Sherry asked :Resort Course & Eye Glasses

Q: We will be at Hawk's Cay during Spring Break and my son is interested in the Resort Course (he did Snuba last year and can't wait to try diving)! Is it possible, if we pay additional fee, that he can go out on additional dives once he completes the pool course ? Also, my husband is interested as well, but wears prescription glasses - how do we handle that? thanks

A: Sherry, Your family is going to have a great time at Hawks Cay! The Resort course is the perfect next step after SNUBA diving. Yes, he can do as many dive trips as he wants after completing the pool course, for up to a year, as long as an instructor guide is hired each time to go with him. If you are going to be here for a decent amount of time, and he is as enthusiastic as he sounds about diving, you may want to consider enrolling him in a full certification course.... he would want to sign up now so we can mail him the books to read, but if getting certified is something he is interested in- why wait? We are able to work with most prescriptions. People who are far sighted (see better far away but cant read or see detail up close) are just fine with a regular mask because they see better at the distance where the fish are. Near sighted people, who cant see well farther away, are usually the divers who need a prescription mask, which we have in stock. We have a range of prescription masks, from a -1.0 to a -8.0, and if you are not sure what your prescription is, we play eye doctor and you hold each one up to your face until you find the one that works best. We do have them in rental at no additional charge if you are doing a dive class with us, and we also sell them, if you are looking to own your own. Now, more unique prescriptions, with stigmatisms and such, we may not always be able to accommodate, but we try. Your eye doctor can put your prescription in a mask if needed, although it does take time (and money). Keep in mind that a lot of people are comfortable diving in their contacts. I always wear mine when diving. If your husband has contacts, he could try using contacts in the pool, and try the prescription mask in the pool, and see what he prefers. Looking forward to diving with your family! Hope you decide to join them as well!

SW TRAVEL asked :PADI DIVING

Q: Is there a PADI Dive Program at the Resort? Thank you,

A: Yes, we do certify PADI divers, as well as NAUI divers. We offer dive classes ranging from a one day try SCUBA program called Discover SCUBA diving, to the full Open Water certification, and continuing dive education with the Advanced Open Water Course. We do recommend booking classes in advance to ensure availability, feel free to call or email to book! 305-289-4931 or diving@hawkscay.com

Lisa Morris asked :Diving

Q: We will be visiting the week of March 26th. Two divers age 16 and 18, and two adult snorkelers. What is the cost for a dive trip? What are the options?

A: The cost of a dive trip depends on what gear the divers will be renting from us. If they have all their own gear and just need tanks from us, it is $75 a diver for a two tank, 2 location reef trip. If they need to rent BC and Regulator, it is $95, and if they need to rent everything including mask, fins and wetsuit, the cost of the trip is $115. Snorkelers are $45 plus the cost of renting a wetsuit if you want one. Mask and fins are included for snorkelers if they need them. We run boat trips out to the coral reef morning and afternoon, at 8am or 1pm. Trips take about 4 hours total, from check in to back to dock. We have over 20 reef spots, so we can get you on different spots if you do multiple trips with us. We do recommend advanced reservations for that time of year. Please let me know if you have any more questions. Hope this information helps!

Hough Family asked :Diving and Fishing

Q: We just booked our family vacation at Hawk's Cay for the week of Dec 16-22 and would like to schedule fishing and diving trips. There will be 7 of us, however only 3 are certified SCUBA. Only 4 of us are interested in fishing. Can you provide a recommended itinerary.

A: I can certainly give you some information on the diving! We run a charter dive boat out of Hawks Cay Resort's marina. We offer trips for certified divers, as well as for non certified divers that want to experience their first breath underwater. The 4 people that are not certified might want to check out our SNUBA program or our Resort Course Dive, the certified divers can dive along with them for the full family experience! Our trips are 4 hours from check in to back to dock, and leave at 8am or 1pm. Advanced reservations are recommended, and you would want to book your dive trip for the beginning of your stay down here, so that you have some flexibility if the weather isnt cooperating. Call or email if you have more questions or would like to book! As far as fishing goes, you can call the dock office at 305-743-3198. They book the fishing charters. Unfortunately, there are no charters here that offer both fishing and diving on the same trip.

