You may feel that you're ready for the Advanced Open Water Course when you need a Refresher Course. Those who are learning how to dive take the Open Water Course and can go right to the advanced course when they complete it, so if you're experienced, this may be helpful. The advanced course includes underwater navigation and diving in deeper water plus one of 15 adventure dives.

Adventure diving is quite a thrill for divers who like deep diving and wreck diving. Key West diving is particularly exciting at the USNS Vandenberg, a sunken ship that is now the largest man-made reef in the National Marine Sanctuary of the Florida Keys. Along with having a great deal of fun, divers can develop underwater careers of photography, natural sciences, navigation and videography. A refresher course could lead to more than safer recreational diving; it could lead to a salary.

If you're taking a Refresher Course, you also might want to take the Project AWARE Fish Identification Course so that you know what you're seeing underwater. Knowing what kind of fish you're seeing makes it more interesting because warm-water fish species vary in different parts of the world. Learn digital underwater photography and capture images of fish to examine later. It's quite a science lesson for the kids, too.

Did someone say "kids?" The Bubble-maker Experience for kids eight years and up gets them ready to scuba dive for a family adventure that will make wonderful memories. Scuba diving may even spark an interest in marine biology in the future. When you take the Refresher Course, the kids can be scheduled for this diving class.

A good thing to know when diving is how to be an Emergency Oxygen Provider, another course taught. You'll learn how to give oxygen to someone in trouble underwater as well as how to recognize diving-related illnesses. It may be invaluable. In a similar vein, the Dan Oxygen Provider course teaches divers how to give oxygen to an injured diver. Various systems for oxygen delivery are reviewed as well as types of injuries that may occur underwater.

The Enriched Air Nitrox Course provides ways to give divers more time underwater. This technique also allows for water reentry sooner during repetitive diving. More diving in a shorter amount of time may be helpful to divers with very busy schedules. If you want to get a jump-start on learning more about diving, e-learning is an excellent resource. Ask us about the best course for you.

Enjoying a Safe Dive

As a new diver, it is extremely important to remember that every dive you make should be a safe dive. A S.A.F.E D.I.V.E consists of self-reliance, attitude, fitness, experience, diving skills, involvement, variety and equipment. In order to enjoy a safe dive, you will need to be self-reliant. This means that you are in control of your own dive experience. Your own safety depends upon your skills and the way that you behave while in the water. Always make well-informed decisions while in the water and steer clear of taking risks that could lead to potential injuries. Know your limits and your equipment limits and never push them to the edge which could lead to a disastrous dive.

Your Diving Attitude

It is also important to maintain a good attitude while recreational diving. Ensure that your mind is in the right state to complete the dive and that your mind will not be wandering in other directions while under water. If you are currently dealing with stress, are under pressure or have other major concerns, it may not be the right time to complete a dive as a new diver.

Fitness Levels and Experience

Fitness is also extremely important, as well as your fitness level when completing a dive excursion. Before diving, ensure that you have undergone a physical and are in good heart health. Be aware of different signals that your body may be telling you regarding your limits and what you are able to complete during the dive. Take a diving course to increase your experience level and always dive in areas that are recommended for your skill level. Proceed with caution into dive areas and never jump right in, especially when you are unfamiliar with an area.

Getting Involved and Equipment

In order to make the most out of your diving experiences, you may want to get involved with diving communities around your area. Make friends with other divers and enjoy excursions with them. Becoming active in the diving community can open up new diving opportunities that you may have never gotten to experience before. In addition, you will also want to make sure that you have the proper equipment on you at all times while diving. You will also want to know how to use all of your equipment and can easily access it in any given situation.

Only medical, prescription-grade oxygen should be used for oxygen-related injuries. Too much oxygen introduced into the body is referred to as oxygen poisoning; proper administrating and equipment handling is essential. The equipment used by an oxygen provider consists of an oxygen delivery system, which includes a cylinder, regulator, oxygen mask and oxygen tubes and hoses.

Before the commencement of a diving excursion, the oxygen provider should check the delivery system and pressure. While the unit should always be accessible and assembled at all times, it must remain off until it is needed. Having extra cylinders, washers and masks is also extremely important before embarking on a dive. Cleaning masks after every use and servicing equipment at least every two years is paramount to a clean and functioning oxygen unit.

The acronym, DAN, stands for Divers Alert Network. This non-profit organization administers professional and expert information regarding up-to-date medical procedures for divers. The network works to prevent underwater scuba diving accidents by training and certifying divers in the proper emergency procedures. DAN is also an advocate for underwater research and education, especially in regards to diving safety.

