DATE SET FOR FLORIDA VACATION

[beerbaron]

HEY GUYS, I JUST SET A DATE FOR VACATION TO FLORIDA. GOING TO VISIT MY GIRLFRIENDS PARENTS IN FORT LAUDERDALE. AND I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR EVERYONE.
#1- WHAT MARINE STORES IN FLORIDA SHOULD I CHECK OUT?, IM WILLING TO DRIVE, BUT IT HAS TO BE WORTH IT.
#2- IF I WENT TO GULF-VIEW WOULD I BE ABLE TO PURCHACE THE ROCK AT THE SAME PRICE ON THE WEBSITE AND SAVE ON SHIPPING BY TAKING IT BACK WITH ME ON THE PLANE?
#3 ANY RECCOMENDATIONS FOR THIS EXCURSION?
#4 WHERE ARE SOME GOOD PLACES TO SNORKEL? ARE THERE ANY WHO LET YOU DO YOUR OWN SCAVENGING? Are there any plaCES WHERE I COULD SNORKEL WITHOUT PAYING FOR A CHARTERED VOYAGE.(I DON’T WANT A TIME LIMIT BUT I DON’T HAVE MY OWN BOAT DOWN THERE.) AGAIN, I WOULDN’T MIND DRIVING, BUT MY GIRLFRIEND MIGHT.

THANKS FOR THE HELP. IF ANY OF THIS DOSENT MAKE SENCE, LET ME KNOW, THANKS FOR THE HELP, I NEED TO FIGURE ALL THIS OUT BEFORE I LEAVE.

WES

OH YEAH IM GOING FROM THE 9TH TO THE 18TH.

 

[danmhippo]

Can 't help you with your questions, but Questions pertaining to Gulf-View, you should've contacted Dale Barger of Gulf-View directly. His email: [email protected]

Also, please turn off the all Caps in the future. Thank you.

 

[SPC]

Posted by beerbaron:
#2- IF I WENT TO GULF-VIEW WOULD I BE ABLE TO PURCHACE THE ROCK AT THE SAME PRICE ON THE WEBSITE AND SAVE ON SHIPPING BY TAKING IT BACK WITH ME ON THE PLANE?

-Uh Wes, you are going to be in South Fla, thats a long way (7 or 800 miles maybe) from where you will be. Are you sure you were'nt thinking of Tampa Bay Saltwater?
Steve

 

[beerbaron]

ACTUALLY I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE ANY OF THEM ARE SO I GUESS I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SPECIFIC IN THAT BEING AN EXAMPLE. BUT YES LETS SAY TAMPA BAY IF THATS CLOSER. I AM PROBABLY ONLY GOING TO GO TO ONE PLACE ANYWAY. SO WHATEVER YOU GUYS RECOMEND TO ME IS WHERE I WILL GO.

 

[liquid]

FWIW, you may want to turn off the caps lock as typing in all capital letters is considered shouting on the net.

Shane

 

[Reefguide]

Sacvenging in Fla is a very big no-no in most all areas... I don't suggest it... Might save yourself a few bucks, or might spend a few thousand extra in fines.... And most the Charter Captains, locals, ect will turn you over the wildlife for anything from anchoring on a resticted reef, to harvesting... so beware !

 

[Jeff Hood]

Fort Lauderdale is quite a drive to Tampa. Fla. is a big friggin state!

 

[TEW]

Just came back last week from FL area.
Check out Aquacon's store in Plantation (about 20 min from Ft. Lauderdale airport) and don't miss a store called Barrier Reef, I think it's in Boca Raton or Delray beach area. Great store; TONS of corals. I think a guy named Josh waited on me; he knows his stuff. Came home with five bags of coral!
These were the only two stores in the area that I found worth the trip!

 

[reefsRcool]

don't know a thing about what you asked but i will definatly say driving across florida takes alot longer then you think it should. made the mistake once while staying in miami of heading to tampa for the day. it was a good thing busch gardens was cool because that was just a SUCK drive. happy hunting and try to stay out of prison 8O

 

[beerbaron]

I AM EXTREMLY SORRY about the caps. i always find myself apoligiseing to everyone about the caps because where i work thats all we use and id rather have u guys yell at me than the man who signs my pay checks. i dont see what the big deal is.

i in no way what so ever planned to do illegal scavenging. i just figured that mabey somewhere like gulf view who grow things in the ocean and harvest them would let you go down with them for an extra cost.