Janet asked : sea sickness med

Q: What sea sickness med do you sell at your dive shop?

A: We currently sell 3 different brands of anti seasickness medicine. Triptone is our preferred medicine that we recommend to our divers. We also carry CVS brand Motion Sickness Original Formula and Survitec Anti Motion Sickness Tablets. The main active ingredient in these medicines is Dimenhydrinate, which in our opinion is a lot more affective than the main ingredient in Bonine. The best way to maximize the affectiveness of any seasick medicine is to take it the night before, as well as the day of your boat trip. Taking the recommended dosages at the appropriate time intervals will ensure the medicine is good and in your system, without making you feel tired, as you do when you take the highest recommended dosage right before jumping onboard. While seasickness is always a concern when boating, whether you dive, snorkel or SNUBA, it should not prevent you from taking the boat trip out to our beautiful coral reefs. Dive Duck Key has some of the most active and colorful reefs in the Florida Keys and it would be a shame not to see them on your vacation!

Janet asked :availability

Q: Do you have any room on a boat next week?(for 2) If so what days. My husband will not be diving but will come for the ride. What sea sick med do you sell there? It worked real good for my friend last time we dove with you.

A: January is a slower time of year for us, so having room on the boat for two people is no problem! We do still recommend making advanced reservations however, because we often only run one trip a day, either our morning or our afternoon, depending on what the first person who books that day requests. Also, since weather can sometimes be a concern during our winter months, I also recommend planning your dive for the beginning of your stay here, so that if it is cancelled due to high winds, you will have some days to reschedule. Triptone would be the sea sick medicine your friend took while going out on the boat with us.

Joan asked :Water Temp / SNUBA

Q: He, we are headed down between Christmas and New Year and booked a snuba tour - do we need wet suits if so are they provided?

A: While the water is still warmer here than most of the world, wetsuits are recommended for diving and SNUBA diving. If you are SNUBA diving with us, then the wetsuits are included in the price of the SNUBA trip. You just need to show up with bathing suit and towel!

LJ asked :Age for snorkelling

Q: We are thinking of coming down during xmas week. Are there any water/underwater experiences for a 5 year old? LJ

A: Unfortunately, the minimum age for breathing underwater is 8 years old, however there is no age restrictions for snorkeling. We would love to have your family out for a SNUBA/snorkeling excursion while you are here visiting! Your 5 year old will love splashing above all the tropical fish...

richard Schrøder asked :scuba, 10 year boy

Q: we come to the keys November 2011, and my boy is then 10 1/2 years old. He is a good swimmer and we are often playing around in the pool with my scuba gear. Can he try scuba in the ocean , max 3-5 meters, like Padi bubble maker . Do you have any courses for kids, any experince with kids and scuba ?

A: YES!!! He can try either of these adventures: SNUBA, which allows him to breath underwater without wearing full scuba gear. Instead he gets a breathing mouthpiece like the divers have, that is attached to a hose on the surface, and he follows a SNUBA Instructor around the reef underwater, max depth 6M. Half day experience. Age 8 & up Resort Course SCUBA, which lets him train with full SCUBA gear during a brief pool session, and then he goes out and does 2 scuba dives in full gear with an instructor on our coral reefs. Max depth is 9M. Full day experience. Age 10 & up Both options are great ways to allow kids to experience diving, without having to go through the full certification course. If he is interested in getting fully certified, he can do that at 10yrs old. It takes 3 full days.

Stacey asked :slow season

Q: I heard that it is slow in the fall. Do you guys still run dive trips daily?

A: Yes we do! We offer daily dive trips at 8am and 1pm. We do still recommend making advanced reservations to ensure that you get the dive time you want. When it slows down, as it does in the fall, we try to consolidate all of our divers onto one trip a day, either morning or afternoon. So the first to book decides which trip goes! We are usually busier on the weekends than the weekdays. We look forward to having you out diving with us!

Martin Vincent asked :weather

Q: what is average weather and water temp in late march?

A: March weather ranges from air temperatures of high 70sF to 80sF, and water temperatures from mid70s to low 80s. Perfect diving weather!

Millie asked :lobster hunting and snuba diving

Q: Do you have prices for snuba, lobster hunting packages or boat rentals for people that are not spending the nights at the resort?