DAN offers certification courses for oxygen providers. Upon the completion of the course an oxygen provider will be able to recognize the warning signs and symptoms associated with underwater diving afflictions. Furthermore, an oxygen provider will have knowledge regarding the advantage of administering oxygen to a wounded diver. Understanding the proper handling procedures of oxygen and the corresponding equipment is an essential aspect of the DAN certification course. Courses are offered onsite by a certified instructor or available online. An example of such can be found in the oxygen provider courses offered in Key West, Florida. Key West diving is a major element in the state, with many tourists, travelers and professional divers seeking to discover the state’s beautiful aquatic attractions.

In addition to great Key West scuba diving and snorkeling sites, Key West, Florida, offers a quaint Old Town experience along with pirate, maritime, and ghost museums, an amazing aquarium, a beautiful butterfly garden and arboretum, unique shopping, fine dining, and elegant spa and resort services. You can explore Key West by electric car, bicycle, airplane, kayak, glass-bottomed boat, charter boat, or enjoy a backcountry hiking tour.

Start Your Key West Scuba Diving Adventure At Key West Scuba Dive

Easy to find and packed full of information, equipment, and dozens of Key West scuba diving and snorkeling adventures, Key West Scuba Dive has everything you need to create a great summer vacation. Key West snorkeling and scuba diving packages feature custom Newton dive boats, friendly, knowledgeable guides and state-of-the-art equipment. The boats offer fresh water showers, large dive platforms, ample storage, and even photo tables to protect your video equipment.

Many of the Key West scuba diving packages combine diving with Key West snorkeling to facilitate a wider range of skills and interests. This allows groups of family and friends, some who are certified and some who are not, to still enjoy their day together, comparing observations, enjoying complimentary food and beverages, and swapping fish stories.

Key West Scuba Diving And Snorkeling Sites In The Sanctuary Preservation Area

One area frequented by Key West scuba diving aficionados is the Sanctuary Preservation Area. This region works to maintain the fragile undersea world of living coral reefs, countless tropical fish, and historical shipwrecks. It encompasses Eastern Dry Rocks, Rock Key, and Sand Key. Eastern Dry Rocks offers an old galleon for you to explore, complete with stone ballast and brass fillings. Rock Key is one of the best sites for Key West snorkeling. Here, you can see artifacts from an1800s Spanish sailing ship and a battleship.

Sand Key is another great site for Key West snorkeling and scuba diving with a wide variety of tropical and sport fish native to the region as well as other sea life. Here, you can expect to see grouper, loggerhead turtles, and barracuda as they search amongst the beautiful coral reefs for smaller varieties of tropical fish. Nearby, you will find a lighthouse that you can climb for a stunning view of Key West and the ocean.

Experienced Diver Or Novice Snorkeler

The beauty of Key West makes it a great place to practice your diving skills, to become certified, or to experience snorkeling for the very first time. If you are a certified scuba diver who is out of practice, there are refresher courses available. For the uncertified, you can receive your scuba certification within a few short hours. Key West snorkeling classes and outings are a great way to get your feet wet and see the underwater sights. The Glass Bottom Dolphin Watch Snorkel trip is always a favorite as it combines a glass bottomed boat trip with snorkeling and a Key West dolphin encounter.

Clearly, this can be one of the best vacation experiences ever. Forget the long lines and over-priced French fries. Key West, Florida, offers a relaxed, beautiful atmosphere filled with events, activities, and stunning beaches just waiting for you to arrive!

Communicate Through Slates, Technology and Hand Signals andndash; Underwater, there can be instances when the visibility is especially poor and divers who are close to each other need to communicate. Some use slates that are reusable andndash; you can write on them and erase your message to ensure that there is no ambiguity in communication. There are also high tech communication devices, which come with a microphone so that your friends can listen to whatever you are saying. One of the most important tools, however, is hand signals.

You can transform your diving experience and make it much more enjoyable by mastering hand signals. They are easy to learn, simple to use and even at a distance, they will be easily understood by your fellow divers.

Invest in Dependable Equipment andndash; It is absolutely necessary that a diver’s equipment is appropriate to the conditions they are going to dive in. It is also important that the diver has a technical understanding regarding how the equipment works.
There is a wide variety of equipment out there and not every option will burn a hole in your pocket. However, you should know that it is not recommended to be stingy when scuba equipment is concerned.