TEW- how are the prices at the places you went?

i guess i'll narrow it down to 2 questions.
i am going to ft lauderdale
are there any good snorkleing places close by where i can go either by myself or chartered
are there any marine stores near there where i would be able to get things considerably cheaper than in pensylvania LFS or an OFS

thank you
B.B.

 

[beerbaron]

any?

 

[Anonymous]

Ft. Lauderdale has my fovorite dive site. As for snorkeling, most of the "reefs" in that area are in 40+ ft of water.

If you dive, then dive the Sea Empress. It's sweet, sharks, a moray, a huge jewfish, and tons of stingrays will flock to you because they do feeding there. Also an easy wreck to penetrate.

I forget the name of the dive shop I chartered, but it was the BEST. It was one of my first dive trips and they let us borrow their employees wetsuits, and even gave us their jackets to wear on the boat. They totally went out of their way for us.

 

[beerbaron]

i have never dived b4
how much do you think it would cost
probably out of my budget
to bad b/c id love to try it
thanks for the info

 

[bradleyjay]

Before you go to Aquacon, do yourself a favor and search here in the forums for "Aquacon". They have quite the bad reputation AFAIC.

Aquacon is about 10 minutes from where I live, and I have been there a few times. The sales staff was extremely rude and condescending. I personally wouldn't recommend them to anyone. To give them the benefit of the doubt, I saw a post regarding them where someone said Aquacon knows everyone hates them, and is working to fix that, but that's the last I heard.

Anyway, check out these stores in the FT. Lauderdale area:

Coral Seas: State Road 7 (441) just North of Commercial Blvd, on the right side. It's a pretty small store, but IME, they really know their stuff. They don't have a lot, but what they do have is pretty good.

Barrier Reef: NE 2 Ave (I think), just off Glades Road in Boca Raton. It's a pretty big store, with a good selection and somewhat smart staff. I guess it depends who you talk to. Just be on the lookout for sick fish.

Marine Life Designs: Powerline Road, just South of SW 10 St. in Deerfield. The're mostly wholesale, but they do retail in limited hours. Check out www.marinelifedesigns.com for their retail hours. It's a HUGE shop, with knowledgeable staff, and good prices.

JAWS(I think): Just East of I-95 on Sunrise Blvd. I've only been there once, and they were still building then, but it looked pretty nice, for a small shop. They have a pretty big shark tank to. I can't comment on the prices or staff, as I didn't talk to anyone or buy anything.

There's another shop just East of Dixie Hwy on Commercial Blvd. I can't remember the name, but they had a good selection, and nice, friendly staff. If Squeezix reads this, he'll know the name. I think he said it was his favorite shop.

I'm not sure about diving or snorkeling, as I haven't been in quite a few years, but i do remember some small patch reefs off Ft . Laud and Dania beaches.

 

[OhsCC]

I live just outside of Orlando. It has been raining everyday off an on. Back to the norm. (use to be weird weather until the drought the past few years). If you are want to snorkel I would go down to the Keys. I have never been down there but really want to go. Some of my family has been there and they say it is awesome.

 

[beerbaron]

thanks alot guys, OhsCC- i was thinking about the keys. ive heard its cool, how for is that from ft lauderdale?

are the prices in stores in florida gonna be cheaper than in pa?
just for reference LR is about 4-7$ round here, 5.99 for figi.
corals about 30-40$ for common softies such as colt etc at medium sizes.
about the same (30-40) for lps

 

[OhsCC]

I am not sure how far it is. I am told that is a long highway but I don't believe you have to go all the way to the southern most point. About the price...it depends where you go. Live fish stores around Orlando have LR at the extreme price of $7 or so. But as you said online stores around here like Tampa Bay Saltwater and Gulf view have prices for $2-3. I believe there are some Miami based stores ( i think saltwater.com never ordered there though). Sorry I haven't been there yet but I hope to go soon. Yes, Florida is long.

 

[thepup88]

tampa is around 3 hrs away from Ft Lauderdale,may be worth the trip.The store is onl;y open to the public on Saturdays,at least the last time I checked.you can get LR as low as 1.50 lb depending on what they have at TampaBay saltwater.As for snorkeling there is a place called Bathtub reef that is nice.Not a coral reef but plenty of fish and other critters,I have brought home damsels and tangs,missed a french angel.You will need a Fla saltwatewr fishing license.You can walk out to the reef at low tide.

 

[thepup88]

P.S Bathtub Reef is in Stuart Fla not to far from Lauderdale