Frequently Asked Questions about Key Largo Scuba Diving

 Key Largo offers access to coral reefs, historic wrecks, and diverse marine life within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Divers can explore shallow reefs such as Molasses and French Reef, visit wrecks like the Benwood, or experience deeper advanced sites including the USS Spiegel Grove, Duane, and Bibb. With dive sites for a range of certification and experience levels, Key Largo is one of Florida’s most established scuba diving destinations. 

You do not need to already be scuba certified to experience scuba diving in Key Largo. Beginners can participate in the PADI Discover Scuba Diving program, which introduces the basic skills needed to dive under the direct supervision of a PADI Professional. If you are already certified, Key Largo offers dive sites for a wide range of experience levels, from shallow coral reefs and wrecks to deeper advanced wreck dives.

Key Largo dive shops handle guides differently. Some charge extra, while others include an in-water guide. But even when a guide is included, ask: How many divers are assigned to each guide?

At Sail Fish Scuba, our professional guides are included, and our small groups are intentional. We’re not interested in “cattle diving,” where a large group follows one guide around the reef. We keep it small, personal, and fun.

 Yes. All students participating in a PADI scuba diving course must complete the Diver Medical Participant Questionnaire. If you answer “yes” to certain medical questions, you may need clearance from a physician before participating in scuba training. We recommend reviewing and completing the form before arriving for your course. You can find the form on our policy page. 

 No. Students cannot bring or use cameras during PADI training dives. This allows students to focus on their training, skills, buoyancy, and safety without the additional distraction of a camera.

 Yes. PADI offers several programs for young people, with the appropriate program depending on the child's age. Junior Open Water Diver certification begins at age 10 and includes age-specific depth and supervision requirements. Younger participants may also be able to experience introductory PADI programs in controlled environments. Parents should consider not only minimum age requirements but also the child's swimming ability, comfort in the water and readiness to learn scuba skills. 

 Our Key Largo dive trips visit shallow coral reefs, historic wrecks and deeper advanced dive sites throughout the Upper Keys. Popular sites include Molasses Reef, French Reef, Christ of the Abyss, the Benwood, and wrecks such as the USS Spiegel Grove, USCGC Duane and USCGC Bibb. Dive sites are selected based on conditions, experience level and the type of trip scheduled. 

 You can submit a reservation inquiry through the How to Book Your Tours section of our website. You can also contact the shop by WhatsApp or text, including after hours, email us at info@sailfishscuba.com, or call 305-453-3446. Our team can help with scuba diving, snorkeling, PADI courses, and private charter reservations. 

 If you are traveling alone, we can pair you with another diver or one of our dive professionals. All of our recreational scuba diving trips include a professional in-water guide at no additional charge.

Solo diving is only permitted for divers with an appropriate Self-Reliant Diver certification.

 Yes. Complimentary underwater photos and videos are included on our recreational scuba diving trips whenever conditions allow. The number and type of photos will vary from dive to dive depending on conditions, marine life, the group, and safety considerations. Our dive professionals are divers first, so monitoring the group and maintaining a safe dive always takes priority over photography. 

 Miami International Airport (MIA) is about 60–70 miles from Key Largo, with the drive typically taking 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on traffic. Key West International Airport (EYW) is about 100 miles away and usually a 2 to 3-hour drive. Weekends, holidays and heavy traffic can significantly increase travel times, so allow extra time if you have a scheduled scuba diving trip or PADI course in Key Largo. 

 Since 2012, Sail Fish Scuba has been a family-run PADI 5-Star Dive Center offering small-group scuba diving in Key Largo with a professional in-water guide included. We think that’s how diving should be—guided, small groups, safe, and most importantly, fun. 

Recreational trips also include complimentary underwater photos and videos. From shallow coral reefs to advanced wrecks, our focus is on safety, personal attention, and making diving fun. 

 Yes, you need basic swimming ability to snorkel in Key Largo. Our boat takes you to offshore reef sites where the water is too deep to stand, so you should be comfortable swimming and treading water.  For weak or non-swimmers, Sail Fish Scuba offers a PADI Discover Snorkel program where you can learn basic swimming and snorkeling skills before heading to the reef with a dive professional.

