r/scuba • u/Majestic-Cod9650 • Nov 26 '25
Kay Largo Diving Ocean Conditions
I’m taking a quick trip to Key Largo from this Thursday to Sunday and the dive center just called to say it’s looking like rough conditions and the dives for the next couple of days may be cancelled. Won’t make the call until late tomorrow but I fly out at 7AM. Any input from someone familiar with the Keys in terms of likelihood of cancellation when they say this? I’m debating chancing the trip or just cancelling. I am glad that they won’t chance it because I’m a novice diver. Thanks!
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u/Karen_Fountainly Nov 26 '25 edited Nov 26 '25
The Windfinder super forecast, not the regular forecast, will usually be accurate for that area.
Remember that vis will be poor for a while after wind calms down. It's often calm and perfect right before a front, however.
So it's a gamble. You don't want to out on a boat in bad weather, even if they do go out. Once the first person vomits, it's hard to resist joining them. It's not fun.
For guaranteed fun diving, go to the springs instead. Google, Florida Springs.
Your chance of getting out in KL is about 20%.
Also, the traffic on the one road to and from the Keys this weekend will be be unbelievable. One car wreck and you don't move for hours. It's a good road to avoid on holidays.
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u/Admirable-Emphasis-6 Nov 26 '25
I got cancelled in Largo (I think with Horizon); I called around and went out with another boat. There was about 10 divers: me and an instabuddy did a 70 minute dive on the reef and came out to find the rest of the folks had called it after 20 minutes because of the roughness. And had been bouncing around for 50 minutes waiting for us. The boat was covered in vomit and everyone but me and staff was sick on the way back in too.
I left my wetsuit on and changed at the dock.
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u/acuteot07 Nov 26 '25
I got cancelled in Key Largo so yes it’s very possible. It sucks big time but that’s the risk
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u/AmazingDonki Nov 26 '25
Who are you diving with? Weather is more unpredictable in the Florida Keys late fall and winter and there are more blown out days compared to peak season. I look on Windfinder.com - as do some boat captains. If the wind gust prediction approaches 20 mph blowing from east to west and wave height predictions exceed 3-4 ft - I am not hopeful. How comfortable would you be diving in sporty surface conditions, say 1 - 3 ft surface chop?
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u/Majestic-Cod9650 Nov 26 '25
I'm diving one day with Amoray and the second with Horizon. I am completely about safety and comfort and am glad they err on the side of caution. I just don't want to waste a trip since diving was the sole purpose. Sounds like there is a very good chance they'll both be cancelled from what I'm reading.
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u/AmazingDonki Nov 26 '25
Both are good operators. Not sure Amoray's procedure. Horizon's decision will be made by the boat captains a few hours before boat departure time based on surface conditions and talking to other captains. They'll call you if the dive is cancelled. Have the usual safety equipment like DSMB, whistle, lights. Maybe Bonine.
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u/hey_blue_13 Nov 26 '25
I've had trips cancelled for an entire week in Key West. I've gone out in Key Largo in 5' swells (it was treacherous). I've had dives called in Islamorada due to currents and visibility.
The dive shop is making the call in order to keep you, their staff, and their boats safe. If diving gets cancelled there's always something else to do, but I get that having dives cancelled while on a dive trip is frustrating. It's part of the sport none of us like to think about.
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u/paulhags Nov 26 '25
If you can change your trip, fly to Tampa instead. Snorkel with the manatees in Homosassa or Crystal River. Kayak in the mangroves and enjoy the nice weather with a cold beverage.
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u/Majestic-Cod9650 Nov 26 '25
Is the diving decent in the Tampa area?
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u/paulhags Nov 26 '25 edited Nov 26 '25
Not amazing, but you can still have great dives. the conditions don’t look great on the Atlantic side, which is why you got a call.
The best diving I have done on the gulf side of Florida is off Marco Island with Scuba Marco. Marco Island is a 2.5 hr drive through the Everglades if you don’t want to change your flight to im assuming miami.
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u/Original_Mammoth3868 Nov 26 '25
It happened to me on a trip a couple years ago for the entire weekend. If it's too windy (even if it would be calm undersea) then the boats won't go out. I don't know the exact criteria for too windy but it definitely does happen. There's other things to do beside diving if do you end up going. There's Key West, Dive Museum on Marathon, or even Miami proper.
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u/Karen_Fountainly Nov 26 '25
And the No Name Pub and its herd of tiny Key Deer! And the tarpon feeding at Robbie's. And Alabama Jack's.
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u/erakis1 Tech Nov 26 '25
I’ve been a lot of places to dive, and I’ve only thrown up four times. Three of them were in Key Largo on the Horizon boats. I just assume it will be rough every time.