Half Day Scuba Diving Trip In The Florida Keys

2 days of great diving! Went out with Captain Katie and Gabby on three different boat trips over the weekend. Great dives…great customer service…great experience!

Joe took good care of us diving. Excellent explanation and visualisation of the reef, so when my husband and I were scuba diving we knew exactly where we were from Joe description of the reef. He made sure our equipment was well set up and was very attentive to our needs. The captain of the boat Brad was excellent too. Those two took good care of the whole group. We would definitely dive with them again.

As novice divers we were thrilled to be assigned Scuba Joe as our guide. His knowledge and willingness to teach truly made this dive memorable, he took the time to help us master some skills while also keeping us laughing and relaxed. Pirates Cove and Scuba Joe will definitely be our first call next time we are in the Keys.

Booked with another company but were put on Pirates cove and they were great! Will definitely go again!

Fun trip. Staff was great. Boat was clean

Captain Katie and Snorkel Joe were great! Had a wonderful time!

Loved the experienced staff and organization Sometimes dive operators provide a dive master included with the reservation However the explanation from the captain on the layout of the reefs was good enough to navigate.

Booked with a friend who did the discover scuba diving course. Nate was his dive master instructor. He was absolutely phenomenal! He was so patient with him every step of the way from the pool to the first DIVE on the REEF to the second DIVE on the REEF- kept him safe and right by his side. It was really fun for me as an experienced diver to see the process. If you have always wanted to learn how to dive, but only have a short amount of time, you can learn in a weekend. There will be a master Diver right next to you to keep you safe while you explore the magnificent beauty of the underwater world!!! Captain Katie and the first mate were also super professional and fun. Look no further, Pirates Cove watersports in Key Largo is the place to go this summer!

Captains Katie, Brad and John are the best in the Keys. always a safe and enjoyable dive trip every time we go out. Scuba Joe is always good for some laughs but one of the best boat mates out there. you can't go wrong with Pirates Cove crew and staff which is why we trust them with our dive trips year after year.

I booked the reactivation Scuba experience that included on-line learning, in pool time, and two dives in the Atlantic close to John Pennekamp area. It was a wonderful experience. our dive guide and instructor, Gabbie, was amazing. She excelled instruction and facilitating learning by doing. We plan to come back for an open water dive course for another member of the family.

I would give them a 6 star if I could. Sabby is the most amazing person. Our dives with Pennecamp were canceled the day before we left due to winds and high seas. I am so glad they let us know and Tom there suggested Pirates Cove. My husband and I went out with them in 2019 and it was a good experience. Sabby was on it from day one trying to get us out. She knew our 11 year old grandson had gotten certified in SCUBA for this trip. On Friday, she got us booked with a sister operation Horizon and we got to experience our grandson's first dives in the blue with him. She is wonderful as is the rest of the staff there. We went out on a mangrove snorkel with them with Nate the Mate and Kate the captain of the boat. They are very attentive but also fun. I highly recommend them.

I would not recommend this dive operation if you are looking for a safe, honest, and diver-focused experience. Before the dive, I was told I had to pay extra for a private guide because I didn’t have a diving buddy, and they claimed everyone else already had one. In reality, this was not a private guide at all — it was one guide shared with a group of around 8 divers. It was honestly the largest guided dive group I’ve ever seen, and it felt chaotic and unsafe. The large group constantly slowed everyone down, and it was difficult to keep the group together underwater. On top of that, the boat was packed with a large group of snorkelers, and both divers and snorkelers were dropped in the exact same spot at the same time. That meant around 30 people crowded into one small area. Because of this setup, the dive was extremely limited — we stayed in very shallow water (around 10 feet max) so the operation could manage everyone more easily instead of providing a proper diving experience. Overall, this felt much more like a high-volume tourism business than a serious dive operation. The reefs themselves are beautiful, but the overcrowding, poor organization, and misleading “private guide” situation completely ruined the experience for me. If you are an experienced diver looking for a safe, well-organized, and honest dive experience away from overcrowded groups, I would strongly recommend looking elsewhere.

Scuba Joe is awesome. I hadn’t dove in 8 years so did a refresher course (pool and open water) and 2 tank dive. Scuba Joe was the best instructor, guide and dive buddy I ever had. His teaching style was not only informative but memorable as well. All the folks at PCW were professional, helpful and friendly. Will be coming back here again for sure when visiting Key Largo. Thank you Scuba Joe for a very rememberable experience. I’m a better diver after having spent the day with you.

We stayed at the Reefhouse Resort & Marina and I did a half day 2 tank scuba trip in both the morning and the afternoon. Had a great time seeing Christ in the Abyss and Horseshoe Reef. Very professional staff and very well run operation. Beautiful scenery above and below the water. Captain Caitlin, Liber, Dave, Gabby, and Scuba Joe made sure we had a fun and safe experience. Only wish they had cameras to rent to capture photos/videos of the dive sites. Highly recommend this dive shop in Key Largo!