Chalk out a budget and get the best equipment you can by staying in that budget. The biggest benefit of doing this is that you would not require changing fairly new equipment and making the same investment anytime soon.

You can lounge on a pristine beach, enjoy Key West snorkeling, or scour the depths as you exploring sunken ships on a Key West scuba diving adventure in just a few short hours of travel time. Scuba certification classes don't take very long and they are enjoyable all on their own. Once you are certified, the world is your oyster, your lobster, and your anemone!

Key West Scuba Diving For Beginners

Once you arrive in Florida, be sure to enroll in one of the many Key West scuba diving classes offered. If you have the time, the best package is a 3-day event that starts with classroom instruction and then provides you with pool and ocean diving for the next 2 days. Most Key West scuba diving packages include all of your equipment plus food and beverages, a friendly, knowledgeable staff, and some of the most amazing underwater terrain you've ever seen.

You can explore sunken ships, try a Key West dolphin encounter, or take the most stunning photographs of your life on your Key West scuba diving adventure. If you'd prefer starting more slowly, you can begin with Key West snorkeling, which is a great introduction to the local underwater flora and fauna. You can enjoy a glass-bottomed boat ride out to an area frequented by dolphins and then slip into the buoyant waters to do some exploring on your own.

Dining, Dancing, Dolphins, And Rum

In addition to the thrill of a Key West scuba diving or snorkeling package, you can enjoy a sunset or dinner cruise complete with the tropical rhythms of Caribbean music and free rum punch! Life just doesn't get much better than this. Take an afternoon to work on your tan and then head for Old Town to see some of the sights. You can visit a pirate museum, one of the best aquariums in the world, or simply stroll through town and browse the unique shops for gifts and clothes for yourself and friends and family back home.

Just about everyone loves dolphins and you can visit an underwater dolphin playground on one of your Key West scuba diving treks. Your Key West vacation will have you entertained around the clock with fine dining, live entertainment, and the most incredible scenery imaginable. You can rent a kayak, a bicycle, an electric car, or a jet ski. There are airplane tours, charter boat tours, and even a backcountry hiking tour.

Florida's Flora And Fauna

The ocean is filled with more flora and fauna than people will probably ever be able to categorize. As you enjoy your Key West snorkeling or scuba diving experience, you may encounter several types of sport fish, anemone, lobster, starfish, sharks, eagle rays, stingrays, and dolphins in addition to possibly meeting a friendly resident jewfish that weighs over 200-pounds!

The coral reefs of Key West allow you to see plate, staghorn, and brain corals, among many others. The tropical fish are colorful and curious and you will have to ask yourself why you never thought of doing this before! Key West Dive Center is a great place to get all of your Key West scuba diving and snorkeling information. The beach is waiting!

You can enjoy the pristine beaches, the tropical weather, and relaxed atmosphere of Florida for far less than you might expect. The current economy has forced drastic cuts in airfare, hotels, and resorts and even Key West snorkeling and scuba diving packages. All it takes is one phone call and you could be packing your bags for the vacation of a lifetime!

Key West Snorkeling For Young And Old

Key West snorkeling offers vacationers the best of both worlds: unmatched undersea experiences and no need for certification. Your Key West vacation is great alone, with friends, or with the whole family. Whether you prefer to explore the shallows from a sleek, 30-foot boat that will take you to remote locations and teach you how to snorkel or on an elegant 78-foot catamaran that will take you to deeper waters, you are bound to be thrilled with your Key West snorkeling holiday. You can explore the brilliant, living coral that surrounds the area, regardless of your skill level, schedule, or budget.

The waters surrounding Key West are filled with tropical fish, sport fish, corals, anemone, lobster, starfish, stingrays, and even dolphin. Your Key West snorkeling adventure can include a visit to an underwater dolphin playground or you can meet a friendly, 200-pound jewfish! While enjoying Key West snorkeling, you will see staghorn, brain, and plate corals and an immense variety of tropical fish and numerous sport fish. Your camera won't get a moment's rest on your Key West snorkeling adventure.

Key West Scuba Diving For Both Novice And Experienced Divers

Even if you are not certified when you arrive in Florida, you can be within a few short hours. Your Key West scuba diving adventure will simply amaze you with the variety of fish, shipwrecks, and coral reefs that you can explore. Most Key West scuba diving packages include all of the equipment you will need plus food and beverages and helpful advice from friendly, knowledgeable guides.

