Diving the Florida Keys
The Florida Keys run from Key Largo to the north to Key West in the south. The Florida Keys have the only living coral reefs in the continental United States. No matter what aspect of diving you like, the Keys have it all: coral reefs teeming with life, a wealth of wreck diving, drift diving, night diving, snorkeling, and extraordinary underwater photo opportunities. The reef depths average 20 to 40 feet before spilling over a steep slope to 120 or more feet. There is an abundance of brain, star and elkhorn corals surrounded by a vast diversity of fish throughout the reefs. Charter services run up and down the Keys taking divers to greatest dive sites. The Keys offer some of the best diving in the U.S. The large reef systems and numerous wrecks provide unlimited opportunities for divers year-round.
Best time to dive
Year-round the diving is great, but wind can cause rough conditions in the late fall, winter, and early spring months.
Visibility
Visibility averages 30 to 100+ feet
Water temperatures
Water temperatures are 85 °F in summer months and fall into the low 70s in the winter.
Weather and climate
Florida has a semi-tropical climate. It is very hot and humid from June through August. Expect temperatures to exceed 90 degrees F and humidity to hover near 100 percent. Cooler temperatures are found during the winter months between December and March when temperatures are around 75 degrees and the humidity is much less. It rains nearly every day in the summer, but the showers are generally short and the sun usually quickly reappears. Florida is the sunshine state and also the thunderstorm and lightning state. Due to the abundance of warm moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and the hot tropical sun, conditions are perfect for the formation of thunderstorms.
Language
English
Passport/Visa requirements
Canadians do not require a visa, only a valid passport or a birth certificate or citizenship certificate if arriving directly from Canada. Valid passports are required for all other nationalities. Visas are required for many nationalities. You should check current requirements before traveling as requirements can change very quickly. Visitors must have return or onward tickets and the necessary documents for further travel.
Currency
U.S. Dollar – Get exchange rates at http://www.xe.com/ucc/
Electrical current
110 volts AC, 50 cycles. Plugs are mainly the two, flat-pin type, though three-pin plugs are also widely used. European appliances without dual-voltage capabilities will require an adapter, which can be purchased in most major departure airports.
Capital
Tallahassee
General information
Florida is located in the southeastern United States. Florida is bordered on the west coast by the Gulf of Mexico and on the east coast by the Atlantic Ocean. The Florida Keys begin just south of Miami at Key Largo and extend south to south west forming an arc and ending at the famous Key West, where the southern most point of the U.S. exists. The Keys are connected by bridges making access simple and easy. The Florida Keys is a water and boaters playground.
The Florida Keys offer an assortment of accommodations from quiet bed and breakfasts to resorts. There are also many small “mom and pop” type accommodations making for a very Keys experience. Good restaurants are available on the large Keys, such as Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, and Key West, but even some of the smaller keys offer some excellent seafood cuisine.
Map
Get maps of the Florida Keys at http://www.fla-keys.com/maps/index.htm
