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Dive Review of Finz Dive Center/Fairfield Inn & Suites in
The Continental USA

Finz Dive Center/Fairfield Inn & Suites: "2016 Keys Wreck Trek - Part 1", May, 2016,

by Eric A Frick, IL, US (Top Contributor Top Contributor 30 reports with 24 Helpful votes). Report 8925.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 3 stars Food 2 stars
Service and Attitude 3 stars Environmental Sensitivity 3 stars
Dive Operation 3 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 3 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments Our “Wreck Trek” started with a drive down the Keys to Key West. We checked in at Finz Dive Center at its 2nd floor location in Hurricane Hole Marina just north of Key West. Unlike the other shops we visited on this trip, Finz requested a deposit via a credit card for our dives. For dinner we drove down into Key West for a meal at Blue Heaven (blueheavenkw.com). After a night at the Fairfield at 2400 N. Roosevelt, just a half mile from the marina, we reported for our planned double-dip (2 dives on the same site) on the USNS Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg otherwise affectionately known as the “Vandy”. Never having visited the Vandy, we were not bothered by the fact that Finz sends a dive guide with you. This will cost you more than the usual 2-tank Keys dive but on this occasion we felt it would be worth it. We were the only two divers that day. Judging from the shop walls festooned with fishing and spearing gear and from the many pics on their website featuring slain fish, Finz does plenty of business with the part of the diving crowd that is after more than a picture. We were advised that they don’t put sport divers and spear fishermen on the same boat. We were put aboard their trim but not large boat for the journey out to the wreck on a breezy and wavy day in early May.

Captain Levi did a fine job getting us out there but since we wanted to avoid the seating area in the front of the boat to prevent getting soaked on the ride, we sat on the gunnel all the way out which made for a sore ride. The wreck is simply fabulous and dive guide Eric did a fine job showing me around. We had current from the surface down to about 75 feet that required that we hold on to the down line tightly and gloves are a necessity. We spent our surface interval aboard the boat behind some reef structure to avoid the larger waves and then did another dive. I feel we covered most of the ship during our dive. Experienced divers who do not require all the amenities will find the Vandy to be a great dive.

We packed up and continued our journey up the Keys toward Islamorada and Key Largo.
Websites Finz Dive Center   Fairfield Inn & Suites

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Various Caribbean, Mexico, Florida Keys, Great Lakes, Hawaii, Fiji, Solomon Islands.
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy, dry Seas choppy, currents
Water Temp 79-80°F / 26-27°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 40-80 Ft/ 12-24 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions Divers stay with the guide.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

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 N/A
Large Pelagics N/A

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

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 1 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 2 stars 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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