Southpoint Divers image

Southpoint Divers

Dive shop โ€ข Scuba instructor โ€ข Scuba tour agency

๐Ÿ˜  Very Poor experience with this dive shop. Does not take safety as top priority. As a dive shop that regularly takes customers to ship wreck, it should be a requirement to communicate that the descent and ascent involves holding a rope covered with barnacles and fire coral. As part of this, gloves sh... People often mention dive, dives, great, guide, shop, experience, time, safety, boat, Southpoint,


Address

606 Front St, Key West, FL 33040, United States

Website

www.southpointdivers.com

Contact

+1 305-292-9778

Rating on Google Maps

4.50 (178 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Wednesday: 8โ€ฏam to 6โ€ฏpm
  • Thursday: 8โ€ฏam to 6โ€ฏpm
  • Friday: 8โ€ฏam to 6โ€ฏpm
  • Saturday: 8โ€ฏam to 6โ€ฏpm
  • Sunday: 8โ€ฏam to 6โ€ฏpm
  • Monday: 8โ€ฏam to 6โ€ฏpm
  • Tuesday: 8โ€ฏam to 6โ€ฏpm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: dive (58) dives (20) great (19) guide (17) shop (16) experience (14) time (14) safety (13) boat (13) Southpoint (13)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 1/5 Stephanie K. 4 months ago on Google
    Very Poor experience with this dive shop. Does not take safety as top priority. As a dive shop that regularly takes customers to ship wreck, it should be a requirement to communicate that the descent and ascent involves holding a rope covered with barnacles and fire coral. As part of this, gloves should be provided if a customer purchases full gear set (which I did). I went on this dive and the result is two infected hands (photo attached) because of the tears from holding the rope covered in fire coral, which was not communicated during the safety. Also not included in the safety was a buddy check, which I did not have a buddy so it should have been with the guide I paid extra for. One of the girls lost her weights underwater bc of the failure of the paid guide to do a safety check. Another overlook and miss in safety was not calling the dove due to current. After the instructor evaluated the water, she made the decision to take us down (very rapidly) only to turn us back around when we reached the boat because of current. She admitted to the fact that she should have called it from when she originally did her check. Also, When I say rapidly descending , I got sinus squeeze which has never happened before and my mask filled with blood. Another diver was in excruciating pain on the decent, which was apparent yet we proceeded at the rapid pace. When we tried to pause to wait for the other diver to address the pressure she was experiencing in her ears, the guide was frustrated and pushing everyone along to continue descent. I called the shop after going to the doctor today to inform them of the fact that I had an infection from the fire coral. They told me that itโ€™s not their problem. The women who works the front desk is very unprofessional and does not address concerns but rather talks over you. I would recommend another dive shop that makes safety a priority.
    4 people found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 Aaron B. 2 years ago on Google
    This shop is fantastic. Had a blast doing 4 dives at the Vandenberg with Zack. Amazing experience and such a great guide. We also did some reef dives with him and his appreciation for sea life is amazing. We also had some reef dives with Drew and Tyler, both awesome guys as well. You can not go wrong by booking a trip with this group. I will definitely book here again when in the Keys.
    3 people found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 Menno K. 5 years ago on Google
    Been diving with Southpoint Divers foto two days. I have been diving the Vandenberg wreck and the Sand Key & Eastern Dry Rocks. All four dives were great. The service is good and the staff is friendly. The staff will explain about the dives sites and take care of safety. Especially on the Vandenberg dives that is relly nice. On the Vandenberg the guides Will show you the wreck and will follow the most conservative tables/computers. The V is a must do divesite, but for most divers a guide is strongly recommended. The Sand key and the Eastern Dry Rocks are diveble for most self guiding divers. Good reeds with beautiful coral and life. Saw sharks, turtles and a lot of other typical fish.
    3 people found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 Roger B. 2 years ago on Google
    What a wonderful and amazing experience we had with Southpoint Divers!!! We booked the AM wreck / Vandenberg dive on May 12, and due to another dive shop in Marathon cancelling a different wreck dive, we dove the Vandenderg again with Southpoint on the 13 as well. So may great things to say... the conditions were excellent both days: calm seas (the calmest we've ever been on), 80+" and 60-70" viz, and the Vandenberg definitely lives up to the hype with things to see at every depth and experience level. Wildlife was abound: Jacks, TONS of Barracuda, Surgeonfish, and a couple Goliath Groupers. Many more that I'm forgetting as well. My girlfriend (and best dive buddy ever IMHO) even saw a Hammerhead at the safety stop on one of the dives. The crew of the Phoenix was fantastic. We had the same Captain both days, and different boat crews on the 12 and 13. All were superb. They were very attentive to the needs and questions of the divers on board, and were courteous, friendly, and knowledgeable all while being safety first. We only say a small portion of the Vandenberg, and could (and hopefully will) go back many more times. We will absolutely book with Southpoint Divers when we do.
    3 people found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 Evan H. 7 months ago on Google
