They've changed Larry's leave from anniversary date to anniversary date (which his is March), to - you get it all at the first of the year, which means he has his leave he has to plan out now. So we're in a quandary! He's got to set his leave schedule for the summer, soon, or not have his pick of dates.

So, we can't plan our Bon trip (we were thinking late June or July), until the Keys trip is planned, and several here said they'd like to do this tentative Keys trip in June or July. I LIVE in FL, so I can't miss the Keys meet! And I truly can't plan anything else with my own limited leave, until this is done. That is, unless we go before June to Bon, which we have spent time today looking at alternatives with our travel miles...

So what say ye? Keys, on or not? When? Time to plan THIS YEAR. Finally.

Hey! I was already very saddened that I was to be excluded by the next Florida mini-meet because that was the weekend I was to be going to be traveling to Bonaire! It won't hurt my feelings to change it at all, because I really enjoyed being a part of the original Florida mini-meet, and would love to be able to be at the second!!!!

Gail, when is YOUR Bon trip?
So you see how it is! We can't be on Bonaire, when everyone else is HERE!

Late June Works for me... (I have my 30 year HS reunion July 13-15)... This could be a really big B T maxi meet!!!! Wahooooo!

Ok...I will be very flexible. If we do this over a weekend, any weekend should work in June or July because I can fly down on a Thursday and back home on a Monday.

Kathy - 7-14th -
Tribs?!!!! You're coming down?!!!! Fabulous!
Timmmmmy - you're showing your age!

We are talking about a March trip to the Keys, probably early March.

My only "bad times" are June 14-17 - F1 US Grand Prix is that weekend in Indianapolis and then the end of July - say from the 13th on as I believe we will be in Tortola. But you don't have to work around my schedule.

Anytime late June and afterwards is good for us...Dylon graduates around the 17th or 18th...then we are "free." Of course, I haven't told Michael about this yet...lol!

My niece is moving to Fla. in June or July and I told her I would help her, I could add a little west coast flava along with Cynde! And I would love to meet all the Bt'ers on the other side. I think we have a trip to San Diego in July but I am not sure when (Ravi and his dad do a Torrey Pines golfing thing and I do a La Jolla spa thing). WOOHOO!

I'll chat with my husband and see if I can pin down some dates. 3rd week of June will probably work, and from July 8 through mid-August would work too I think. Family reunion is usually weekend of July 4th.

I don't really know if it would be practical for me to get there, but all of June looks pretty good for me. In July I seem booked solid. We're working on a dive trip in May, so I'll have to see how the money holds out. Boy would I love to meet you guys, though!

So it looks like June will work best for everyone...maybe the 3rd or 4th weekend????

Thurs- Sun

(Message edited by muddysoapfish on January 8, 2007)

Just got to this thread now. My son is in school till June 19th, so anytime after that is good. On Bonaire beginning of August, so before that...
You all can figure out the exact dates, if it works out for me as time draws near, I will try my darnest to fly down for a few days! Sounds like fun!

Soooo, maybe June 21-24 is working for most everyone? (That's Thur - Sun, or a 3 night stay)

I like it!

Sounds like a birthday present for MEEEE!!!!

Sounds like that will work. I'll put it on my calendar and see if we can work it out! It's so nice to have such an exciting event to brighten an early winter day!

Did we decide what Key?

(Message edited by redhead on January 8, 2007)

Oh sure, that makes me chopped liver. Well I just might go both times, (sticks out tongue here).

I think that works for me as well.

Cecil, I'd expect nothing less
If it all pans out is there any way we can talk you and the other photo experts into a mini-seminar?? Guy is having a ball with his new camera

Yay, so we have a date!

Cecil, you'll have to just go scout ahead, then come again in June.

Now we DO need to decide which Key.

We've probably dove 95% of the charted sites in the Keys, and honestly, the further down you go it's not as good diving (some coral bleaching). Key Largo has the most great dive sites, and it's just as you enter the Keys. Big Pine Key is where you go to dive Looe Key, and that's also a great place - plus you have Key Deer (miniature deer). Marathon is good as well, as it's pretty central to all the diving AND Key West, but the diving in Marathon is not the best the Keys has to offer.

Ideas?