A: Our prices are posted on our website, and are the same for Hawks Cay Guests as well as non resort guests. We welcome all Florida Keys vacationers on our boat! SNUBA is $99 for a half day trip, we allow lobstering on all our dive trips, and unfortunately we do not rent small boats out, our customer go out on our custom 40' Dive and SNUBA boat.

Nicole asked :Number of dives

Q: Hello! I will be arriving at the resort on 8/20. Should I book in advance for my dive trips or wait until I get there? We are unsure what days we will want to dive but don't want to wait if you book up quickly. Also is each trip a 2 tank dive? Thanks!

A: All of our boat trips go to 2 locations. We do recommend advanced reservations to ensure your spot, although walkins are welcome if there is room! We look forward to diving with you!

Jeff Horstman asked :Open Water Junior Cert.

Q: Can we do an Open Water portion of a Junior PADI divers Cert there in later August ? Thanks

A: Yes, you can do your Junior Open Water Check out dives with us here. I recommend booking in advance to secure an instructor for the dives. We look forward to diving with you!

Kevin asked :Dive trip

Q: My wife and I are coming on vacation in November. I was wondering if yall will still offer dive trips at this time. Second question.. I just finished my Advanced course with SSI but I donot have my card yet. Can I still do a night dive?

A: Yes and yes. We offer dive trips at 8am and 1pm 365 days a year. We do recommend booking in advance. Especially if you are interested in a night dive, as we do those on request and need advanced notice. We do not require AOW certification for a night dive. Looking forward to diving with you and your wife!

Pat asked :tank rentals

Q: I have rented a house on the island for dive days. We would like to rent tanks for the week. Can I reserve them? If so how much will it cost?

A: We do not reserve tank rentals in advance. Tank rentals are $10/day including the fill and are on a first come, first serve basis.

Guy Stamet from Luxemburg/Europe asked :Diving depth

Q: Hello, I'm coming with my family for holiday to Hawks Resort in August.My son is 13 years old and a certified PADI Open Water Diver.I do have the P2 diving licence. Shall we have the possibility to join you for interesting diving trips with limited PADI depth? With best regards Guy

A: Our beautiful coral reefs are in 30ft (10m) of water or less. We dive shallow because that is where our best underwater life is. We hope to have the opportunity to show you and your son our beautiful reefs!

Jerry Sweitzer asked :snorkel trip for 5 and 8 year old.

Q: Are their snorkel trips suitable for a 5 and 8 year old? Not to far out and to deep. What is the cost end of June?

A: We run a really awesome SNUBA/snorkel trip for kids and adults, ages 8 and up. We go 4 miles out to the coral reef and SNUBA/snorkel sites that range from 10-20ft deep. Kids younger than 8 are more than welcome to join their families on the boat as snorkelers only. The SNUBA program is $99/person and additional snorkelers are $45 each. We look forward to showing your family our beautiful reefs!

John T asked :Guides in the water

Q: Hi. Do you provide guides in the water during the reef dives? I saw that one is provided for the thunderbolt. If I have never been lobstering, is this something I can do with Dive Duck Key? Thanks John

A: On our shallow reef dive trips, there is not a dive master guide for all the divers. Because our conditions are usually so gorgeous, we prefer to buddy our divers up and let them explore our beautiful reefs at their leisure. Rather than everyone following one person like a herd of cattle. For the Thunderbolt Wreck dive we do provide a guide because of the depth. You are more than welcome to try lobstering with us. Mini Lobster season is the last Wednesday and Thursday of July, and the regular season opens August 6th. We sell lobstering equipment and gear here at our shop, and you can try lobstering on your own or hire a private guide to teach you. Either way, its an awesome way to dive the reefs and catch dinner at the same time!

dan asked :diving

Q: How deep are your reefs? I am certified, but have not dove for 5 years and do not really care much to go down to 70' thx

A: Our reefs are in 30ft of water and the diving is usually nice and easy, good visibility, little current, and lots of fish! We do recommend a guide or a refresher course if it has been more than a couple of years since you dove last. It is a good idea to brush up on those skills before jumping back in after a long break from diving.

