Favorite Dive Operators
Valparaiso, Florida
Dive Shop: Chuck's Dive World
Boat: NA
Website: www.chucksdiveworld.com
Comments: Chuck has a full service dive shop, including equipment sales and repair, training, and Nitrox. If you take a class with Chuck, you'll receive a 10% discount on purchases.
Destin, Florida
Dive Shop: ScubaTech
Boat: Sea Cobra - 38' crew boat
Website: www.scubatechnwfl.com
Comments: Destin is my home port and I dove with ScubaTech until I bought my own boat. The captain is supremely-competent and knowledgeable. The dive shop is the best in Destin.
Panama City, FL
Dive Shop: Hydrospace
Boats: 3 customized dive boats ranging in size from 42' to 65'
Website: www.hydrospace.com
Comments: To tell the truth, this is the only operator I have ever used in Panama City, but everyone I know who dives there recommends them.
Pompano Beach & Ft Lauderdale, Florida
Dive Shop: NA
Boat: Seahorse - 38' Delta
Website: www.diveseahorse.com
Comments: Great operation! Mike Halprin is not affiliated with a dive shop, so it is unlikely you will share the boat with classes or snorkelers. Mike and his mate Chris (also a captain) know the reefs and wrecks inside and out. The usual trip starts with a wreck and ends with a drift-dive.
Key Largo, Florida
Dive Shop: Horizon Divers
Boat: Cheeca View - 45' catamaran
Website: www.horizondivers.com
Comments: Although 45' catamarans are usually 'cattleboats,' Horizon has a max of 20 divers, so there is plenty of space to set up and walk around. The boat is fast and stable. On multi-day dives, you can rinse and store your gear on-site. Horizon specializes on the the reefs, but they also go to the Duane and Speigel Grove.
San Diego, California
Dive Shop: Blue Escape
Boats: Blue Escape (50' Delta) and Blue Explorer (52' City Island Marine)
Website: www.blueescape.com
Cairns, Australia (Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea)
Dive Shop: NA
Boat: Nimrod Explorer - 72' Blue Water Catamaran
Website: www.explorerventures.com
Comments: (Live-Aboard) This is the only operator I have used in Australia, but I had such a great time that I would use them again. In my opinion, live-aboards on the GBR are the only way to go, and the best diving is out in the Coral Sea or on the far-north GBR.