There are going to be caribbean reef sharks and maybe a few black tips.
Rays, eels, all the fish you see in Bon, giant goliath groupers at the wrecks, turtles, tons of lobster and crabs and squid, nurse sharks, bigger fish like permit, baraccuda, snook, atlantic spade...the list goes on. Not much for seahorses, though.

I've even seen a manta once at Molasses Reef in Largo.

We've got a little time to toss around which Key, but at least we have the dates!

Looks like a good date here...I have dove the middle keys and would be interested in other keys.

John sez - Does that mean I get to go diving?! Calendar is open in June. We're in if the good Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise! We got our open water certification on Loeh Key, but that's the extent of our keys diving!

Which Key? Experienced Keys divers speak up!

Caribbean reef sharks and maybe a few black tips

Just kidding! I still don't see how you all do the shark dives!

I think Largo would be the best bet (best diving) and I'm sure it would be easier to find a place we could all stay at or near.

(Message edited by muddysoapfish on January 8, 2007)

But Timmmy that adds many miles to the Duval Street crawl . The upper keys are best for most everything but drinking and street performers.

key largo resorts

I've seen enough of Key West to last two life times!
Key West and Diving are very much like oil and water!

Cecil- I'll do some street performing if you really need it....

That's so true Cecil.

So we'll have to do Saturday MORNING dive and then drive that 100 miles for an afternoon/sunset in Key West. It's a must do thing. We could maybe go to Sloppy Joes and be on their live feed webcam.

Hey, I've got a van.

I've been looking at dive shops in Key Largo, and most of them are 6 pack boats. Isn't it all boat diving there?

Yes, Gail, it's all boat diving there.

There are not really any good beaches! Not too much to do, either, than dive.

We normally stay at Bayside resort in Largo, because we can hook into their internet with the laptop. shhhh

We usually use Quiescience for diving, and yes we get a six pack boat, but there's never been but 4 on one. It's like a personal dive service. You get a barefoot captain who asks you where you want to go, lets you dive as long as you want, and tries to hook you up with the best things people have been seeing. You say you want to see goliath groupers, he takes you to them. Etc. Minnow caves last year was an awesome experience. We were in the minnows swirling around a reef, and two blacktips came up. Wow.

Some places, like Ocean Divers, are cattleboats. Looe Key is like that, too, though we did have a nice time there, and Jimmy Buffet music is all you hear on the Kokomo. We always stay away from the rest of the people when we go there, just do our own dive and meet them back - last ones on the boat.

Quiescience is who my co-worker uses, and speaks highly of. (Though I still can't convince him to go to Bonaire!) We'll just have to charter several of their boats!

I'd go just to see Timmmmy's street performance

Quiescence is great. Probably one of the best boat operators I've used, the captains/dive masters are experienced and patient. Downside is they only take 6/boat and it's a 40+ minute ride to the reef, as you need to motor through the mangroves. Also, Largo tends to attract way too many people.

We've dove up & down the Keys and have found the reef north of Marathon/south of Islamorda to be the healthiest.

You picked the one weekend I'll be gone. We have to go to Jersey that weekend for the niece's graduation. Oh well, we don't dive anyway...but, it would've been nice to meet everyone on the crawl.

You'll just have to drink one for me.
CindyR

Motoring through the mangroves sounds kind of interesting. Too bad we are planning on a date during high tourist season. But, of course, I am a tourist. Being a high tourist sounds interesting! :-D

I think Looe (sp?) Key is where my in-laws friends have a house. They spend the summer in Delaware so we might have free lodging there! Hmmm.

Cindy (Fire Lady), if we DO lock in that weekend (it is high season and all, and some people who were interested haven't chimed in yet), maybe you could come up for a teeny weeny mini meet with Judy and Les, Me and Larry to snorkel with the manatees weekend after next?

Kathy - In January???? Are you insane??? I don't go into the water unless it's 90 degrees. LOL But thanks for the offer. And before anyone chimes in, yes - I know I'm a warm water wimp. That's what happens when you're a FL native.

Fire Lady, I'm with you! My pool is heated to a lovely 90 and I don't dive if it requires a wet suit. I use to not be this way since I was certified in the icy waters of Rhode Island but I have become such a warm water wimp since moving to California!