The Ten-Fathom Bar Key West scuba diving package will introduce you to porcupine fish, eagle rays, grouper, spiny lobster, and countless, colorful tropical fish who are surprisingly curious about human divers. If you prefer geology to sea life, the Toppino's Reef and Smith Shoal Key West scuba diving adventures offer stunning underwater canyons, channels, and vistas within the fifteen coral reef "fingers" that extend out into the ocean.

Scour Shipwrecks For Sunken Treasure

No Key West scuba diving holiday would be complete without a trip to one of the many sunken ships in the area. You can explore the 150-foot superstructure of the 520-foot USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg or the USS Wilkes-Barre, which was split in half with explosives during testing. Each and every shipwreck site is unique and breathtaking as the local flora and fauna quickly moved in and staked their claim.

This is a vacation opportunity like no other. Your unique adventure is made all the easier without the hassles of foreign travel, language complications, or money exchanges. While you are in Florida, you may want to consider a Key West dolphin encounter, an informative visit to the Key West Dive Center, or a tour of the many maritime and pirate museums available. This is one vacation that will provide you with stories for decades to come!

You can nap on the beach, stroll through Old Town, or hop aboard an elegant cruise ship for the vacation of a lifetime for far less than you would expect to pay. The Key West Dive Center is prepared to cater to your every interest with a variety of discounted Key West scuba diving and snorkeling packages, airplane tours, jet ski tours, and so much more.

Key West Scuba Diving

Unlike Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Key West scuba diving is convenient, easy to reach, and they accept American currency. Your Key West scuba diving adventure will bring you to coral reefs that are stunningly beautiful and populated with dolphins, sharks, anemones, hermit crabs, stingrays, lobsters, and more tropical fish than you could ever count. Instead of standing in line for a passport, wrestling with your luggage through customs, and exchanging your currency, you can be in Florida within a matter of hours, swimming, sunning, and savoring tropical delights.

Key West scuba diving offers something for everyone. Seasoned, novice, or uncertified divers can enjoy the wealth of underwater experiences available in Key West. You can acquire certification on a great three-day course that offers class work on the first day and both pool and boat dives on the second and third days. There are dolphin encounter dives, shipwreck dives, and you can even explore the Marquesas Reef Line, which was formed by a meteor! You can also explore the Nine Foot Stake wreck with its immense brain coral. This site is also the best spot for nighttime Key West scuba diving.

Key West Snorkeling Tours

If you prefer snorkeling, there are many tours to choose from. You can board a luxurious 78-foot catamaran complete with showers, sun deck, all of your Key West snorkeling gear and a bar. If you prefer something more intimate, you can board a 30-foot vessel that heads for more isolated locations unreachable by larger boats. For something in between, you can enjoy the clear blue waters surrounding this island paradise aboard a FURY catamaran for a snorkeling adventure combined with a sunset cruise.

If you have never gone snorkeling before and want lessons, the Whitecaps Key West snorkeling package is the way to go. With only 6 passengers, you will get individualized attention as you explore two different locations along the Florida coastline. Once you've gotten your fins wet, you simply must enjoy the ultimate Key West snorkeling adventure available: The Rum and Reggae Sunset and Snorkel Cruise. This one has it all: Key West snorkeling, Reggae music, a sunset sail, and free rum punch! Life simply doesn't get much better than that!

Life's Simple Pleasures Made Easy

Sunning, swimming, snorkeling, and Key West scuba diving can fill your days and nights with relaxation, excitement, and a much needed change of pace. In addition to the natural wonders of Florida, you can browse the unique shops and museums found in Old Town Key West, which was once the richest city in America. Learn about pirates at the Pirate Soul Museum, handle a starfish at the Key West Aquarium, or go on a Key West dolphin encounter. Whatever you decide to do on your Key West vacation, you are bound to return home filled with stories, memories, and a thirst for more.

Instead of standing in line for a passport, enduring a long flight, and spending far too much money, you can enjoy a wonderful, affordable vacation in Key West, Florida. The beaches are beautiful, the weather is perfect, and you can be there in practically no time at all. Even if you have never enjoyed Key West scuba diving before, you can be certified and enjoying the coral reefs in a matter of hours.

Travel Discounts And Easy Travel

You can take advantage of many Key West snorkeling and scuba diving discounts currently available. Flights, cruises, and accommodations are offering significant discounts in an effort to encourage tourists to come and visit. You can stay in an elegant resort or a charming BandB and enjoy fine dining and dozens of Key West tours and attractions for a fraction of what it would have cost only a year ago.

