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Dive Review of Amy Slates Amoray Divers/Amy Slates in
The Continental USA/Key Largo

Amy Slates Amoray Divers/Amy Slates, Aug, 2003,

by Jeff Bloomer, KY, USA . Report 697.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 3 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 3 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 2 stars Shore Diving 1 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 2 stars
Comments This is typical Florida diving, shallow reefs and, if allowed, you could have some great bottom times. The wreck of the Duane is awesome, one of the best dives in this part of the world. Tons of fish and growth, it is sitting upright and is breath taking. The Spiegle Grove is a BIG wreak but too new for much growth, but a must do for experianced divers who can handle the current. Good fish life on most dives. The diving is self guided so if your inexperianced you may want to ask to tag along with someone as the divemasters do not get in the water. The crew was going to take us on a night dive to a site devoid of almost all life we had dived that day. After talking with Amy Slate and telling her I had nobody interested in diving it and that if they insisted on diving there we were sitting it out they chose another site. The alternate site turned out great, a bit of a boat ride but worth it. Individuals would be hard pressed to get much cooperation but our group was large enough that I was able to pull some strings so watch out if visiting as a couple or small group. Now for the boat. Up until now I have been successful at avoiding cattle boats, until now. The boat was always loaded with snorkelers or a class. Very congested and the crew was very strict about what could be placed where. Set anything other than a body part on the padded bench and look out for the Captain to start chewing you out. The crew was more set on keeping on schedule than having divers enjoy themselves. There is almost a palpable tension with the crew. I don't know where that comes from but most are very distant to rude and almost never interact with the divers. A couple of divers in our group attempted to liven things up and the most we got out of the crew was a glare and wise crack. Traveling back to the dock there is a place the boat passes under a bridge. On que, every trip, the crew is required, I was told, to play a rendition of "That's Amoray" by The Barefoot Man. I even offered to tip the guy big if he would not play it one time, no luck! As I said in the comments on cameras one of out group chose not to put his camera in the small camera bucket. The camera fell overboard as we approached a morring bouy. The crew could have easliy circled around as there was only one other boat on the wreak. They chose not to and told the diver to "wave goodbuy" to his $250 camera. A poor commentary on the crews customer service level but certainly in character. Needless to say tipping was non-existant. The resort itself is comfortable and well maintained. Parking is tight and you seldom parked near your room unless you lucked out and never moved your car. All the restaurants in the area are good and you wont go wrong with any of them. The 2.5 hour drive down to Key West is worth it so go and spend the day. You wont miss much in the diving.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Through out the Caribbean and US.
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, dry Seas calm, currents
Water Temp 75-78°F / 24-26°C Wetsuit Thickness 0
Water Visibility 50-70 Ft/ 15-21 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions Depth limits, air and time where all restricted.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas 1 or 2
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 2 stars

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

Subject Matter 3 stars Boat Facilities 2 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 3 stars Shore Facilities 3 stars
UW Photo Comments The camera area, or at least what should have been the camera area, doubled as the area to hand out lead and as the cutting board for slicing up oranges for after dive snacks. One small bucket to keep a camera in which was not well controlled from keeping other items out of it. One diver in our group chose not to use the bucket and his camera fell overboard. The crew refused to turn back for the camera and although a modest unit, $250 dollars, it was lost. As the group leader I spoke with Amy Slate about how her crew responded but she was unwilling to do anything for the diver.
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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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