Key Largo's coral reefs are several miles offshore, so snorkeling conditions can change with the weather, wind and waves. Seas may be completely calm or reach several feet. Around 1-foot seas are generally comfortable for capable swimmers, while 2-foot or higher seas can be much more challenging and are better suited to experienced snorkelers and strong swimmers. At Sail Fish Scuba, snorkeling trips are cancelled at 3-foot seas.

Anyone can experience seasickness, so if you're unsure, plan ahead. If you choose an over-the-counter motion sickness medication, follow the directions and take it before symptoms begin. Some medications can cause drowsiness, so check with your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure. Staying hydrated, eating a light meal and getting fresh air while onboard helps prevent motion sickness. 

Sail Fish Scuba offers a full range of PADI scuba diving courses in Key Largo, including Discover Scuba Diving, Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, scuba refreshers, and specialty courses such as Nitrox, Deep Diver and Peak Performance Buoyancy.

Ready to Go Pro? We also offer the PADI Divemaster course, the first professional level in the PADI system.

 All retail sales are final. We do not offer returns, exchanges, or store credit on dive gear or merchandise purchased in-store. If you have questions about sizing, fit, functionality, or compatibility, our staff is happy to help before you purchase. 

 Yes. Sail Fish Scuba includes a professional in-water dive guide on our recreational scuba diving trips at no additional charge. Our guides dive with the group, help with navigation, point out marine life, and provide additional support throughout the dive. We believe guided scuba diving allows guests to spend more time enjoying the reef rather than worrying about navigating an unfamiliar dive site. 

 Key Largo has dozens of dive sites ranging from shallow coral reefs to deep shipwrecks. Popular sites include Molasses Reef, French Reef, Christ of the Abyss at Key Largo Dry Rocks, Grecian Rocks, the Benwood Wreck, City of Washington, USS Spiegel Grove, USCG Duane, and USCG Bibb. The best site for your trip depends on your certification level, experience, weather and ocean conditions, and what type of diving you would like to do. 

 Scuba diving in Key Largo covers a wide range of depths. Many shallow reef dives are between approximately 20 and 40 feet, while portions of larger reefs such as Molasses Reef extend considerably deeper. Advanced wrecks offer a very different profile, with the USS Spiegel Grove extending from roughly 60 to 130 feet and the Duane and Bibb reaching depths around 130 feet. This variety makes Key Largo suitable for newer divers as well as experienced advanced divers. 

 Scuba diving is available year-round in Key Largo, and every season offers something a little different. Water temperature, visibility, wind and marine conditions change throughout the year, so there isn't one single month that is best for every diver. Summer generally brings warmer water, while winter diving can bring cooler temperatures. The best time to visit depends on the type of diving you want to do and your personal preferences. 

Yes. Enriched Air Nitrox is available at Sail Fish Scuba for certified Nitrox divers for $15 per tank. Nitrox can be particularly useful for repetitive diving because the breathing gas contains a higher percentage of oxygen and a lower percentage of nitrogen than regular air. Divers must remain within the Maximum Operating Depth of their specific Nitrox blend and analyze their own cylinder before diving. 

 Key Largo has a variety of shallow coral reefs suitable for snorkeling. Some of our favorite snorkeling locations include Molasses Reef, French Reef, Grecian Rocks, Pickles Reef and Christ of the Abyss at Key Largo Dry Rocks. The exact snorkeling site is selected according to the day's conditions because wind, waves, current and visibility can make one reef a much better choice than another on any given day. 

Every recreational dive includes a professional in-water guide at no additional charge, with a maximum 7:1 diver-to-guide ratio.

For an additional fee, you can request a private guide dedicated exclusively to you or your group. This allows for more personal attention and flexibility with your pace, comfort level, and dive experience.

Scuba students must be comfortable in the water and have basic swimming ability. For the PADI Open Water Diver course, students must complete a 200-meter continuous swim (or 300-meter swim with mask, snorkel, and fins) and a 10-minute survival float or tread without assistance.

Students must also be able to safely perform the required scuba skills. If a student cannot meet the minimum swimming or safety requirements, they may not be able to continue the course.