Date/Time
Date(s) - 08/04/2024 - 08/11/2024
All Day
Categories
Trip Details:
BIG PINE KEY/KEY WEST/ISLAMORADA FLORIDA
8/4/24 – Sunday– Arrival at Courtyard by Marriott Faro Blanco Resort, Marathon Key
Evening Meet & Greet – Time and Place TBD
8/5/24 – Monday
Arrive at Captain Hook’s Scuba for Reef Renewal USA Coral Restoration Course – In Classroom Session – 9am
Captain Hook Scuba 29675 Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key, FL 33043
Break for Lunch – 11:00am
Return by 12:30pm to Captain Hook’s Scuba for a 2-tank dive to demonstrate skills in the water on the reef and in the coral nursery.
8/6/24 – Tuesday
Arrive at Captain Hook Scuba at 8:00am for 2-tank coral restoration training dives.
Tour of the Land-Based Mote Laboratory – 2:00pm (time to be confirmed)
8/7/24 – Wednesday
Arrive at Captain Hook by 8:30am for a 3-tank boat dive of coral restoration tasks with lunch provided on the boat. (note: Outplanting coral will depend on the ocean temperature)
8/8/24 – Thursday
We will spend the day with the Key Dives/I.CARE team at their facility in Islamorada, FL. I.CARE is the charitable “arm” for Key Dives. Mike Goldberg of Key Dives has worked with Dr. Kylie Smith to set up a 501c3 that teaches recreational divers coral restoration work. Those divers who have not been through their program will learn from their team in the morning classroom style and participate in a 2-tank reef maintenance and outplanting dive that afternoon.
*optional for those who have already completed the classroom portion of the I.CARE program.* Morning dives with Key Dives/I.CARE, if you join us on this trip let us know if you are interested in diving in the morning and we can reserve you a spot on the boat. Key Dives’ location is approximately 30 minutes by car from the Bayside Inn.
8/09/24 – Friday Evening
We will have the amazing experience of a night dive with Key Dives/I.CARE! UV lights to capture fire worms at Alligator Reef. Expect encounters with octopuses, scrawled filefish, and nurse sharks. The Florida Keys are magical at night!
8/10/24 – Saturday – Morning 2 tank dive with Key Dives/I.CARE and then explore and enjoy the last afternoon in the keys.
8/11/24 – Sunday -Departure Day
Costs:
Boat Charter: Captain Hook Scuba:
3-day boat charter with Captain Hook Scuba. Total cost is $3,800. The boat can hold up to 20 divers. Plan on 10 and a cost per diver of $380. If our numbers increase the cost per diver decreases. The fee for the coral restoration class is included in the fees.
I.CARE: Islamorada Conservation and Restoration Education
Day 1 (Thursday optional if not diving the Vandenberg) Diving $75 for a 2-Tank trip.
Day 2 (Friday) Diving and Education – $75 for a 2-Tank trip, $25 donation to I.CARE. Divers already certified through I.CARE only pay for the dives. SSI will issue certification cards both digitally and printed for an additional $34 fee.
Day 2 Evening: Night Dive with I.CARE/Key Dives – $75 per diver
Day 3 $75 for a 2-Tank Dive
Gear Rental: $34 if needed. Tanks and Weights are included in the $75 fee for dive trips.
Payments made on site.
Courtyard by Marriott Faro Blanco Resort, Marathon Key August 4-7,2024
Courtyard by Marriott Faro Blanco Resort on Marathon Key is 15 minutes from Captain Hook Scuba in Big Pine Key. Rates are variable depending on where you book the hotel. We encourage members to shop around and use points if possible. If you are a Marriott Bonvoy Member, we encourage you to invite friends and family to sponsor and support your trip to help the reef. Marriott has advised us that anyone who has a membership can have points donated to their account from another member. If you are not a member, join today. Donating points and helping to cover a night or two of your trip is a great way for non-divers to help us make an impact.
Bayside Inn: Key Largo August 8-11, 2024
Bayside Inn is centrally located, with many restaurants and bars within walking distance. They offer a heated outdoor pool and private beach, complimentary parking, and Wi-Fi. The Inn has an onsite restaurant, Snook’s Bayside Restaurant & Grand Tiki Bar The restaurant offers guests of the Inn 10% off. There are other restaurants within walking distance.
Trip participants must book their stay at the Inn, call and let Bayside know they are part of the ADFC group to get the discounted rate and to have them waive the resort fees of $25. All guest rooms are subject to 12.5% State and local Sales/Occupancy Tax. Call 305-451-4450 for reservations.
Discounted Rates: $158 per night with choice while available of King Size Bed or 2 double beds. This is the room rate. If 2 people in a room that is $79 each per night. ADFC has a limited number of rooms available, so please book early to reserve your room at this rate. Reservation Deadline: May 15, 2024.
Please Note: This does not include Airfare, ground transportation, or meals. Don’t delay, this trip has a limit of 15 participants!
Once you have reserved your room at Bayside Inn, please complete this form and we will be in touch on the next steps.
There are other hotels in the area of the keys. Please note that if you have a place to stay or want to stay at a different hotel that is not a problem. Let us know where you will be staying so we can coordinate group plans with you during the trip.
Please note:
This does not include Airfare, ground transportation, or meals.
Advanced Open Water Certification is recommended for this trip.
Dive Accident insurance is required to participate in this trip.