Cindy, Crystal River is ALWAYS 74! lol It's ALWAYS cold, but it's warmer than the ocean, so that's where they go and so where we go. The sun and air are still warm enough to keep the BIG CHILL off.

Ah well.

Larry's actually wanting to go dive Venice, but the temps there are about 72 now. Not in the ocean when it's 72, no...no. Not for an hour at a time!


(Message edited by recdivers on January 10, 2007)

72f? That's BATHTUB WATER, people. Of course, it's easy to talk, with my drysuit on! I can't believe Cam and Fiona talk about 36f water...now THAT'S cold!
I'm surprised to hear that July is high season down there. I would have thought about now would be high season, with people trying to leave the north and get warm.
I sure would like to go to this Meet. Just don't know what money is going to look like then. But it's going to be so much fun!

(Message edited by barbara_gibson on January 10, 2007)

WWW's
All of you except CB {she said slyly as she got into her dry suit}

Bathtub Divers, Freddie, Bathtub Divers. Zip me up, would you?

Gladly!! do you have your Mitts?? and Drysuit hood?? and what kind of underwear do you have to go under that suit??

I would love to consider joining the Florida meet. Is it o.k. that I'm an avid snorkeler and not a diver? After all (she says), it's the company that counts!

Marilyn, there are folks here who dive and folks who don't even snorkel. Some folks go to Bonaire twice a year and some have never been at all. Whatever ties us together, it's not any of that. I'm not running this event, but I'm betting you'd fit right in. Sounds like there will be boat diving, but I imagine you could opt in or out as you wished.

Marilyn, of course you're welcome to come!
We still haven't decided on which Key, got to narrow that down soon.
There are a few more who haven't chimed in, either!

What's the phrase...the more the merrier! I'm keeping quiet on the planning part because in the end I'm not positive I will be going. It will depend on money. My contract runs out this summer and I am still not sure if I will be renewed, bumped back to adjunct, or possibly go permanent. So plan a way.....if I can make it I will.

That goes the same with me. I'm already have one vacation set up. Will have to check out the cash roll myself.

I'm in the same camp with Tribs and Patrick... if I can make it I will! Never been to the Keys, looks like it could be fun!

Me too! Me too! If I can swing it, I'm there.
BTW, I looked at Timmmy's list of resorts; they are reasonable unless you add a plane ticket to the package. I wouldn't ask anybody to take my needs into consideration, since my attendance is iffy at best, but do less costly accommodations interest anybody else?

(Message edited by barbara_gibson on January 11, 2007)

Ah, well ..... cost is a consideration here also. One memory, however, comes to mind of a desired, romantic retreat to the Keys in College with the love of my life. We pitched our tent at John Pennekamp - and had to run for our lives around 6:00 P.M. as mosquitos the size of bats swooped down on us. Had to take the only hotel with a vacancy available and it was pricey (remember, we are talking college students). Enjoyed our bread, cheese and cheap wine for dinner! All that said, clean bed and bathroom is a requisite for me, but can't say "money is no object". Unfortunately, most of my funds will be spent on travel and rent-a-car. Dumb cluck that I am, I didn't realize that was why Tim was posting those hotels!!! Have plenty of time to save, however!

Yeesh... I guess I should qualify my response as well.
Our attendance will depend on the state of our business, whether we get a new employee hired & trained, and of course $$$

I've wanted to go to the Keys since, well forever so believe me I'm putting all efforts towards attending.

Dumb cluck, Miss M? Not from anything I've read!
All I need is clean and quiet, too. If I go to this get together it's going to be trip #3 for the summer, so I need to squeeze that eagle a little bit!

I agree CB- not even close to a Dumb Cluck

We'll be celebrating our 10th weddin' anniv this year so this meet (as important and exciting as it is for me) will take second place in $$ & time priority for us.
It seems impossible to squeeze enough $$ & time concurrently! And to do it twice in one year- well, that will be a feat

If memory serves me correctly Howard Johnson's is the least expensive at under $100 per night...

Here are some other options.

Less $$$$$$

Shoot that didn't work

try this one CLICK

(Message edited by muddysoapfish on January 11, 2007)

Hey, chiming in here...a little late though! I've wanted to go to the Keys fo evah! And I have a free ticket on Southwest sooooo...I'll have to see what date you guys settle on. I wonder if Southwest Air goes anywhere near there?