    Had a great time. I did both the morning wreck and afternoon reef. This team really caters to all experience levels. As a solo diver with hundreds of dives, they matched me up with a buddy of similar skill and experience. The crew gave us the info we needed to have a great dive and let us go. For the less experienced divers, they were very hands-on, assisting with setup and tank swaps. Overall, it's probably the best dive boat crew I've been out with.
    2 people found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 Bernard C. 1 year ago on Google
    My son and I dived with Southpoint Divers on the 2 tank reef tour. Check-in was smooth, the location was nice, and the path to the dock takes you through a cool section next to the Hyatt hotel where you'll see a few open turtle enclosures. The boat was large and had plenty of shade. We are both certified divers, and I appreciated that they treated us like competent divers. Our guide was Aaron who patiently and professionally provided a safe, calm, unrushed tour of the reefs. We saw lots of beautiful fish including a few grouper and a barracuda. We were hoping to see sharks, turtles, and rays, but that wasn't on nature's agenda for our dives. At any rate, the next time we're looking to dive in Key West, Southpoint Divers will be high on our list of shops to dive with. Thanks for the experience!
    2 people found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 Vanessa L. 6 months ago on Google
    Couldnโ€™t finish the PADI open water certification due to the hurricane Idalia ๐Ÿฅน But Kim and Tommy have been an amazing instructor in my pool training sessions , a big shoutout to them. I appreciate it. looking forward to coming back to finish the certification. โ™ฅ๏ธ
    2 people found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 David L. 1 year ago on Google
    Patty and the staff at South Point are a pleasure to work with when diving in Key West. She went out of her way to make sure we had a great experience. She is not just an experienced diver that provides great suggestions, she is also a top shelf customer service focused individual. She made sure we had a great time.
    1 person found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 Mike J. 4 months ago on Google
    Went on four reef dives with the Southpoint Team. Drew the captain was great. Made sure that we dove different reefs over the couple of days we were with them. Tommy our dive master was excellent. He was able to point out many sea creatures that we might have missed without him. Thanks Drew & Tommy
    1 person found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 Laura H. 6 months ago on Google
    Originally called inquiring about a public charter that could accommodate our group with both snorkeling and scuba divers, and they could! Great experience from start to finish! Mid September is part of low season so my group of 4 was lucky enough to be the only ones on the boat! I hadn't been scuba diving for a little bit, but my guide made me feel so comfortable. Had 2 great dives! Captain Tropical Mike, Tommy, and Palmer were amazing! 10/10 and will definitely be coming back! Thanks again guys!
    1 person found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 Alyssa H. 1 year ago on Google
    Southpoint Divers wreck dives are the best! Their weighted down line system makes decenta so easy even on days when the current is a bit sporty. Drew, Kim and the Rappinโ€™ Captain make sure you have everything you need and do their best to give you a great experience. Thanks again for the super dope time yโ€™all! Canโ€™t wait to come back and bring the rest of the gang!
    1 person found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 Lesley R. 10 months ago on Google
    We dive the Vandenburg on May 22, 2023. The captain and crew were all professional and friendly. Tommy, our dive guide, was very safety conscious and thorough in his explanation of our dive plan. Would definitely dive with them again.
    1 person found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 Shirley H. 1 year ago on Google
    Went out on the 1pm 2 tank dive. Captain and mates were awesome. Very helpful with the equipment. Second dive was a coral reef with 3 fingers. It was beautiful. Lots of fish and fan coral. Have already scheduled another dive with them.
    1 person found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 Kate C. 4 months ago on Google
    Our first time diving Key West. From Patty in the dive shop to Mike the boat captain to Tommy our dive master, we have nothing but good things to say about this dive operation. We were treated personably yet very professionally. I felt the safety taken with our party was second to none. Canโ€™t say enough about our dive master Tommy, he was capable, empathetic, worked very hard at resolving individual issues, and was the epitome of what a dive master should be. Our gratitude to the team that made our trip very memorable. Thank you!!
    1 person found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 1/5 Nicole S. 4 months ago on Google