Kevin Ji asked :Weather for diving

Q: Hi Sir/Madam, I am planning the trip to Florida Keys from 23-26 May. Will be the weather good enough for Snorkeling or Scuba diving during that time? Thanks. Kevin

A: May is usually a good time of year for diving and snorkeling. We have had a great spring break so far! Give us a call and we will get something set up!

Ashley Chango asked :Spearfishing Trips

Q: Do you offer spearfishing trips? We are experienced free divers and spearfish often, but won't have a boat with us while visiting the keys.

A: We allow spearfishing on most of our boat trips, although we have some guideslines all spearfishermen have to follow on the boat so that we can make sure to respect the reef and other divers on board. Give us a call and I will tell you all about it!

Colin Williams asked :Check Out Dive for Open Water Certification

Q: Are you able to offer a check out dive to complete certification? Thanks! -Colin

A: Absolutely!!! We will need to half days to complete your certification. Call at your soonest convenience as we are booking up quickly. The price for checkouts are $325 and that does include all of your gear and registration. Hope to hear from you soon, Wendy

david asked :Hurricanes

Q: is october a good month to go on a vacation trip or is it hurricane sesean still

A: Historically October is still storm season, but this year we have El Nino on the west coast and a high pressure that's sitting on the west coast of Europe. The forecasters really look forward to a big Hurricane season. Really hasn't panned out this year.

Julie asked :Combination trips for divers and non divers

Q: We are trying to plan a trip to your resort. My boyfriend is a certified diver. I have done some diving but am not certified. Could we take one trip together where he can dive while I snorkel (or snuba)? Or, are dive and snorkel excursions always separate?

A: Absolutely, you can snorkel while he dives. We also offer one day resort scuba courses and SNUBA. You could join him underwater too. Tons of options here at Dive Duck Key. Give us a call if we can answer any other questions for you.

Stacie asked :Comparison of local Dive Sites

Q: do any of your dive trips go to Pennekamp or are they all local.

A: Hi Stacie, Why would we leave our beautiful dive sites to go all the way to Pennekamp??? Pennekamp has almost 40 dive shops that all dive on the same reefs daily. Yes, it is the first great place to dive in the Keys from the Miami area, but it is saturated with divers.(It's over an hour's drive each way in a car) We don't have any shops within a 10 mile radius and have over 30 different reefs and the Thunderbolt Wreck to dive on. You'll love our crew too!!! Let us know if we can answer any further questions for you. Diving@hawkscay.com or 877-FUN-DIVE Thank you, Wendy

Steve asked :Tank Rentals and Air Fills

Q: Is there a dive shop at the resort for renting tanks, and fill ups?

A: Yes, Dive Duck Key is located in the Marina on the property of Hawks Cay Resort. We have a full service dive shop with retail, rentals, dive trips, lessons and AIR fills. Hope we can help you!!!

Rob asked :Snorkeling on or around Duck Cay

Q: I'm thinking of bringing my wife down and dropping our 26 foot regal cruiser to stay a few days on the water. We're looking to rent a slip and take day trips for snorkeling and exploring the blue waters!! Any recommendations on a slip with utility hookups for evenings and if there are other Cay's that might be worth a peek as well? It's our first boat trip down there. Any information is greatly appreciated!

A: Rob, Thank you for your inquiry. Hawks Cay is a beautiful location in the Middle of the Keys. We have slips that have hook ups and a beautiful resort with great ammenities. The diving off of Duck Key is fabulous as we are the only diving facility within a 10 mile radius. Less pressure on the reef. To make reservations for the slip you can contact Hawks Cay directly through the website or call 305-743-7000. If I can answer any further questions please, don't hesitate to email diving@hawkscay.com or call 877-FUN-DIVE. Thank You, Wendy

Not Sure asked :Is Dive Duck Key Open to the Public

Q: do i have to be a guest of the resort to take a diving lesson?

A: Yes, although we are located on the beautiful property of Hawks Cay Resort, we are most certainly open to the public for all diving retail, lessons and services. Please, don't hesitate to call us if you have any further questions or would like to make a reservation. Thank You, Wendy

shane asked :scuba

Q: I will be there the 2nd week of May and am looking to go diving. What are the depths of your dive trip (shallow reefs or deeper)? Also if I bring a speargun do you have a boat that goes spearfishing?

