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
SCROLL TO DIVE
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, 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.
Confirmed & Reserved
All dives are booked — FINZ Dive Shop (Friday) and Southpoint Divers (Saturday & Sunday) are confirmed. No action needed on dive reservations.
Before April 24 — Action Required
Sign Both Waivers

You need to complete two separate waivers — one per dive operator. Both are required before you're allowed in the water. Neither takes more than 2 minutes.

Waiver 1 of 2
Southpoint Divers
Saturday & Sunday dives — AOW certification + Vandenberg wreck
📋DocuSign · sign in browser
✍️  Sign Southpoint Waiver
Waiver 2 of 2
FINZ Dive Shop
Friday night dives — sunset & night dive
📋SmartWaiver · sign in browser
✍️  Sign FINZ Waiver
Confirmed & Reserved
All dives are booked — FINZ Dive Shop (Friday) and Southpoint Divers (Saturday & Sunday) are confirmed. No action needed on dive reservations.
📚
Pre-Trip Requirement
PADI Advanced Open Water eLearning
⚠️
Action Required — Before April 24
Mike, Ryan, Ben & James must complete PADI eLearning before arrival.

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.

1
Purchase & Enroll

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

2
Complete the Required Modules

Two modules are mandatory. You must also pick three electives.

Required ★
Deep Diver
100–150 ft · USS Vandenberg
Required ★
Underwater Navigator
Compass & natural nav · Saturday
Choose 3 Electives
Peak Performance Buoyancy  ·  Wreck Diver  ·  Fish ID  ·  Night Diver
3
Save Your Completion Certificate

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

Deadline
Thursday, April 24
Complete before departure day. No eLearning = no dives.
Enroll at PADI.com →
🏠
Where We're Staying
The VRBO
VRBO exterior
VRBO interior
Pool access
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