Key West Travel Forum

HI. My husband and I are driving down from Ft. Lauderdale to the Keys during the first week in November. Our funds are very limited soo....my question is... Because of Your experiences, If you had to pick one, which would it be? Dry Tortugas or John Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo..???
I thought of either spending money on a Seaplane for 1/2 a day in the Dry Tortugas. Or spend money diving in Key Largo... It's a hard choice.. :(

Are you experienced divers? What other places have you been diving?

If you have been to really spectacular dive spots in the past maybe you would be underwhelmed with John Pennekamp SP. But if you don't get to dive much and this is an opportunity to get some dive time in, then take advantage of it.

I've never been to the Dry Tortugas, so not sure how it compares

My husband is a certified diver, I am not. I am planning this trip for us and I am surprising him with a dive adventure.. He has dived in Maui and other places similar. I have never been, so I am not sure if John Pennekamp SP is the same. I just thought that since Key Largo is listed as #1 in diving in the U.S. it would be THE place to see. I really wish I could get some feed back from Dry Tortugas as well. Thanks for the info. :)

tortugas-Fort Jefferson. Camp one night, you can bring dive gear and take the ferry there.

It probably is the #1 drive spot in the US. And the Keys are nice diving (I don't dive, my brother does or has in the past and we are Florida natives. There are other dive destinations in the Keys.)

Check out some of these web sites
http://flkeysdiving.com/

http://www.keysweb.info/infopages/diving_site_guide.htm

Or maybe submit a question here
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/matrix/

I know you want to make it a surprise but sometimes it is easier to ask whether someone would enjoy diving in the Keys or would prefer to do something different. If he has never done a dive in the Keys he probably would enjoy it.

You've mention two great dive sites to visit while in the Florida Keys but you may have left one out - Looe Key Reef located around Big Pine Key. I'm old but use to dive many years ago & Looe Key is one of the best. Taking the airplane to Dry Tortgas is good ifin you decide to go, bout 70 miles due South of Key West, you'll luv the view from the plane & see all kinds of shark, dolphin, schools of fish, etc!

Here is a website you can visit & do some research on the number of dive sites in the Florida Keys:

http://www.flkeysdivesites.com/index.cfm

Have fun in the Florida Keys!

I think taking a diving trip is a great idea!! There are going to be so many options open to you, especially, since you have some experience! But did you think of doing a diving/fishing kind of trip? I know they have a lot of different choices and by taking a boat you could experience a more intimate kind of dive. When I went to Key West I found an amazing excursion through fishkeywestfl.com. I would check it out they might have the perfect adventure to surprise your husband with! I hope you have an amazing time in Key West! I know I did!

I never thought of combining those two.. Great idea. I will check it out. Thanks!

Thank you. I've checked out the website. It has great information. Problem is now you have put more ideas in my head. :)

Thank you. I've checked out the website. It has great information. Problem is now you have put more ideas in my head. :)

I absolutely love the Dry Tortugas. I have gone a number of times with different people and to a person they all thought it a fantastic excursion. We have gone by Ferry and some of our group by seaplane. The seaplane got rave reviews for the views and excitement. The fast ferry offered a fun experience with dolphins dancing in the wake, a nice picnic lunch and a pocket friendly excursion.
The snorkeling was very nice within immediate beach access. Not the very best I have experienced in the keys. My personal best experience snorkeling in the keys has been on Key West Sebago to the coral reef.
I have not been on a dive at the Dry Tortugas so I cannot speak to the quality of the dives there vice other areas such as Pennekamp.
You will need to address the fact that you will not likely go on a "deep" dive as you are uncertified. He could dive and you could snorkel or snuba depending on the charter/tour.The shallow dives on the reefs are gorgeous though, you will both enjoy.