If you’re looking for your next Caribbean dive destination, it’s time to widen the net.

Most travelers don’t realize that the Gulf Stream—the current responsible for the Caribbean’s warm, clear water and tropical fish species—flows along Florida’s east coast, making the Keys every bit as tropical as any Caribbean Island. The Florida Keys pack the same clear, warm water and marine life, from eagle rays to yellow-headed jawfish.

Just ask the divers at Amoray Dive Resort on Islamorada. This 32-room hideaway has a full-service PADI 5-Star Dive Center that ranked in the top five across a handful of this magazine’s Readers Choice awards, including Best Overall Dive Resort in North America, as well as Best Quality, Best Value and Best Quality of Staff.

The staff especially are a standout of this dive center. They set the tone, creating a family-friendly and, well, everyone-friendly experience. This group is welcoming and personable, making for an experience that feels like meeting up with a dive club you’ve known for years—lots of chatting and laughter. Want to celebrate Women’s Dive Day with people who get it? Or just dive free from macho culture? Look no further.

Amoray also caters to families, offering the PADI Bubblemaker and Seal Team programs for kids 8 and older. Once the whole fam is certified, the group can opt to hire their own dive guide for a more private underwater experience happening at the pace you choose.

All dives are guided, which is not the norm in the Florida Keys, but it’s a service that’s important to Amoray. If divers aren’t traveling together as a group, the maximum number of guests per guide is four. Amoray provides the utmost in safety, as well as a personal, attentive experience in the water where the good stuff is pointed out so you make the most of your time in the water. The more you see, the more memories you’ll make together.

Given that this is the tropics, the good stuff can range from a squadron of eagle rays passing by to hawksbill sea turtles nibbling on sponges. Come spring, the site known as Horseshoe becomes a glittering spectacle when baitballs of silverside descend upon the reefs. Amoray dive boats target 8 miles of Florida reef, offering a variety of depths and attractions, including the protected waters of the famous John Pennekamp Underwater National Marine Sanctuary. This marine reserve is just part of the reason that the Keys rate as the diving capital of North America—and number one best overall dive destination in North America according to our Reader’s Choice awards.

Wrecks are also in the mix with Amoray. The don’t-miss wreck, hands down, is the Eagle, part of the Florida Keys Wreck Trek. This 269-foot freighter sunk in 1985 and 1998’s Hurricane George split her open, making for a cutaway view of one of the most decorated and marine-life rich reefs in the area. Colorful rope sponges, green moray eels, stingrays and schools of fish make for a lively, vibrant ecosystem.

Want night dives? Amoray’s got ‘em, led by guides that showcase the wow moments after dark, including orange corallimorph corals, juvenile lobsters and a wealth of other tiny critters sheltering in the shallows.

And it’s all just steps from your room. Amoray is designed for convenience, offering an all-in-one experience. You bring your gear to the boat one time and that’s it—no need to pile into the car, schlep your gear every day or worry that you’ve forgotten a piece of gear.

Just wake up and pad down to the coffee bar by the tiki hut for a fresh cup of joe and some fruit before catching the morning dive boat. Non-divers can enjoy the pool as well as free use of bicycles and kayaks to explore local trails and mangroves. An added bonus is that dive sites are within 15 minutes of the shop, so divers aren’t gone all day. Rather, you can meet up after the morning boat trip for an afternoon snorkel or visit to a local brewery such as the Florida Keys Brewing Company. Amoray can also help organize tours further afield, including eco-tours focusing on dolphins, birds or manatees locally, or even a trip up to the Everglades to see the adventure of Florida’s biggest wetlands national park.

Do keep in mind: Amoray is so popular among Keys-bound divers, it’s recommended to book a few months in advance for in-demand travel dates, such as spring break and the summer months.

2023 Readers Choice Awards

Amoray Dive Resort and Amoray Dive Center were ranked by readers in 10 categories, including Quality of the Resort, Quality of the Rooms, Quality of Staff and Value of Resort.

amoray.com

800-426-6729

amoraydive@amoray.com