Main Menu
Join Undercurrent on Facebook

The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975 | |
For Divers since 1975
The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975
"Best of the Web: scuba tips no other
source dares to publish" -- Forbes
X
 

Dive Review of Looe Key Reef Resort & Dive Center/Barnacle Bed & Breakfast in
The Continental USA/Florida Keys

Looe Key Reef Resort & Dive Center/Barnacle Bed & Breakfast, Oct, 2002,

by Julian Watkins/Debbie DiMascio, CA, USA . Report 241.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 3 stars Food 1 stars
Service and Attitude 3 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 3 stars Shore Diving 1 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments Looe Key is very shallow and easy to dive. Most all dives will be no deeper than 30 ft. This outfit takes you a few miles offshore to the reef which is in a national marine sanctuary. Fish life and corals are moderately abundant. We noticed a decline in marine life since diving there last in 1997. Boat is a 45 ft. catamaran called the Kokomo Cat. We liked that they offered a three-tank dive trip. We dived three different sites in Looe Key. Many of the passengers were snorkelers. The boat was a little crowded with approx. 30 + crew on board, but it wasn’t a big problem. They offered hot dogs and sodas for sale and allowed personal coolers to be taken aboard.

Dives were very rushed as the boat captain wanted to quickly move to each new dive site. We were only allowed about 45 minutes of actual bottom time at each site due to the rushed schedule. Sites are so shallow you can easily stay down one hour or more, but time didn’t permit it.

Food is very good at Monte’s Restaurant on nearby Summerland Key. Key Lime tart with raspberry sauce is delicious. Also we enjoyed the food at the brand new Rob’s Island Café on Big Pine Key. Both restaurants are casual and inexpensive. We stayed at the Barnacle Bed & Breakfast on Big Pine Key. Very nicely decorated rooms with a “fishy” tropical ambience, located right on the beach (Atlantic side) with full breakfasts daily. A nice, quiet location off the beaten path, no crowds. Kayaks, bikes, BBQ, and hammocks readily available to guests.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving Hawaii, Fiji, California Channel Islands, Florida Keys, Sea of Cortez (Mexico)
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas choppy, surge
Water Temp 82-82°F / 28-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 0
Water Visibility 30-40 Ft/ 9-12 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions 45 minute dives
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 2 stars
Small Critters 2 stars Large Fish 2 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]
Was this report helpful to you?
Leave a comment (Subscribers only -- 200 words max)
Subscribers can comment here
 

Subscribe Now
Subscribers can post comments, ask the reviewer questions, as well as getting immediate and complete access to ALL 676 dive reviews of The Continental USA and all other dive destinations. Complete access to all issues and Chapbooks is also included.

 

Want to assemble your own collection of The Continental USA reports in one place?
Use the Mini Chapbook Facility to create your personalized collection.

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.

Undercurrent Home


Get more dive info like these and other important scuba updates sent monthly to your email.
And a FREE Recent Issue of Undercurrent

Free Undercurrent Issue
Get a free
monthly email and
a sample issue!


Find in  

| Home | Online Members Area | My Account | Login | Join |
| Travel Index | Dive Resort & Liveaboard Reviews | Featured Reports | Recent Issues | Back Issues |
| Dive Gear Index | Health/Safety Index | Environment & Misc. Index | Seasonal Planner | Blogs | Free Articles | Book Picks | News |
| Special Offers | RSS | FAQ | About Us | Contact Us | Links |

Copyright © 1996-2024 Undercurrent (www.undercurrent.org)
3020 Bridgeway, Ste 102, Sausalito, Ca 94965
All rights reserved.

Page computed and displayed in 0.11 seconds