Diving in Florida's Dry Tortugas

[Jeanne]

Has anyone used any liveaboards in Southern Florida to explore the offshore Gulf of Mexico south of Key West? I went on a day trip to the Dry Tortugas a couple of years ago, which were superbly isolated, and I have read a couple of reports saying the diving there and around the area is superb, and pristine (the snorkelling around Fort Jefferson was pretty good I must say, never seen bigger barracudas). As the islands and the nearby reefs are some 70 miles out in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, I was able to find that there are some liveaboards offering trips. I have managed to find a couple of liveaboard operators saiing from Naples (Florida, that is!) and Fort Lauderdale, however has anyone experience of this in the area? If so, what are the facilities like, the diving, the costs, recommendations etc...

Thanks for your comments!

[alison boler]

Hi Jeanne
Haven't had the pleasure of visiting there myself but I have seen liveaboards operating out of the Florida Keys advertising multi day trips to the Dry Tortugas. In case you don't get any other replies I attach a couple of links to American sites where they have trip reports and messages that talk about diving there. Hope they are of some use. If you do go, please write up a short trip report and send it to me
<a href="mailto:alison.boler@btinternet.com">alison.boler@btinternet.com</a>
and I'll put a page up on our travel site.

Epinions

<a href="http://www.epinions.com/park-Parks-All-FL-Dry_Tortugas_National_Park/display_~reviews" >http://www.epinions.com/park-Parks-All-FL-Dry_Tortugas_National_Park/display_~reviews</a>

Rodale's Scuba Diving - Bulletin Board. Search here for Dry Tortugas and also look in the articles on Florida Keys. Obviously the bulletin boards and the Trip reports are more "candid" than the articles. Here is a link to a trip report but I'm sure there will be others.

<a href="http://dive.scubadiving.com/members/tripreports.php?s=all&ct=d&c=FLK" >http://dive.scubadiving.com/members/tripreports.php?s=all&ct=d&c=FLK</a>


Alison

[Jeanne]

Thanks Alison, you've done the leg work for me, much appreciated. I passed this opportunity by last year, changing my plans for the vacation at the last minute in favour of Tobago, but, frequent flyer miles gathering dust, and beckoning, we have a lot of Continental/Virgin miles to trade in, so this could be the making of an economical Florida trip, hopefully in April/May this year. Will be in touch with a report for sure!

Thanks,

Jeanne



Hi Jeanne
Haven't had the pleasure of visiting there myself but I have seen liveaboards operating out of the Florida Keys advertising multi day trips to the Dry Tortugas. In case you don't get any other replies I attach a couple of links to American sites where they have trip reports and messages that talk about diving there. Hope they are of some use. If you do go, please write up a short trip report and send it to me
<a href="mailto:<a href="mailto:alison.boler@btinternet.com">alison.boler@btinternet.com</a>"><a href="mailto:alison.boler@btinternet.com">alison.boler@btinternet.com</a></a>
and I'll put a page up on our travel site.

Epinions

<a href="http://www.epinions.com/park-Parks-All-FL-Dry_Tortugas_National_Park/display_~reviews" > <a href="http://www.epinions.com/park-Parks-All-FL-Dry_Tortugas_National_Park/display_~reviews" >http://www.epinions.com/park-Parks-All-FL-Dry_Tortugas_National_Park/display_~reviews</a></a>

Rodale's Scuba Diving - Bulletin Board. Search here for Dry Tortugas and also look in the articles on Florida Keys. Obviously the bulletin boards and the Trip reports are more "candid" than the articles. Here is a link to a trip report but I'm sure there will be others.

<a href="http://dive.scubadiving.com/members/tripreports.php?s=all&ct=d&c=FLK" > <a href="http://dive.scubadiving.com/members/tripreports.php?s=all&ct=d&c=FLK" >http://dive.scubadiving.com/members/tripreports.php?s=all&ct=d&c=FLK</a></a>


Alison