Another advantage to domestic travel is that you will not need a passport, foreign language skills or extended vacation time to get to where you are going. Florida is easily accessible and as beautiful as any tropical paradise anywhere else in the world. Pristine beaches, swaying palm trees, Caribbean food and music, unique shopping experiences and Key West snorkeling and scuba diving adventures are all awaiting your arrival.

Key West Scuba Diving Adventures

The wide variety of Key West scuba diving adventures available make it possible for every schedule, budget, and skill level. For the uncertified, you can enroll in the Lost Reef Adventures 3-day course, which will provide you with instruction and certification on the first day followed by two days of pool and ocean diving where you will be able to experience Key West scuba diving at its finest. If you prefer, there are several Key West snorkeling tours to try.

The Morning Wreck and Reef excursion is a two-tank Key West scuba diving trip that leaves in the morning for the 520-foot USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg wreck site. This superstructure rests 150-feet underwater and rises to only 47 feet from the surface. If you prefer, your Key West scuba diving adventure can take you to Smith Shoal where you will enjoy a shallower dive, exploring a 54-foot steel tower inhabited by staghorn, brain, and plate corals, grouper, and more tropical fish than you can count.

Nautical Natural Wonders

Toppino's Reef is a stunning shallow Key West scuba diving reef that offers a breathtaking view of fifteen coral reef "fingers" that create channels and underwater valleys filled with sea life. You will want to bring your camera to capture images of the angelfish, butterfly fish, and crustaceans, not the mention the beautiful corals themselves.

Key West is the perfect place to get away from it all and enjoy reconnecting with the natural wonders of Florida, both on land and under the sea. As you relax and work on your tan, you can start planning for next year's vacation. The Key West Dive Center has great opportunities or you may even want to give yourself the gift of a Key West dolphin encounter!

When visiting Key West, one of the most fun and crucial activities to take part in is a scenic and beautiful Key West dive. The warm and crisp waters surrounding the port are the perfect way to spend a day or let off some stream after a morning of sightseeing. With the plant and ocean life in the Gulf, you will see things you never knew existed and have more fun than you ever thought you could experience.

At the Key West Dive Center, we can help you find the right Key West dive or Key West snorkel package that is right for you and perfectly fits the needs of your family. Whether you want to scuba dive or explore the great living coral reef, we here at Key West Dive Center can help you make your dreams a reality. Here are 3 of our favorite Key West dives.

EXPLORE THE LOST REEF

Our Lost Reef Key West dive is a wonderful dive for adventures of all ages and skill levels. From the deck of our 40' custom boat, you will dive into the warm salt waters of the Gulf of Mexico and experience an undersea world you only thought existed in your dreams.

All of our Lost Reef Key West dive boats come with fresh water shower facilities, rest rooms, large dive platforms, and a host of other amenities including state of the art video and photo equipment to ensure you can take all of the memories you make on your Key West dive home with you.

Our knowledgeable and friendly staff will take you through every aspect of your Key West dive adventure to help you know what to look for underwater and keep you safe and sound. GLASS BOTTOMED DOLPHIN ADVENTURE

If you want to get up close and personal with some of natures friendliest creatures, but don't want to throw on a wetsuit, the Key West Dive Center can help you interact with the dolphins from the comfort of our state of the art glass bottomed boat.

Our glass bottomed cruiser comes complete with fresh water, drinks, and plenty of amenities to make your dolphin viewing adventure more enjoyable. If you feel like getting a little wet, there are plenty of options to take a Key West snorkel with these brilliant and social creatures.

SNORKEL AT THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE CAPS

Taking a Key West snorkel is one of our favorite activities. But getting to the really great snorkeling spots, well that takes some skill. Our 30' boat takes 6 snorkelers to one of 2 pristine Key West snorkel locations. These are places where big boats just can't go.

Once there, you and your family will spend an hour in the warm and clear waters of a living coral reef away from prying eyes and other visitors. This Key West snorkel adventure is like having your own private stake in a living coral reef. This is perfect for families and divers of all ages and skill level.

NEED MORE HELP FINDING KEY WEST ATTRACTIONS?

From scuba diving Key West to Key West inns to booking Key West tours, we have the resources and connections to make your stay in the US's southernmost city fun without breaking the bank.

Not staying in Key West? We can help you find vacations in many other exotic locations. From fishing in Cabo to swimming with dolphins in Bahamas, Best on Key West is here to help.