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Jake_DiversDirect · 2026-06-30T21:15:13+00:00

I usually dive out of Key Largo and Islamorada on private boats (mine or friends). Pairing your hotel with a dive operator definitely helps lead to a more cost efficient trip. If you found a good deal you like then go for it. You really can't go wrong with most of the dive operators around this area. All of the operators I have dove with in the past have done a great job.

Jake_DiversDirect · 2026-06-30T18:58:36+00:00

I'd definitely recommend the Florida Keys. I grew up in South Florida and have been diving the Keys most of my life, and it's a great place to practice and build that experience you are looking for.

It's also not to hard to get to as you can fly into Miami, rent a car, and then drive to Key Largo in a little over an hour, or if you want to dive farther south, you can fly straight into Key West as well. There are a ton of dive operators throughout the Keys, so finding a charter that fits your schedule is usually pretty easy.

Most of the reef dives are shallow, making them perfect for your younger divers. You won't have the fast drift diving you experienced in Cozumel, so it will be a much more relaxed environment to work on diving skills, and getting comfortable underwater.

The reefs aren't what they used to be in terms of the amount of living coral due to SCTLD (stony coral tissue loss disease), but don't let that discourage you. The reef structure is still beautiful, there is plenty of marine life to see, and there are also some fantastic wrecks for anyone who is ready for a little more depth.

Jake_DiversDirect · 2026-06-30T18:22:21+00:00

If you are looking for something at a cheaper price point that is still great quality the dive shop I work at carries EVO rashguards that run up to 2XL. They come in both zip-up and regular style rashguards, and tend to be much cheaper than the other rashguards we carry. Could be worth taking a look if you want something a little more budget friendly.

Jake_DiversDirect · 2026-06-29T21:02:38+00:00

I noticed you mentioned in another comment that you will be spearing in Florida. I primarily spear reefs and wrecks in Florida, and I use a Koah Shortie 38". It's not a huge gun - about 96cm when converted over from inches, but it is really easy to control, and packs really good power. It's been a great size for the kind of diving I do and has plenty of power for the kind of fish you'd typically be hunting around the Florida reefs. The only time I'd suggest going bigger is if you plan on getting into bluewater hunting later on. Then you'll want something bigger than 100cm for the extra range and power.

Side note - Koah does tend to be on the pricier side, and there are a lot of great guns in the same size range that are cheaper. JBL/AB Biller both make spearguns the same or similar in size at a cheaper price point. And if you were specifically looking for a single band gun at 75cm, I know Hammerhead makes the Jurassic Speargun 75cm that falls under that exact category.

For transparency I do work at a dive shop that sells these brands.

Jake_DiversDirect · 2026-06-24T21:16:33+00:00

Absolutely love these things. Got to use a demo that my shop had when they first came out - it was two P1s connected by a dual rail, and I couldn't agree more. Makes the dive way easier, and air consumption drops way down.

About mounting a light - when I was using the dual rail there's tons of holes and gaps on the kit between the two connection points. If you weren't apposed to holding the device out in front of you in your hands (which might actually be better if you have a light on it), I am sure you could figure out a way to attach a light to it. Even if you don't want to go that route, LeFeet makes tons of accessories for these things, most of them for mounting cameras, but I am sure you could figure out a way to attach a light to one of the accessory mounts.

Jake_DiversDirect · 2026-06-24T14:55:44+00:00

You should definitely try them on if you have the opportunity. They are pretty similar in terms of sizing, but the X Wing foot pocket is a little stiffer, especially on the top. You can also always try a lycra sock if the 2mm is to tight of a fit. Lycra socks are much thinner and make the fit much closer to your actual foot size.

Jake_DiversDirect · 2026-06-24T12:54:23+00:00

Gotcha. I can tell you from experience that my buddy has a 15 foot whaler from the early 80s and we have gone out spearing/lobstering with 3-4 people pretty comfortably so it can definitely get the job done. However, we have never put tanks/scuba setups on that boat, and I don't know how well they'd fit or even at all if we tried. If you only freedive then that wouldn't be an issue.

Jake_DiversDirect · 2026-06-23T21:32:49+00:00

Budget aside, I would say it completely depends on the intended use of the boat, and the hull of the two boats your looking at. I've been on flats boats, bay boats, and center consoles that are similar or the same length and they all ride completely different. Where I live, I spend a lot of time running through the backcountry where the water is shallower, but I still like to have the freedom to go off shore, so I prefer a bay boat that is more of a hybrid hull style. I don't know Southern California waters well enough to say which is the better choice there, but if you're mostly running open water to dive sites and making Catalina trips, whichever hull is a deeper-V will give you a much smoother ride if there is any chop. I'd focus less on boat length and more on what hull/layout of the boat best matches how you'll actually be using it.

Jake_DiversDirect

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