Key West sunset

April 24 – 28, 2026

Key West

Five Days  ·  Open Water  ·  Depths Unknown

Mike  ·  Ryan  ·  Ben  ·  James  ·  Alex

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01
Friday  ·  April 25
Arrival & First Dive
11:30 AM
Wheels Down — Key West
Check in, gear up, feel that Florida heat.
5:00 PM
2-Tank Dive — Sunset & Night
FINZ Dive Shop
Night dive
Night dive — Key West Reef System
Tank 1 Sunset dive — explore local reef as daylight fades, vivid colors in the golden hour
Tank 2 Night dive — navigate by dive light, observe nocturnal marine life emerge from the reef
02
Saturday  ·  April 26
Skills & Certification Dives
9:00 AM
Pool Session
Alex Confined water skills: buoyancy control, mask clearing, regulator recovery, basic rescue skills
12:00 PM
Advanced Open Water & Rescue Training
Southpoint Divers  ·  2-Tank
Group AOW adventure dives: Navigation dive (compass & natural navigation) + Peak Performance Buoyancy
Alex Rescue Diver confined water skills — self rescue, tired diver tow, panicked diver control
Evening
Dinner
03
Sunday  ·  April 27
The Vandenberg & Reef
Morning
USS Vandenberg Wreck — Deep Dive
Southpoint Divers  ·  2-Tank
USS Vandenberg wreck
USS Vandenberg — 522 ft, World's Largest Artificial Reef
Group AOW Deep certification dive (100–150 ft) — explore the 522-ft USS Vandenberg; experience color loss at depth, pressure effects, and narcosis awareness
Afternoon
Reef Dives — Complete AOW Certification
Southpoint Divers  ·  2-Tank
Reef dive
Key West Reef System — Vibrant coral & marine life
Group Final AOW adventure dives on Key West reef system — earn Advanced Open Water certification
Alex Open water rescue scenarios — missing diver search pattern, in-water CPR, exit & casualty care
Evening
Dinner & Drinks
Celebrate the certifications.
04
Monday  ·  April 28
Departure
Homeward Bound
Pack up, check out, carry the salt water home.
⚠️
Action Required — Before April 24
Mike, Ryan, Ben & James must complete PADI eLearning before arrival.
📚
Pre-Trip Requirement
PADI Advanced Open Water eLearning
PADI AOW Badge

The Advanced Open Water certification requires completing an online knowledge portion before your in-water dives with Southpoint Divers. Plan for 6–8 hours total — work through it at your own pace between now and the trip.

Start eLearning Now →
Three Steps to Complete
1
Purchase & Enroll

Go to padi.com/courses/advanced-open-water, select eLearning, and create a PADI account. Cost is ~$175. PADI Club members get 20% off.

2
Complete the Required Modules

Two modules are mandatory for your certification and match the dives we have scheduled. You must also complete three elective modules of your choice.

Deep Dive
Required ★
Deep Diver
60–100 ft · USS Vandenberg
Navigation
Required ★
Underwater Navigator
Compass & natural nav · Saturday
Choose 3 Electives
Recommended: Peak Performance Buoyancy  ·  Wreck Diver  ·  Fish Identification  ·  Night Diver
3
Save Your Completion Certificate

PADI issues a digital certification record on completion. Screenshot or save the PDF — Southpoint Divers will ask to see it before your first dive.

Deadline
Friday, April 25
Complete before arrival in Key West. No eLearning = no dives.
Enroll at PADI.com →
🏠
Where We're Staying
The VRBO
VRBO exterior
VRBO interior
Pool access
STARS — 4BR/2BA Condo
Downtown Key West  ·  Sleeps 10

Majestic home in the heart of Key West with direct pool access, front porch, and a full open great room. Steps from Duval Street and Mallory Square.

Highlights
🏊 Shared heated pool — direct access from dining area
📍 4-min walk to Duval St, 9-min walk to Mallory Square
🛏️ 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1,424 sq ft + cottage
📶 Free WiFi, full kitchen, washer/dryer, A/C
9.4/10 Exceptional · 92 reviews
View on VRBO →