Key Dives

Don't wait like I did--plan your SCUBA Open Water cert now!

They're not joking about the concierge experience, btw. You get amazing service and education at such a reasonable price point. Book with this outfit and never look back. Plus, it's so much easier to get to than the more southern keys.

It's hard to overstate the education and value I received from the fine people at Key Dives on the very South end of Upper Matecumbe key. My instructor was Nick C., and I can't say enough great things about the guy. His love for the job, his seemingly bottomless well of patience, and his motivation for teaching exactly what one needs to know in order to enjoy with safety and ease one of the most profound experiences a person will ever have in this life. If I could share that feeling, there'd be a 15-yr waiting list for open water certs.

Nick's teaching style efficiently and effectively guided me to know and trust myself and most importantly--my equipment--building the confidence which I found to be crucial when you're so deep in an element you weren't evolved into. He made it easy for even me (adhd?) to absorb the amount of knowledge and experience needed to stay perfectly safe and comfortable in the water so that I could get down to the business of exploring the incredible world that exists below the water's surface.

Nick's instruction additionally included steps on how to prep and preserve my own equipment, since I brought my own gear (they will outfit you with everything you need tho). IMO, that was above and beyond.

Wrapping up, he was great with both my 11yr-old and my wife with 20 years experience and several other advanced certifications. Nick was in his element for both ends of the knowledge spectrum, often switching between the 3 of us in the same breath, able to shift deftly between helping the little one, myself, and instructing my wife. I also would like to reiterate that everyone I spoke with in the entire Key Dives operation were helpful, accommodating, fostering of the learning environment/process, and an absolute pleasure to be around. Everyone from instructors I was not attached to, to the boat's Captain were helpful and accomodating.

I would be comfortable in sending my loved ones to learn under the care and instructions of the folks at Key Dives. Ask for Nick, and don't forget to tip.

-jm

We enjoyed a fantastic week of diving with Key Dives. They emphasize reef conservation and safety and are professional in a fun, easy-going environment. On scheduled days, divers can participate in special activities they have going on through I.Care and REEF.

They tagged our gear the first day and then kept it there for the week. We would walk onto the dive boat and it would be waiting for us. We really appreciated this aspect of their service. It made for a much more relaxed vacation.

Each member of the staff we met was friendly and helpful. Each group of six divers has a dive guide in the water to point out marine life you might otherwise miss. The health of the coral formations and abundance of marine life we encountered was exceptional. We dove July 2022 and the visibility was very good most of the week with very calm water and just a bit less clear the last two days the water had a bit of chop at the surface and slight surge below water.

Some of the marine life we saw included: Green Sea Turtles, Nurse Sharks, Stingrays (Southern, Yellow), Crabs (Arrow, not sure of names on others), Shrimp, Queen Conch, Jellyfish (1 only), Flamingo Tongue Snail, Sea Anemone, Sea Urchin (Black, White), Angelfish (French, Gray, Queen, Rock Beauty), Boxfish (Honeycomb Cowfish, Smooth Trunkfish), Butterflyfish (Banded, Foureye, Reef), Damselfish (Bicolor, Sergeant Major, Yellowtail, Blue Chromis, Brown Chromis), Eel (Green Moray, Spotted Moray), Filefish (Scrawled), Goatfish (Spotted), Goby (Various, not sure on all the names), Grouper (Black, Nassau), Grunt (Bluestriped, French), Jack, Parrotfish (Blue, Stoplight), Pufferfish (Balloonfish), Snapper (Schoolmaster, Yellowtail), Surgeonfish (Blue Tang, Doctorfish), Wrasse (Bluehead), Gray Chub, Great Barracuda, Spotted Scorpionfish, Trumpetfish and Yellowhead Jawfish.

Shout outs to Misha and Nikki. Misha spent 5 minutes working with me on my weighting on the first day before I even got in the water. I dropped a huge amount immediately and later in the week, Nikki helped me drop even more weight on what turned out to be the best two dives of the week.

Did a week of diving with the folks at Key Dives over Christmas 2021, and cannot recommend them highly enough. Felt safe and cared for throughout the trip, and their divemasters all go above and beyond what I've seen at other dive shops. Had a great time, and actively looking for another opportunity to get back to the keys specifically for diving with them.

Did open water PADI certification last week. Eric, ( Erik, Erickque, Air-ick) our instructor was great. Very SAFE, patient, positive and a great communicator. Open water dives were great and Captain Brad made you feel at home and SAFE on the dive boat. Will be going back on next Key visit.

Absolutely stellar in every way. Professional, thorough, inclusive, still lighthearted and playful, and most importantly, respectful to the reef and ocean!!! Always a pleasure diving with you.

The most impressive business approach of Key Dives is that they dive with a purpose. Whether it is their Dive against Debris Program or their reef restoration through iCare. Also impressive is the collection of the most talented dive instructors I've seen in 35 years of diving. Justin Hannel was our lead instructor. He has a special gift of breaking complicated data down into understandable bits of information. Highly recommend Key Dives from Basic to Master Diver.

Nikki just certified my wife and me. She didn't just certify us. She made us safe and comprehensive divers. If you get a chance to dive with her then you should take it. She and the whole Key Dive staff are amazing. We will definitely be back!

Really is as good as it gets. From the dive masters, owners and retail employees you'll feel welcome and ready to explore the Key's reefs. The pro shop has all the gear you could ask for with an extremely knowledgeable staff to help pick out what is right for you. Since we went down to get a few friends certified we really experienced how professional their staff is. The pool training was very thorough and expertly run and the following dives were nothing short of spectacular.
Definitely looking forward to returning and expanding my training to explore what the Key's beautiful reefs have to offer.

Thank you to Hayley, Emily, Jason, Captain Ken and Mike for an exceptional experience!

This is a wonderful dive shop that I highly recommend for anyone. We have been diving there as a family and are uniformly impressed by the quality of the gear, the wonderful, personable, knowledgeable guides, professional captains and overall top notch service. They are also involved with iCare coral restoration which is a fantastic program and Educational opportunity. When we were unable to get in for a dive with this shop we have been to other dive shops in the area which are all inferior. We will continue to return to this shop -- as often as possible.

My wife and I just returned home from a great week of 32 dives with Key Dives. What a fantastic time! Our reservation experience was great (from Seattle) and the shop staff was friendly and ready to get us in the water. The dive guides were fantastic, they made us feel safe while showing us the abundant sea life and reefs. The boat captains got us to the sites and back and were especially helpful in keeping everybody safe getting off and on the boat. The boat, Giant Stride, was perfectly set up for diving and extra care was taken to keep the gear disinfected each day. This was our third week in the upper Keys and the third dive operation; we have definitely found our domestic warm water home!