Dive Review of Starfish Enterprise/www.idivestarfish.com in
The Continental USA/just S. of Palm Beach,FL

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Starfish Enterprise/www.idivestarfish.com, Jul, 2007, by Petra Israel, Maryland, usa . Report 3424.
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	Starfish Enterprise (www.idivestarfish.com)was the best "domestic" dive experience I have had to date. And it ranks right up there with some of the best international operations I have encountered. The vessel is a 34 foot Crusader with real common sense put into it's customization. There is more than adequate space under the benches and the camera table was a complete surprise as was the fresh water shower "cleverly disguised as a gray garden hose". Captain Craig and Crew Linda are friendly, fiercely observant and boundlessly accomodating. Not one but two fresh water rinse tanks flank the divers platform with not one but two ladders. The Starfish Enterprise was spotlessly clean and offered snacks, drinks and a head. Then of course there was the diving....I had visited the Keys and was not impressed with the cold water, poor visibility and 25' max depth. So the anticipation of diving off the South Florida coast was less than underwhelming.....until I hit the water here, just a half mile off the South Florida(Lantana)shore. I was amazed to be descending to a "real" dive site (translation "real" = spoiled caribbean diver ;-) The visibility varied from 50 to 75 feet (not the 100+ Cozumel vis) but I didn't care. There was a prolific reef system with plenty of photographic subject matter. The reef is still healthy (there are under informed officials in govt. proposing waste dumping in a couple of areas - quick write your congressman!) While I did not spot the turtles and dolphins that generally inhabit the area I was not disappointed by the vast array and variety of marine life. Each buddy group is given it's own dive flag, a thorough briefing and the pool is open. How many times have you had a near collision with your "group" drift diving because the divemaster decided to come to a dead stop in swift current to show you a miniscule grain of sand? Well, maybe he was trying to show you something else but you were way too busy with damage control. Not here. Drift dive your own profile and coast at your own pace over healthy coral, sponges and photo friendly marine life. We dove one wreck and encountered very little current at depth. A descent line was provided for easy locating and orienting. Will I go back? ABSOLUTELY! It's right here in Florida where most of the natives speak english, accept U.S. currency and rarely have political uprisings. Besides, you can't beat the price. I flew Southwest for $87.00 roundtrip, $57.00 for two tanks, and lucked out by staying at a friend's house. Quality of the dive operation and the experience? Priceless!
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Red Sea, Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba, Cozumel, Belize, Grand Cayman, Puerto Rico, Florida Keys, North Carolina
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, rainy, cloudy	Seas	calm, choppy, currents, noCurrents
Water Temp	78-82°F / 26-28°C	Wetsuit Thickness	1
Water Visibility	50-70 Ft/ 15-21 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Dive your own profile, each buddy group received a dive flag, dive site briefing and the pool was open.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	None	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	I was amazed at the prolific subject matter just a hop and skip from the South Florida Coast. This is drift diving at its most fun since the profiles are your own. Drift diving poses it's own photographic challenges but there was no shortage of great "models" to pose for the camera. The Starfish Enterprise has a camera table running down the center of the boat which would garner it a score of 5 if the table were not also used for masks, flashlights and weights on this trip. There were two freshwater rinse tanks, one for cameras and one for the other "stuff". I have no doubt Capt. Craig and Crew Linda would have dedicated the camera table and the rinse tanks if asked. This was not a serious photo group this time but I would not hesitate to recommend it to serious photogs. I know I will go again with multiple pieces of equipment and complete confidence.

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Dive Review of Starfish Enterprise/www.idivestarfish.com in The Continental USA/just S. of Palm Beach,FL

Starfish Enterprise/www.idivestarfish.com, Jul, 2007,

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 Starfish Enterprise/www.idivestarfish.com in
The Continental USA/just S. of Palm Beach,FL