A: Hey Shane, Alot of our diving is around 30', we do have reefs that go as deep as 100', and our wreck dive sits in 120'. And yes, bring your gun! Joe

Really Embarassed asked :Is there any time that women shouldn't dive?

Q: This is gross... but is it safe to dive for women all month long? You know what I'm asking???

A: This is not an uncommon question. Yes, women are safe to dive 365 days a year. There is no corelation between that time of the month and shark incidents. The blood is deoxygenated and does not trigger the sharks ability to sense it in the water. So, if you're comfortable swimming at that time, you can certainly dive. Good Question and don't be embarassed. Wendy

Cheryl asked :Diving

Q: do you offer a full dive package with room, diving and meals. We have our own equiptment.

A: Unfortunately we do not currently have an all inclusive package with meals and accomodations. We do have great prices for rooms at Hawks Cay. The dives are $60 per person if you have all of your own equipment. Let us know if there's anything else we can do for you. Wendy

tim steiner asked :certification referral

Q: do you do referrals for ssi in june? if so what are the costs? we will be at hawks cay june 14th-21st.

A: Yes we take referrals from PADI, NAUI, and SSI, among others. And we complete referral dives year round! Our summer months are very busy down here though, so I do recommend booking your dives early. Assumming your book work and pool work are completed, it is $350 to complete your check out dives and that includes 2 boat trips, 5 dives, all your equipment, paperwork and registration fees. Feel free to email (diving@hawkscay.com) or call (305-289-4931) if you have more questions or are ready to book! We look forward to diving with you this summer!!!

Zachary Gottesman asked :Certification Dives and Cost

Q: My 11 y/o daughter and I are arriving on 3/27. We will have completed PADI course work and pool dives for open water. What arrangements should I make for getting out check out dives with your operation. Also what is the cost for dive trips?

A: You definitely want to make your reservations soon. You need to book your check out dives with us. That is two half days on the boat. PADI does not allow them to be on the same day. The cost for the checkout dives is $350, and that includes the boat trips, the equipment, the paperwork and the registration fees. Our trips are at 8am and 1pm daily. Our instructors book up fast so call us soon! We can be reached at 305-289-4931 from 8am to 6pm daily. I strongly recommend arranging your dive trips towards the beginning of your vacation so that if we have any foul weather we will have time to reschedule while you are here. Once you have completed your certification dives, you can join as on trips as a diver. The cost for a two tank trip is between $60-$115 depending on what gear you need to rent. Hope to hear from you soon!!!

Coming in March/April asked :Do I need reservations?

Q: My family is coming down the end of March beginning of April. Do I need to make reservations for diving/SNUBA and snorkeling at Dive Duck Key? Or... does the hotel have spots reserved for their guests???

A: YES!!! Reservations for Spring Break are booking very quickly. SNUBA is an instructor guided activity and there are a maximum of 12 SNUBA spots per trip. We can also accommodate snorkelers and divers in addition to the 12 SNUBA divers. Dive Duck Key is open to the public and is booked on a first come first serve basis. We hope to hear from you soon!!! Thanks Wendy

Recent guest asked :Dive Duck Key is the BEST!!!

Q: My family and I stayed at Hawks Cay Resort and we'll never stay anywhere else. We've been diving all over the world and Dive Duck Key has absolutely the best crew and boat we've been on. Although the visibility wasn't 100ft we still saw more fish than you can imagine. Our sons did SNUBA and they will be getting certified at Dive Duck Key next year. Take it from a person with 100's of dives, Dive Duck Key is one of the finest operators in the industry. They run a tight ship and still make it tons of fun. If it's your first experience or one of many, you won't forget the service and experience that Dive Duck Key has to offer. I can't say enough!!!!

A: Well, I certainly wish we could thank you personally for the very nice compliments... We love what we do and sure hope it shows. Can't wait to get your son's certified. Let us know when you're coming down and we'll get you the books in advance. Thanks again for the great blog!!! Wendy

Nervous Nelly asked :Sharks

Q: I'm really afraid of sharks. I'm a great swimmer and really want to learn to dive or do SNUBA, but I'm terrified. Too much shark week I'm sure... Can you tell me what sharks we might see?

