Florida Keys Dive Center’s 29th Birthday

Florida Keys Dive Center recently celebrated 29 years in business on May 10th!
A special thank you goes out to everyone who wished us a happy birthday and to everyone who has helped us and been there for us in these 29 years.
We never could have made it this far and become such a success if it wasn’t for the support of our friends, family, and fellow divers and snorkelers.

Thanks again from Tom, Pam, and the staff of Flakeys(:

Still living the dream!

US Coast Guard Stability Test

On April 18th the US Coast Guard Marine Inspector Roger Fisk was at Florida Keys Dive Center measuring and doing calculations for a stability test on our two charter boats.

Why the need for a stability test? A recent census showed that the average person weighs about 185lbs. The Orion and Big Dipper’s original stability tests were based on the average person weighing 160lbs. The good news is both boats passed with flying colors! We even used 195lbs. as the weight per passenger. Therefore both boats are now licensed to carry 49 passengers and 6 crew members.
Our 46′ Newton dive boats are some of the most stable dive vessels in the Keys(:

Florida Keys Shipwreck Trail

Among several thousand divers who visit the Keys annually to dive the destination’s shipwreck trail, 10 winners were randomly selected as part of the Florida Keys ‘Wreck Trek Passport Program’ that concluded in January 2012.
More than 100 divers completed a series of nine wreck dives to be eligible to win one of several dive and lodging packages and sets of dive equipment.
Rocky Welch, a diving instructor from Pinellas Park, Fla., was the program’s first grand prize winner, receiving a state-of-the-art scuba system from Aqua Lung, including a Zuma bouyancy compensator (BC) device, Mikron regulator, Airsource 3 second stage with power inflator and a Suunto ZOOP 2 guage dive computer.
Welch, who accompanied numerous diving groups to the Keys for customized weeklong trips to complete the Wreck Trek dive challenge, said, “It’s the overall adventure of [the shipwreck trail] that divers love. There’s no other place you can do that,” said Welch, who thrives on introducing divers to new experiences.
“On three different Wreck Trek trips, I never saw the same thing twice,” Welch added. “My countless trips to the Keys are some of the best dive trips I’ve had.”

Nine other selected recipients were Paul Adams, Jr. and Patrick Hellman of Fairborn, and Tipp City, Ohio; Sarasota, Fla. resident Eric Lyons; Olexander Myronov of Palm Harbor, Fla.; University Park’s Mike Lesh; Tracy Matthews and Tabitha Dimas of St. Petersburg, Fla.; Clearwater, Fla. resident Sebastian Majewski; and Shari Vang from Baypoint, Calif.
Among the prizes awarded these individuals were a SCUBAPRO MK17/A700 Black Tech regulator, Sherwood Profile dive computer, Sherwood Gemini integrated power inflator Fusion dive fins, as well as two-night/three-dive stays for two at Keys lodging properties, including Doubletree by Hilton Grand Key Resort in Key West, Marathon’s Holiday Inn Express & Suites and Keys Largo’s Amoray Dive Resort and Ocean Pointe Suites.
Because of the dive program’s popularity, plans are underway for a “Wreck Trek 2.0” dive challenge, expected to continue through January 2014. Details are to be announced soon.