    I am really disappointed with Southpoint divers, we booked the day before, registered in the shop; due to doing this we were told we did not need to turn up early to the shop at 730am and can meet them at the boat for 8am. When we turned up we were told by the captain that we're tight on time and should have arrived at the boat for 730am. There were 5 of us customers, the captain and Kim our guide. I am a Divemaster, my friend a newish AOW, two men who were confident divers, not sure of their certs and a fairly new OW with 8 dives. We were given a dive briefing upstairs at the front of the boat where it was very windy, and the sun was behind the guide so it was very hard to hear and see her. We were all squinting and holding hands to our ears to listen. We were told we would dive the Vandenberg Wreck, which at 30m I thought was a bit odd given that the new OW is only certified to dive 18m, she even expressed that this would be her deepest dive and that she was nervous. We were not told to buddy up or do any buddy checks, which is fine with me as I am a confident diver, but I was surprised that the solo OW diver was not buddied up with the guide. Kim went in beforehand to set up the line and mentioned a strong current, that we should all hold the line to go down. I had some sinus issues so had to take it slow, Kim didn't seem to understand, seemed quite impatient with me and was rushing down. After the dive the OW girl said she was glad we were taking it a bit slower because of me. The current was strong going down and we had to hold onto the rope rather tight, once we got down the current wasn't so bad, but my friends weights had fallen out (which had been set up by the guide) so she had to chuck in her extra weights to keep her down. But the OW diver was also struggling with her buoyancy, me and the other two experienced divers were fine lower to the bottom as there was less current, within two minutes of being down there I hear the guide making loud noises and point up to something, I thought she must've spotted something cool so we all went up to see, only to notice she was on the line making us all go up. I never once saw her action to abort the dive or to go onto the safety stop on our second dive. A high price to pay for a 2 minute dive, and once we came up we realised all of our hands were hurting, for the captain to say it was probably fire coral on the line. We were not offered any medical help; hot water or vinegar, or any apology for it. Kim just said she should've realised the current was 'too strong' for a dive. I will say Captain Drew was lovely and offered us gloves for the second dive, only it was too late really. All 5 of us had really sore itchy hands, and I had noticed the guide had her gloves on in that first dive, so she knew and could've advised us all before we went down. The second dive we managed a 40 minute dive, but again after I mentioned to her on the boat about my sinuses and she said she'd take it slower, she didn't. It felt as if she just wanted to get it all over and done with. I thought with the first dive being a write off she'd try scope out any cool fish/inverts etc to make up for it. But she was so hands off, didn't point out a single thing and was just there watching us. I'm just really not sure why we were pushed to pay for a guide. There was also nowhere to wash your personal gear, only a tank for computers/cameras, there isn't anywhere to leave your gear but the store on the dock they use - but obviously this is locked whilst they're out on other dives, so we had to leave wet, unwashed wetsuits in our car. When we got back to the shop, I think it's Patty the owner? responded to our first dive as 'an experience' and no apology. Overall just a bad experience and a lack of good customer service. Was very disappointing for my first dives in the USA. It has been a week since and we are still all suffering with our fire coral injuries, doing everyday tasks let alone lugging around a suitcase has been difficult. And the OW girls has got infected that she's now on antibiotics.
    1 person found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 Jenna C. 1 year ago on Google
    Wonderful dive operation! I came to Key West specifically for a dive trip, and they are extremely friendly, work hard to cater to their customers and provide a safe environment throughout the trips. Captain Tyler impressed me with his knowledge of every location we visited and we had an amazing time. The boat is super clean and comfortable. The crew (Mike & Arden) were also extremely accommodating and helpful. They even got us out for a night dive! Iโ€™ll definitely be visiting again, hopefully sooner rather than later! Thank you for a great experience!
    1 person found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 Michael D. 1 year ago on Google
    Awesome time diving with Southpoint Divers. Booking the trip? easy. Staff? Super friendly and knowledgeable. Felt very comfortable setting up dive equipment and in good hands from a safety perspective. Kim was our guide - she was amazing. Ashton was at the front desk and made things super simple also. We even left a yeti at the dive shop and they were willing to ship it to us. Awesome dive shop - highly recommend.
    1 person found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 Courtney Y. 1 year ago on Google
    Great crew! We got to see a great deal of fish and a sting ray! Drew was very helpful getting us on/off the boat with our gear. Also got two 1hr dives going no farther than 30ft depth.
    1 person found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 Alaina N. 6 months ago on Google
    First time visiting Key West, we came specifically to dive the Vandenberg! The captain and all staff from this dive shop were wonderful, they assisted with tank set up and switches, did an excellent job briefing us about the dive site and how to get the most out of it. We unfortunately didn't have the best water conditions between visibility and the current and after the first dive we realized we didn't have the awareness of the site to dive this unassisted, and the guide immediately invited us to dive with their group for the second dive and it went much smoother than the first! It was something they didn't have to do but did so we could have a good time! We can't wait to visit again and when we do we'll be diving with Southpoint divers!

