Dive Review of Scuba-Do Dive Charters/Best Western Suites in
The Continental USA/Key Largo

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Scuba-Do Dive Charters/Best Western Suites, Oct, 2004, by Curt & Kathy Hofer, MI, USA . Report 1878.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	We are quite surprised that we haven’t seen more reviews for Scuba-Do Dive Charters in the Chap Book. Perhaps those that have gone before us have decided to make sure it remains their little secret. Scuba-Do is essentially a two-person operation. Tony Stewart is the boat’s captain and Laurie Volpe is the first mate. They conduct business right from the boat. Laurie is the point of contact for scheduling your dives and she can make reservations for you at a variety of local hotels at discounted rates. Quality gear is available for rent. The Best Western Suites, recommended by Laurie after a discussion of our lodging preferences, was a good value. The rooms are townhouse style with a common area, full bath, kitchenette, and balcony downstairs, and a good-sized bedroom with full bath upstairs. There was adequate closet space in which to stash our clothes and dive gear. They have a small pool that was well kept. The room rate includes a continental breakfast. The Scuba-Do is outfitted specifically for diving. It has both open and covered areas with a reasonable amount of space to move around in. It has a camera table and a good-sized fresh water rinse bucket. The boat has a head and a rinse hose is available with a limited supply of warm water. One feature we really liked was the tank retention clips that held the tanks securely in place by the bottom 1/3 of the cylinder. This allows a double strap BC to be slipped over the top and secured without the risks and inconvenience associated with dislodging the tank – a blessing on rougher days. Ten divers can be accommodated conveniently but during October business can be slow and we went out each day with 3 to 5 divers. Entry was a giant stride off a platform at the stern; return to the boat was via a stem ladder back up to the platform. In general we loaded and set-up our own gear. The Scuba-Do policy regarding site selection is the first group to book the boat chooses the dive sites, subject to water conditions. They are one of the first boats out to the dive sights each morning so they are usually able to get the prime moorings. Safety and dive briefings, given by Tony, are thorough and both Tony and Laurie are up to date on the latest interesting critter sightings: our first trip into the water yielded a visiting reef shark that had been discussed during the briefing. The number and variety of fish, coral, sponges, and other reef creatures found throughout the Pennekamp Marine park is outstanding. Color and abundance are the watchwords. Most dives do not exceed 40 feet in depth so long bottom times are the rule.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	51-100 dives
Where else diving	St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Grand Cayman Island, Belize, Curacao, Catalina Island
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, cloudy	Seas	choppy, surge
Water Temp	78-80°F / 26-27°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	50-60 Ft/ 15-18 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	[Unspecified]
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	[None]

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Dive Review of Scuba-Do Dive Charters/Best Western Suites in The Continental USA/Key Largo

Scuba-Do Dive Charters/Best Western Suites, Oct, 2004,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Scuba-Do Dive Charters/Best Western Suites in
The Continental USA/Key Largo