Mercy one word, FLL.

Alright Cecil, I give up. What does FLL mean?

Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale's airport?? lol Guessing at the acronym. Mercy, there is a thread above this one somewhere up there, I think the dates are settled as 21-24 June. Now if we can just some reasonable accommodations!

Btw, it's not even a 2 hr drive from Lauderdale to Largo. Zip right down and there you are.

Hey Deb, you slipped in with the same answer so I think we're right.

Kathy, GMTA! Going to try really hard to make this meet! Reasonable accommodations would be nice too, I have been to the Keys once before, stayed in Key Largo, but can't remember the name of the place I stayed out though. Did we decide on what area everyone is staying in? By plane, I can be there in 2 and half hours if memory serves me right. Lots of folks I want to meet.

Have the meet on my calendar!!! Just need a nudge as to where to fly into so I can make all the necessary arrangements! Can't wait to meet everyone!

I'm thinking about emailing the travel agent I use at Caradonna to see if she can help with a block of rooms and diving with Quiescence.

It would really take committment, though, and it may be early for that. I sure wish I had a good friend who was a travel agent. Heck, I wish I was a travel agent!

Heyyyy, I think ScubaBanker (Christine) has a good personal friend/client who is a travel agent. Hmmmmm.

I'll ask.

I'm on another board, one for stepfamilies. We all have little "sayings" that automatically go in at the end of our posts there. Mine is "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." I think I'll "venture" on this one, a block of rooms. Maybe 10 rooms? I'll try on my end, and if anyone has any other ideas, say so!

Marilyn, it's sooooo easy to get to Key Largo from Ft. Lauderdale, and flights are always on sale to Ft. Lauderdale. Check not only SW, but all the options, like Spirit, Frontier......lesser knowns. I'll run a search on travelzoo's supersearch as well. I hope you CAN make it!

We are committed for sure

Freddie - can you move this thread up a little bit please and thank you?

A few words about accommodations in the Keys. Reasonable accommodations and the Keys is an oxymoron. Everywhere looks more expensive than just about anywhere else (well except Tahiti). Even the cheap run down places are over $100 per night. My suggestion is to just plan on spending $150-$200 per night for something decent.

More options if people are going to room together:
http://www.vacationrentals411.com/city/keylargo.php3

Another note: Orbitz has a new feature where you can book blocks of rooms for a much lower rate. So I signed up for that and 5 resorts in Largo are going to give me a price on booking 10 rooms. We'll see!

Just noticed that my last post did not take. Happens periodically. Anyway, Am available to share a room but will make sure I budget for either possibility!

So far all the one response I've received from Orbitz is to laugh at. I'll be gone until Saturday night, so lets see how this works. If it doesn't, then we really need to research further. I'll contact Doris, too (Caradonna). We have to make this affordable!

Normally when going to the Keys, we stay in Ft. Lauderdale a few nights before going down. sigh I'll dissapoint some friends down there if we don't do our "regular" thing, so booking a whole week in Key Largo is not what I want. I just want the 3 nights. I'll let you know what I turn up.

Marilyn, the trailers in Key Largo are looking good! lol That link I posted above.

Wow, if they'd just do a world trailer exchange. lol

I've sent a request to Silent World Dive Center in Key Largo, who offers dive/sleep pkgs for a very reasonable price. It's been several years since we dove with Silent World, but they look nice, and the boats are bigger, and they do offer pkg deals.

http://www.silentworldkeylargo.com/

I'm still checking Quiescense, and it looks like they do a deal with the Holiday in Express. We'll see. If anyone else is checking things out, post them here!

I really want to go ... with Teddy. I am watching this thread to see details in order to committ some how. I would tie it in with visiting family in Boca.

OK, so I called Quiescense, and they do have a deal with the Holiday Inn. They've just started it, it's not online but I did find it mentioned on a Scuba News blurb.

So, it's like this:

Holiday Inn
Room 71.36 the Thursday night (no diving)
134.00 pp Friday and Saturday night (includes 2 site, 2 tank/half day diving)
Sunday 124.00 (includes diving)
Any day before or after that is 71.36 pp.