  • 5/5 G C. 11 months ago on Google
    Me and my lady did the resort scuba experience. We had a laggard student that slowed us down a bit, but besides that, everything was perfect. Thomas, our trainer, was very young, but amazingly responsible and friendly. He taught us well and made sure we were always together and in good shape underwater. Unbelievably impressed. Thanks Tom.

  • 5/5 Connor W. 1 year ago on Google
    Came down to Key West for my first dive trip and had a great time with Southpoint Divers! Started with a reef dive and enjoyed it so much we ended up going on a night dive as well. The next morning we went to the Vandenberg and had a great time. Tyler and Arden were the crew for the first two dives. Tyler and Mike were the crew for the next day while we dove the Vandenberg. All three crew members were great with making sure the equipment was properly set up and everyone had all the gear they needed. They were friendly, knowledgeable, and everyone felt comfortable diving with them. On multiple occasions they went out of their way to make sure we had a great time. Normally, Iโ€™m not big on leaving reviews but with such an experience I had to leave something. Cheers guys, see yโ€™all next time.

  • 5/5 Ben N. 1 year ago on Google
    We were in Key West for the weekend and had planned to dive for a day with a dive master (my wife is not yet certified). The weather unfortunately had different plans and was a bit too strong for the boat to go out. The person working the shop was super helpful however and got us some snorkeling gear so the day wasn't a complete bust. Everyone we interacted with was helpful and nice. I'd recommend this shop on the customer service alone.

  • 5/5 Bret H. 2 years ago on Google
    I highly recommend Southpoint Divers. My girlfriend and I spent the weekend in Key West to get our certification dives completed. The weather wasn't great but the whole staff was accommodating throughout the process and we were able to get our dives completed. Zach was in the shop each day and was very helpful with the paperwork side of things. Had Kim instruct us the first day and Mike the second. They were both very helpful and patient to new divers. The dives themselves were beautiful and the reefs offer a great look at nature. Check them out!


Call +1 305-292-9778 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Payments
    • โœ“๏ธ Debit cards
    • โœ“๏ธ Credit cards
    • โœ“๏ธ NFC mobile payments
  • Accessibility
    • โœ“๏ธ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • โœ“๏ธ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Service options
    • โœ— Delivery
    • โœ“๏ธ In-store pick-up
    • โœ“๏ธ In-store shopping
  • From the business
    • โœ“๏ธ Small business

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