A: Yes, we're swimming in their home, the ocean, but let us help you with your fears. The sharks that you routinely see here are Nurse Sharks. They sleep on the bottom and are more like big sting rays than sharks. Out of the thousands of dives that I've done here at Duck Key, I've only seen a hand full of other species while I was diving. I spearfish and have never had any problems with Sharks here in the Florida Keys. Where you'll see the most incidents for shark interactions with humans are.. the beach. Even at the beach, fewer people are killed by sharks each year than by Christmas Tree Lights. Scuba divers also tend not to be the targets as we swim close to the bottom as opposed to swimmers on the surface. Rest assured that scuba diving here in the Florida Keys, and especially here at Dive Duck Key, that sharks are not a problem.

Shelly Reisen asked :Do you have to have experience to Scuba/Snuba dive?

Q: I've always wanted to dive but, haven't taken the time to become certified. If I'm going to be in Duck Key FL, for a couple of days do I have time to try Scuba or SNUBA diving?

A: Yes, you have plenty of time to try either Scuba Diving or SNUBA while you're staying here at Hawks Cay resort. Dive Duck Key has a one day "resort scuba course." We spend a half day learning in the pool and classroom and then another half day diving on 2 reefs. If you only have a half day in the Florida Keys, we can take you SNUBA diving. Either choice is a good one to see the 1200 species of fish that frequent the reefs off of Duck Key, Florida. Join us!!!

Patti asked :Do I need a refresher course?

Q: I have about 10 dives in my log book, but my last dive was in April of 2006. Do you think I need or require a refresher course? How long will your refresher course take at Dive Duck Key?

A: Yes, if it's been over a year or so since you've been diving Dive Duck Key will require that you complete a refresher course for your safety. This course is very reasonable ($225 including all gear/dive trip)and only takes a half day in the pool/classroom. Then you will be guided by a dive instructor on the reef for 2 pleasure dives. So, in one day your skills will be renewed and you'll be logged back in as a current diver. Divers with extensive experience and a lapse in diving may be entitled to hiring a guide rather than the traditional refresher course. This is determined by the crew at Dive Duck Key based on the individual's experience.

Jon Romble asked :Can I spearfish on your boat?

Q: I have a speargun and wanted to know if you allow Spearfishing in the Florida Keys at Dive Duck Key?

A: Yes, Dive Duck Key at Hawks Cay resort is one of the few commercial dive operators that allow spearfishing. Most of the reefs that we frequent are outside of the "No-take Zones." We have a recreational license for every passenger, so no need to purchase a fishing license. You must have your own equipment and either have or hire a buddy that is willing to dive with you. Hunting guides and courses are available here at Dive Duck Key. Make sure to tell us that you plan to spearfish when you make your reservation.

Sandy Johannsen asked :SNUBA trips

Q: I see that you offer 2 different trip prices for SNUBA at Dive Duck Key. What is the difference between a 1 site SNUBA for $99 and a 2 site SNUBA for $185? I can't wait to be there in the Florida Keys!!!!

A: All of our dive trips at Dive Duck Key go to 2 reefs for about an hour. For $99 you will be SNUBA diving with an instructor on one reef and given gear to swim on the other reef. If you want to SNUBA dive on both reefs the fee is $185. Dive Duck Key at Hawks Cay Resort is one of only 3 operators for SNUBA in the continental US. Make your reservations soon as there are only 12 spots per trip for SNUBA divers. Remember, you're whole party doesn't have to SNUBA dive. They can ride, snorkel or scuba dive along with you.

Ronnie Smythe asked :Wreck Dives

Q: Do you have any wrecks to dive at Dive Duck Key in the Florida Keys? Is the an additional charge for doing the wreck?

A: Yes, we dive the R.V. Thunderbolt Wreck here at Dive Duck Key, Hawks Cay Resort. The Thunderbolt was purposely sunk in 1986 for divers. Dive Duck Key does provide a dive instructor as an in water guide on this dive. The maximum depth is 120 ft, although where you'll spend most of your dive is closer to 100ft or less. There is an additional fee of $10 per person for this trip. Nitrox tanks are available for rent if you'd like to extend your visit on the Thunderbolt. You must be at least 15 years of age to make this dive.

Tina Pierce asked :Lobstering

Q: I've seen some pictures on the Dive Duck Key Facebook page with people catching lobster. Do you allow lobstering on the Seafari? When is the season? How many can I take?