Excellent experience! We are new to scuba and it was a great experience. Our guide Nate was wonderful - answered our questions and was very calm and patient. Our boat captain Caiti was a great energy - made the whole thing fun! Libier provided clear information and guidance and a huge help.

Fantastic SCUBA certification from Scuba Joe for my 12 year old - he is the best instructor I could have asked for! Also Charles was an excellent guide and we have 4 excellent dives together. Exactly the experience we were hoping for!

Captain Brad, Joe and Charles were great. Music on boat very upbeat. Joe and Charles VERY helpful with my gear before and after the dives. It was my first dive without my husband, my only buddy in 17 years of diving. It was an emotional and personal challenge for me but Joe and Charles were super compassionate and supportive in helping me conquer my challenge. Small world- Captain Brad grew up in same suburb I did and we went to the same high school, him many years ago, me MANY MANY years ago. Highly recommend Pirates Cove Watersports for all your vaca experiences.

Give shout out to captain Brad, Joe, and Charlie. Everyone was fantastic and very friendly. They spent time talking with everyone on the boat and made everyone feel welcomed!

We went back AGAIN and Pirates Cove was still awesome. The crew was so friendly and helpful. The boat rides out and back were fun, with great music and conversations. We had a great time. The diving was great; we encountered Dolphins at Moe! Thanks to all! Capt. Caiti, Capt. Brad, Liber, Nate, Maria, Charlie and the super nice staff inside the shop! We'll see you in May!

Best snorkel trip ever! Kate our captain and Libe, our first mate were excellent. They took us to two spots and both had incredible visibility. They also were very informative about the area and set clear boundaries for us to snorkel which were very generous in size. We weren't rushed at all unlike some tours and they were so funny and kept everyone engaged.

Hannah and Gabby were a great Capt/deckhand duo! We had been boarded out from another dive shop due to boat repairs and were pretty happy to find them. Will definitely consider staying at this resort next time!

I recently had an experience with "Pirate's Cove" that left me disappointed. I expected a good family friendly trip, but instead I encountered poor service, delays, unprofessional behavior from the Manager, and rude employees. This was especially frustrating because this was my wife and I's anniversary trip, and we would have went elsewhere had I known this place to be such a circus. I believe that the business could improve by buying newer, less prone to break-down equipment, providing basic nessecities to its customers, and getting rid of that Suzie woman. She was a very crude and unrefined woman. Unfortunately, based on this experience, I cannot recommend them at this time.

Today was day two of the dive package and all expectations were equal or exceeded this time Captain Brad who if he wasn’t a delightful Captain he could be on stage as a comedian he brought fun and laughter to the trip out to the dive sites. And dive guide Murphy was a joy to dive with extremely relaxed, knowledgeable putting everyone at ease. Can’t wait to come back to dive spiegal grove. Already looking forward to it.

Pirates Cove provided a great morning of diving. From start to finish it was relaxed, professional, and genuinely fun. Nate was an outstanding guide: calm, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about diving. Liber was equally impressive, keeping the energy high on the surface and making sure logistics were seamless. Together with captain Catie Pirates Cove is a must-dive, especially with a team like this.

We ended up on the Pirates Cove boat, but out dive package was with Ocean First. I wanted to take the time to review Pirates Cove because the captain and crew were top notch. Captain Kate (Katie?) was a treat. This particular outing was mostly snorkelers, but also had 8 Scuba divers. We were a little unsettled with all of the snorkelers, but they prioritized the scuba divers for sure. They are also based out of the Reefhouse Resort which is also HIGHLY recommended. (see my review).

Had another fantastic scuba vacation with Pirates Cove! Spent 3 days diving with my son and we had a terrific time. Very knowledgeable, friendly, and professional staff. Much thanks to Scuba Joe (highly recommend this guy for a guide who has logged a zillion dives and knows every fish by name), Capt Brad ( let us pick out a new dive site and finds dolphins every trip) and 1st Mate Maria (super helpful and took great pics).

Captain Brad and Scuba Joe were absolutely amazing! My friend and I had an awesome dive and the boat ride was a blast. Cant say enough wonderful things about the crew they truly made it an amazing experience and were knowledgeable about the dive sites plus full of fun dad jokes!

Had an amazing experience with the pirates cove crew! The crew was friendly, and made everyone feel safe and comfortable from start to finish. The dive sites were incredible, vibrant marine life, and unforgettable views beneath the surface. Everything was well-organized, from the gear setup to a cheerful and fun ride. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a great time!

