Instant Reader Report
on HMS Minnow / Ocean Point Suites in
USA (Continental) / Key Largo, Florida Keys on
2002/07
by
David W. Lindaman , MO, USA
Report Number 020811123817844

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 [Unspecified] 

Dive Conditions

Back on the boat with 500 PSI  

[None]  

Overall Rating

The HMS Minnow is a “six pack” operation owned by Jeff Jarvis and his wife
Betty and is docked at the Key Largo Holiday Inn.  Jeff is the captain and
Betty serves as the First Mate, so this is definitely an owner operated
business.  If you are looking for a small dive boat, offering personalized
service, you should try HMS Minnow.  Jeff gives you thorough briefings and
answers any and all questions you might have.  Jeff does not put a dive
master in the water with you; he treats you like responsible, adult divers
and lets you do your own thing.  Jeff’s only dive profile restriction is
that you be back on the boat with 500 psi.  For an additional cost, Jeff
will supply a local guide or instructor if you make prior arrangements
with him.  This was my third dive trip on the HMS Minnow.  As has been
their past practice, Jeff and Betty went out of their way to make this an
exceptional trip.  Seas were rough the first two days, Jeff made many
radio calls and physically checked conditions at several locations in an
attempt to find the best dive locations given the poor weather.  The seas
were just as rough the second day.  After the first two dives on the
second day Jeff could see we were beat and even though we had reserved his
boat for the afternoon, he suggested we cancel and recuperate for tomorrows
diving when the weather was forecasted to improve.  We eagerly agreed and
he did not charge us for the cancellation even though he had turned people
away in order to accommodate our reservation.  When we returned to the dock
from the second morning’s diving, I observed two people approach Jeff and
ask him if he had any openings for the afternoon.  Even though his boat
was available, and several other dive boats docked in the same area were
actively signing up divers for that afternoon, Jeff told these people that
the conditions were too bad to do any quality diving.  He could have easily
taken them out and profited from their misery.  By monitoring conditions
and being flexible, Jeff was able to put us on the USS Spiegel Grove,
twice with no current, 90’ of vis, and not another dive boat in sight. 
When one person in our group had a high pressure hose fail, Jeff helped
out by loaning him his personal reg. set.  I will definitely return to
dive with the HMS Minnow again.  You can contact Jeff at
www.hmsminnow.com, or (800)366-9301, or (305)451-7834. 

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