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Dive Review of Bonsai Diving in
The Continental USA/Key West

Bonsai Diving, Jul, 2008,

by William Deertz, Jakarta, Indonesia (Reviewer Reviewer 5 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 4204.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 3 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 3 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 3 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 1 stars
Comments Bonsai Diving (www.bonsaidiving.com) located in Key West operates with a center console dual hull boat about 28 feet in length (maximum of 6 divers). The operations are run by Peter who had his 14 yr old son along during the summer acting as 1st mate. The waters were choppy on our trip so we got a fair bit of splash with minimal areas for cover. Dive briefings were adequate. Each day started with a wreck dive in about 20 meters of water followed by a shallow reef dive. First day we did the Cayman Salvage wreck followed by Nine Foot Stake reef, on the second day we did Joe's Tug wreck followed by Marker 1 reef. The Cayman Salvage was a reasonably good wreck dive as it was still intact with good swim throughs. Joe's Tug wreck is in pieces so wasn't as exciting. Both wrecks had reasonably good fish activity. After living in Indonesia for the past 12+ years I was disappointed with the reefs in Key West. There wasn't much coral cover and they lacked an abundance of fish. We saw a 5 foot nurse shark and a relatively large sting ray but other than this not much other was memorable. I would recommend Bonsai Diving with the caveat of not using their rental gear. Since we were only doing 4 dives we did not bring our equipment from Indonesia. The Bonsai rental equipment was old and shabby and bordered on dangerous. On the first day my BCD would not hold air and on my second day the BCD had a slow leak requiring continual dumping of air. Other than the rental equipement this dive outfit was good and better than going on the cattle boats.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Throughout Indonesia (Wakatobi, Komodo, Bali, Raja Ampat), Thailand, Australia, Maldives, Philippines, Hawaii, Florida Keys
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas choppy
Water Temp 29-29°C / 84-84°F Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 15-20 M / 49-66 Ft

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Return to boat with 500 psi
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals 2 stars Tropical Fish 2 stars
Small Critters 1 stars Large Fish 1 stars
Large Pelagics 1 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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