They don't have anything set up yet for snorkelers, but he's doing that and will call back. The per person thing makes it not seem a good deal to me, as Larry and I could get a room cheaper than a per person deal. I told him that, that it didn't make sense to do it that way if you were a couple. lol Anyway, so he's working out a 3 day dive deal to let me know how to do it that way, too (without the room).

I'll let you all know as I find out.

You'll have to excuse me as I research all this, but I really hope we can make this affordable for everyone, so everyone can come down that wants to.

Hey Kathy! Thanks so much for looking into this. What would the Sunday price be without diving? I have to fly back on Monday and am going to try for a later flight, but if I cannot find one then I won't be able to dive on Sunday.

And again...thank you for looking into this for all of us. Very much appreciated!

Holiday Inn is NOT the express, btw, it's a nice place and has a continental breakfast.

OK, he just called back, and for the adventurers, there's a dorm above the dive shop.

It sleeps 12, in 6 bunk beds, 150 a night for the dorm.

For snorkelers at the Holiday Inn, it's $20.00 less each night.

Dang, I forgot to ask him about a dive only 3 day deal!

Tribs, I told him that I was guessing the diving would be on Fri, Sat and Sunday....so the quote for Thurs is good on any other weekday as well. Sunday is less.

He asked me how me people and I told him I was "just guessing" 10 divers and 4 snorkelers. They are booked solid thru April and starting to fill up in May, and so we'd have to make a committment soon. Ack!

Oh, the Dorm is no matter how many stay there per night, up to 12. No maid service. AC and a view, and all that. But a DORM!

Thanks so much for all your work! Seems surreal while looking out the window at snow falling. When I look towards Lake Michigan, the sky is absolutely black. Anyway, if it's cheaper to book for couples, ask the guy at the Holiday Inn if he would give you a group # and I'll just make my own reservations and try to make sure it's near all of you as a group. I'm really looking forward to this.

O.K., Kathy, my bad. I'm not keeping up with the postings while I try to type! Not a Dorm fan myself, but would share a room or a suite. I don't have any other commitments at the time either, so just pen me in whichever date it falls in. As of now I thought it was June 21-June 24, right? With that said, I'll follow your lead.

Should we change the diving to Thu-Sat?

Let me know!

Marilyn and Denise, this could be a long thread with as many people as I have contacted! lol And now Larry wants to stay 5 nights, drive home Sunday. Man. Well, we're in early planning, but there's just not a LOT of room so we do have to not sit on it long.

Oh, and the Holiday Inn, Key Largo link:
http://www.holidayinnkeylargo.com/

Thanks Kathy. As I said, I'm flexible.

Marilyn, sorry Wisconsin is so cold right now, but this will give you something to plan on, dream on, with this meet.

Why couldn't we have had today's weather yesterday for when I met with Judy and Georgia? sigh

This is the thermometer on my lanai right now, ok, five minutes ago.



(Message edited by recdivers on January 21, 2007)

The snow really is beautiful and still going strong. Maggie really loves to play in it, but any big storm has the unfortunate effect of triggering killer migraines. It's to bed for me, with ice packs, and dreams of Florida!

$150 a person per night for a DORM????? this guy is trying to make a lot of $$$$ fast.. how many bathrooms in the dorm????? there had better be 12....

(Message edited by scubahb on January 21, 2007)

Wait, wait, wait! lol That's like $25 per person a night Freddie!

I hate math, but lets see. Sleeps 12, $150 a night.

150 divided by 12 = ow wow, $12.50 per night.

But a dorm. He said it's usually booked solid thru the year, because it's a place to sleep and dive, but people go elsewhere for the party, etc.

2 baths.

OMG that is a whole different story!!! I thought it was pp per night.... I wanted to get in on that load of money!!!!! Have fun!! wish I could join you all but that is when I will be in Houston I think.....hugs all around!!

Hell let's book the dorm and have our own party.

Hehe, Patrick, I've considered booking that for other times. A group of ya'll could do it and we'll all hang out with whoever gets ritzy accomodations, like the one place with a waterfall in the swimming pool, tiki bar, atlantic side ocean view - all that!

I got another answer today - this one from Silent World. Just got home and checked the mail, so I haven't had time to digest it, so I'm going to post it and digest it later:

Hi Kathy

Thank you for visiting our website and filling out the online form.

