Great little shop, always have everything I've needed in a pinch. Friendly staff.

 

http://www.fillexpress.com

 

For boat dives I always use Parrot Island Scuba, and I believe they'll do referrals for checkout dives. Jerry & his staff are simply the best I've ever seen.

 

http://www.parrotislandscuba.com

[deepstops]

I typically use FillExpress when I'm down there. Great little shop, always have everything I've needed in a pinch. Friendly staff.

 

For boat dives I always use Parrot Island Scuba, and I believe they'll do referrals for checkout dives. Jerry & his staff are simply the best I've ever seen.

 

Both of these operations are top-notch and used by the locals as well as visiting divers. I'll also add Oliver Paoli who runs the Avid Diver boat.

[Capt_BJ]

Great idea but I'd change the plan slightly

 

I'd head down to Key Largo and Pennekamp park rather than dive off Miami or Ft Lauderdale. Pen' is only about an hour south of Miami .... well maybe 90 minutes.

 

I'd refer you to Quiescence Diving Services. I first dove with them over 20 years ago....and they still run '6 packs'. No more than 6 divers on a boat. They teach on site too, so handling a referral should be no problem (with advanced arrangements)

 

 

http://www.keylargodiving.com/

 

(p.s. note the site name ... makes ya think they were the first one on line down there huh?)

[KJHorton]

Thanks, Capn. That is another thought we had; my husband dove Pennekamp years ago and loved it. It is just a matter of whether we need to dive on Sunday and have to get back to MIA before the ship leaves. We will check out the shop you recommend.

 

Now, if only Southwest flight prices would come down a couple of days before we plan to leave; they are usually much cheaper in August!

[w&k]

I don't know if FLL (or PBI) is a flight option for you, but my favorite spot is Boynton Beach, which is just a bit north of FLL, and south of PBI.

 

We stay at the Holiday Inn Express @ I-95 and Boynton Beach Blvd. The breakfast buffet is good, and there used to be (still is, as far as I know) a Manager's reception from 5-7 with beer, wine, soda & munchies.

 

We dive with Capt. Craig on the Starfish Enterprise http://www.idivestarfish.com or Capt. Larry on the Manta http://www.sixpackdivers.com

 

Wendy

 

dive pix

http://community.webshots.com/user/wendyandkeith

[paulli]

http://www.prodiveusa.com/ is in Fort Lauderdale. They certify many instructors but also certify divers. We took a dive charter with them recently. Nice operation.

[deepstops]

http://www.prodiveusa.com/ is in Fort Lauderdale. We took a dive charter with them recently. Nice operation.

 

But definitely what we locals refer to as a cattle operation. :rolleyes:

[paulli]

I was impressed with their educational focus which is their main business. They are a well known name and the advantage of a large operation is they may have resources to accommodate schedule constraints a typically cruise traveler faces. That said, I don’t necessarily know if I would use them again to do a dive charter as their dive boat was large and pretty crowded but they were close by and convenient.