Captain Brad and Scuba Joe were amazing!!! We had a storm delay but once we got going it was a blast!!! It was my first time doing a "real" dive after getting certified. Scuba Joe was incredibly attentive, knowledgeable and safety focused. Loved the fun atmosphere generated by the captain and mate. The dad jokes were the best! Had such a great time we booked a second half day of diving for later in the week.

Operation is first class, Captain Katie and Scuba Joe made the trip so much more enjoyable If you have a short trip, great operation to get in a dive Boat is top notch dive boat

Awesome! Captain Carl, Scuba Joe and Nate were great! Very informative, and entertaining! Scuba Joe's dance moves are a must see!! Nate was an amazing dive guide, although he forgot to email the turtles to show up😉😉. Would absolutely go again!!

Did two dives with Pirates Cove Watersports & had an awesome time! My guide Nate was super nice, very experienced, & made sure we were all good throughout the dive. Captain Brad and Scuba Joe were also fantastic. Safety was always the top priority, but they still made sure everyone had fun. Really just a great group of people who know how to create memories for families & solo divers like me. I’ve dived with three other shops before in Key Largo, and Pirates Cove is by far the best. It's definitely my new go-to. Can’t wait to dive with them again. Huge thanks to Nate, Brad, and Joe!! If you’re looking for an experienced & established dive shop, Pirates Cove is the one.

I had the opportunity to do my open water scuba cert with pirates cove and the famous scuba joe, and it was a great experience. I feel well equipped with all of the skills necessary to be a safe and competent diver. I really appreciate the emphasis placed on safety, comfort, and environmental protection throughout the course as well. Scuba Joe and the the rest of the pirates cove team are some of the most fun people you will ever meet, and all of the staff make sure that you are comfortable, safe, and having fun throughout the experience. I will absolutely be returning to pirates cove to do my advanced open water certification.

This past weekend was my second time scuba diving with Pirate Cove in Key Largo, and it was just as fantastic as the first! My family and I originally chose them because of the friendly and professional staff, excellent quality of equipment, comfortable boat, and top-notch service—and we enjoyed it so much the first time that we had to come back. This time, I booked my Advanced Scuba Diving Certification class with them, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. My instructor, Scuba Joe, was absolutely AMAZING. He went above and beyond—not only covering all the skills and requirements for the certification, but also introducing me to extra techniques, tips, and opportunities that made each dive even more exciting and educational. His enthusiasm, clear explanations, and memorable examples made the whole process fun and inspiring. Over three days, I completed six incredible dives, with the highlight being a deep-sea exploration that I’ll never forget. The entire crew, from the boat captain to the deck assistants, was welcoming, professional, and always ready to help. I highly recommend Pirate Cove over any other operator in the area—this team truly cares about giving divers an unforgettable, safe, and enjoyable experience. I’ll definitely be diving with them again!

My family and I just had a fantastic experience diving for 2 days with Scuba Joe and his crew at Pirates Cove Watersports in Key Largo. My 15 year old completed her open certification while my 19 yr old, 16 yr old and I looked on as we dove the Double North Boulders, The City of Washington wreck, The Fingers and the Christ Statue Reef. Even my wife was able to participate, even though she is not Scuba diver, looking on from above as she snorkeled. This is one of the great features of Pirates Cove, their boat is big and can easily accommodate scuba divers and snorkelers for families with mixed interest. However what really sets Pirates Cove apart is the staff beginning with our instructor Scuba Joe who is fantastic. Joe has over 6000 dives and shares his knowledge in a fun engaging manner that lets folks just soak it all in to the extent that my 15 yr old had a blast while I could see that she was ready to be a safe well trained diver. Joe’s the best! Captain Katie and Nate the mate are amazing as well being every where at once, from helping people with their gear or up the ladder or making a safety brief funny, they make sure all have a safe and enjoyable experience. Suzie in the office is wonderful setting things up so that all our tests and waivers were done before we set foot in the keys. Even the owners are present at Pirates Cove manning the counter and checking people in which is great to see. Lastly, it is a great location on site at the Reefhouse Hotel so you can roll out of your room into the pool for morning lessons and then just head over to the boat located right there in a little canal. You never have to get in a car which is wonderful! Thank you Scuba Joe and Pirates Cove!

Absolutely wonderful morning dive trip!! Seas were calm but had a current flowing. Capt. Brad, Kristen and Nate went above and beyond to be helpful and do everything possible to make sure we had a great, safe dive experience. It was good to see them actively engaging with the group and answering questions, taking the extra time with new snorkelers. The euipment we rented and the boat were well taken care of! We had some laughs with bad dad jokes. Love the Horseshoe-- it was like divng in an aquarium-- lots of fish, beautiful corals, sassy lobsters and a turtle. The crew from Pirate's Cove are truly good people to spend time with!! Only wish we had more days to dive on this trip to Key Largo.

