Key Largo Travel Guide
Tags: Strange Scuba Spots / Halloween Travel / Scuba / Florida Travel / Active Travel / → All Tags
Pumpkin Carving Is Even Better Under The Sea
We’ve shed some light on strange Scuba spots across the globe, but we’ve never seen a strange Scuba contest before. However, that’s exactly what you’ll find if you’re headed down to the Florida Keys around Halloween this year. Amy Slate’s Amoray Dive Resort has been running an underwater pumpkin carving contest for a few years now, and this year’s competition is set for October 25.
Divers will do their best to carve out the most creative designs while avoiding reef fish and other critters at the bottom of the sea. Contestants will get pumpkins that have already been hollowed out and are just waiting for some creative carvings. Of course there will be prizes awarded to the top three jack-o'-lanterns, so plan something good. We’re thinking that designs inspired by the ocean probably have a good chance of winning. After all nothing screams Halloween more than a spooky dolphin or ghoulish fish.
Tags: Diving / State Parks / → All Tags
Go Ahead, Skip South Beach
The OC isn't the only place to go urban SCUBA diving. If you're jetting down to Miami to try overrated restaurants, build in some time to scoot south to Key Largo and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Best known as the country's first underwater park, it also has easy diving and snorkeling trips.
Most dives are in the 30-45 feet range, so there's plenty of time to poke around the reefs. (Shallower dives mean more bottom time.) The mandatory dive/snorkel site is Key Largo Dry Rocks, where a Rio-style Christ statue swims with the fishes. More advanced divers will want to check out two sunken Coast Guard cutters complete with swim-throughs. There are plenty of independent dive shops in Key Largo who can take you out, or stick with the park concessionaire.
[Photo: pdxjeff/a.phasia]
Related Stories:
· John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park [Official Site]
· In-park diving [Official Site]