I've checked room availability for you, and have the following options:

Hungry Pelican - one room with 2 doubles at $90+tax per night, 1 room with 2
doubles plus sleeper sofa and kitchen at $140+tax, and several rooms with
one queen bed per room for $90+tax. I don't know if a combination of these
rooms would work for you?

The best deal we can get for you is at the Suites of Key Largo - room rate
will be $109+tax per night booked through us, and these rooms have a queen
size bedroom and bathroom upstairs, with queen size sleeper sofa, bathroom
and kitchenette downstairs.

If you would prefer to stay at Bayside, they have 5 rooms available with 2
double beds in each. Room rate would be $99+tax for the first night, then
$119+tax per night for the subsequent night of your stay.

Our rate for a diver with tanks and weights included is $65+tax, $37+tax for
a snorkeler. We carry a maximum 14 divers on our boat. With 10 divers and 5
snorkelers, it would be quite a squeeze, but it would work if you are all
good friends! As you would need the whole boat, we would let you have a full
boat half day charter for $650+tax, to include tanks and weights for the
divers. For 3 or more half day charters, $600+tax per trip. Each trip is 2
locations, and you could pick your own sites (this is sometimes dependent on
sea conditions). Let me know if you need any further information about our
trips, or if you need a quote for equipment rentals. For our boat charters,
we request a minimum 50% deposit in advance to confirm your booking.

Thanks again for your interest in diving with us!

Regards,

Alison

Silent World Dive Center
800 966 3483 or 305 451 3252
For further information, please call, or visit our page on the Internet at:
http://www.silentworldkeylargo.com
Email: mailto:info@silentworldkeylargo.com

ps - We are a full service dive center, and authorized dealer for AquaLung,
Oceanic, SeaQuest, Apeks, Suunto and Halcyon. We match or beat any
authorized dealer on price! Call or email us for a quotation completely
without obligation.

Math again.
600 x 3 days diving = 1800
1800 divided by 10 is 180 each for 3 days diving.
But, the snorkelers come off that total, say, pitching in $25 each day x 3 = $75 x 5 = 375 total, so subtract that from the 1800 and you get 1425 divided by 10 and that's 142.50 each for 3 half days diving for divers, and for the snorkelers each that's $75 each for their 3 days snorkeling.

whew

The room rates are per ROOM, btw,not per person.

So many options!

Btw, I sent Silent World another question in response to their, "if there's anything we can do" letter of tonight.

I asked about inclement weather, hurricanes, seas over 3 ft - if we put down a deposit would it be refunded if the boat(s) couldn't go out. Awaiting that answer.

My answer from Silent World:

Hi Kathy

We quite regularly dive in seas 3ft+, although this is less likely to be the
case in June, July, August. In the event of a hurricane or bad lightning
storms, we would refund your deposit, as customer safety is number 1. If it
was just a bit choppy to rough, say 3-5ft seas (which happens if we get a
sustained wind blowing over 15k from the East), we would still go out in
those conditions.

Alison

Kathy....that sounds about right. I have gone out in some pretty rough seas when diving the Keys. That's where I learned I get sea sick.

Tribs, I get sea sick too. I wonder when you get over that and get sea legs as I hear is supposed to happen eventually? Keep waiting, but no such luck yet.

My story on sea sickness is that I was alway prone to it. Even while in the Navy floating around in the sub, I would sometimes get sick. That all changes when I was 47 and got certified to dive, not one incident since then (knock on wood), and there has been a few times when it was deserved.

I do know one absolute cure for sea sickness that always works............

















One foot on the dock.

We take Bonine. Works like a charm. I've seen people (bless their hearts) puking off the boats way too many times not to take my Bonine.

I remember one time in Cancun....this family from NC were going diving with us, and they were eating eggs and drinking orange juice and hadn't taken a thing. I thought to myself, oooooooohhh boy. That's gonna come up. And it did, for almost 4 hrs. From all of them. They were sooooo sick. Sad. Bonine is like $2.00 a pack, and works. An ounce of prevention...

Let me share my last year June, Ft. Lauderdale and Key Largo pics again. Sorry it's so many, but you can tell when we get to Key Largo. Just looking at them myself makes me "can't wait" to do this with all of you guys.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AZsmzdo1ZNGPj&notag=1

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AZsmzdo1ZNGPy

Year before last, with goliath groupers.