A: Yes, we love to catch lobster here at Dive Duck Key. Lobster season is open from August 6th until the end of March here in the Florida Keys. There is also a "Mini Season" the last Wednesday and Thursday of July. Each person is entitled to 6 lobsters per person, per day. If you're staying here at Hawks Cay, they'll prepare your catch at Tom's Harbor House in a variety of recipes. If you've never been lobstering before, hire a professional lobster guide to increase your chances for dinner. We have a great supply of lobster gear here in our shop.

Hanah Apuah asked :What do you see there?

Q: I'm from Maui and I wanted to know what species of fish I would see if I went diving with you at Dive Duck Key?

A: Well, you're in for a treat here at Dive Duck Key. The Florida Keys are known for being home to well over 1200 different species of fish. You won't be seeing the same species as you do at home and many of our guests that have experience diving in Hawaii say that we do have more fish here. The water is also warmer here so make sure to consult our crew at Dive Duck Key as to which wetsuit you'll need to bring. Can't wait to introduce you to some new species!!!!

Robert Frome asked :How long does it take to get Certified?

Q: How long does it take to get certified? Is there anything I can do ahead to get the Open Water Scuba diving course done more quickly at Dive Duck Key? I'll be at Hawks Cay resort for about 4 days.

A: It takes 6 half day sessions to complete the full Open Water Scuba course here at Dive Duck Key. If you complete your books before your arrival, it is possible to finish the whole course in 3 days. We suggest you plan for at least 4 days, just in case we have a weather delay. Remember, you can't fly after scuba diving for 24 hours so, you'll need to finish your last check out dive with dry time afterwards. If you don't have that much time you can either complete your pool/classroom portion of the open water course at home and do referral check out dives with us or there is an online option for the classroom session. Check out dives only take 2 half days. Hope to hear from you soon!!!

Denise Spencer asked :Finishing Scuba Certification

Q: I started my open water scuba certification 4 months ago. I didn't want to dive in Lake Michigan and haven't done any of the open water dives. Can I complete the certification at Dive Duck Key while I'm staying at Hawks Cay Resort?

A: Yes, many people join us at Dive Duck Key to complete their Open Water Certification. You will simply bring your paperwork from your original dive shop and we'll finish the course. You will need 2 half days to complete the open water course. If it's been a while since you've been in the pool, we may suggest that you do a quick pool tune up with us here at Dive Duck Key. This is a really nice option for people who live in those colder landlocked places as the Florida Keys are a perfect destination for beginning divers.

Louise asked :How old do you need to be to Scuba Dive in the Florida Keys?

Q: I wanted to know if my 11 year old son could Scuba Dive?

A: Yes, you only need to be 10 years old to Scuba Dive here in the Florida Keys. If you have family members that aren't quite 10 consider doing SNUBA, which you can participate in at age 8.

Mike asked :SNUBA age

Q: How old do you have to be to do SNUBA? Is there an age limit?

A: Yes there is an age limit. You have to be at least 8 years old to do SNUBA here at Dive Duck Key. There is no age limit on the other end of the spectrum, all adults are encouraged to SNUBA as well! SNUBA is a great activity for the whole family here in the Florida Keys. If you have family or friends that aren't interested in diving they can still join you on the dive trip as snorkeler or riders.

Sally asked :What time are your Reef Trips?

Q: Do you have both morning and afternoon trips? What times do they check in and return?

A: Yes we do. Our morning trip checks in at 8am and returns to the dock around noon. The afternoon trip checks in at the Dive shop at 1pm and returns around 5pm. We run dive trips 7 days a week, 365 days a year!

Marlene & Brad Noonan asked :Thank you

Q: Hi Wendy and Gang! What a fantastic new site and enjoyed seeing the video. You made us smile from ear to ear. We are planning our trip for 2009 and look forward to seeing you after the Labor Day rush. Happy New Year! Marlene & Brad Noonan PS Let us know if you would like to have a testimonial for your new website. We love your shop and espcially love the diving in Duck Key.

A: So good to hear from you!!! Can't wait to see you in the future. Would love to have more time with you next time. It's people like you that make doing our job more rewarding.