Really friendly and helpful shop staff and boat crew/captain. We went out for two tank trip and really enjoyed ourselves. Very professional and roll call was done after every dive before we moved.

We booked a scuba/snorkel trip while staying at the Reefhouse. Pirates Cove Watersports did a phenomal job. From Captain Katie and first mate Lieber getting us in and out to the dive sites, to Scuba Joe guiding us on our first ocean dive. Expectations were exceeded. Girls snorkeled while we dived.

There was a medical emergency during our excursion. The staff was exceptionally professional and responsive to the needs of the guest on the boat. Needless to say, our trip with Pirates Cove was not exactly what we had hoped. However, seeing the response and actions of the crew, both on the boat and in the office upon return, left me completely convinced that had the situation been directly related to my family, I would have wanted the exact same response. I will definitely be using this team for future dive trips, even if we have family come to town again.

The crew was awesome, Capt. Joe was great and they made the trip very enjoyable and fun would highly highly recommend them. And this company.

Had a great experience with all the staff, both in the office and on the boat. Dave, Nate, Scuba Joe, Christy, and Captain Leprechaun (sorry capt, forgot your name!). Super fun group, easy to book, lively and informative ride to and from dive sites, safety a top priority. All around a good company. We have dived in Key Largo with three different operations, and although they have all been positive experiences, I would definitely recommend Pirates Cove if you get the chance.

I traveled to Key Largo last week to get SCUBA open water certified. The crews on the Pirate Cove boats were fantastic over our three days. Captains Katie and Brad were both awesome. They were knowledgeable about the area and provided enjoyable rides. Liber, and Scuba Joe were both great mates! I won’t forget seeing Scuba Joe dancing to BNL’s Lovin’ Life. Joe and Brad also make entering the ocean from the channel very memorable. Looking forward to our next trip already. It was very cool to see so many different reefs over our three days of diving.

We had an amazing time getting certified with Scuba Joe. Training was fun, safe and transformational! With all of Scuba Joe’s teaching expertise and passion, we were able to go from zero experience to confident scuba divers over only two days of certification training. We plan on continuing to scuba dive and chasing more certifications because of the experience we had at Pirates Cove Watersports. Captain Katie and Liber did an excellent job crewing the boat on our ocean excursions in the afternoons as well! I would not hesitate to return to Pirates Cove Watersports in the future for scuba diving and snorkeling and highly recommend the team!

Good dive trip to 2 shallow reef. Crew was very helpful, I liked that they let the divers on board first so we could set up our gear on tanks, then they let the snorkeling passengers board. They were entertaining on the way to the dive site. We anchored in one spot and did 2 dive sites, Mikes Wreck and Fingers. Then they did a quick stop at Key Largo Dry Rocks so everyone could snorkel the Christ statue.

This was an awesome weekend! We were down in Key Largo as part of a school trip to finish off PADI certification. Scuba Joe gave amazing instruction to my daughter and her classmate through patience and a great attitude. He made sure the girls knew the safety rules, as well as helped them feel familiar with the gear. Going out with them on their open water dives, he kept an eye on each of them and praised them when he got back on board the boat with them. The kids were tired, but they thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the amazing things that scuba divers can see. Joe and Pirates Cove Watersports gets 5 stars in my opinion! The staff and crew at Pirates Cove were professional, educated, knowledgeable, and, above all - SAFE. They made sure all the passengers knew the rules and they worked as a team well.

I’ve been taking my school scuba group to Key Largo to dive for years and Pirates Cove is my go-to shop! They are organized, knowledgeable, and so much fun! Captains Caiti and Brad are super entertaining, put safety first, and have great taste in music. Hadrium and Krissy are our scuba BFFs on the boat and in the water and Suzy and Sabby keep chaos the of shop running smoothly and with great care. And finally, Scuba Joe came in clutch with our open water referrals. 🐙🪼🐡

Captain Katie and Scuba Joe were awesome! Everything was top notch - safety, dive locations and briefing, and assistance with gear. Katie put on a great playlist and she and scuba Joe were a lot of fun😃 It is clear that the entire Pirate’s Cove team cares about their customers and our experience.

Great experience company is top notch scuba joe captain bob are great on the boat I had a one on one dive with Murphy he was great knew all the best spots I would highly recommend them for any water sports

I can’t say enough about the whole Pirate’s Cove crew and experience. My three kids and I spent a week completing our Open Water Referral Dives, then doing a few recreation scuba dives. From Sara helping us plan everything before our trip, to Kristie in the store, to Captain Caiti, Captain Brad, and Captain John, and Liber on the boats, everyone was awesome. And most importantly, our instructor Nate and guide Scuba Joe made the whole diving process comfortable and for the kids and me to complete our certification! A++++ grades all around!