Typical marine life found in Miami include eels, grouper, snapper, Goliath Grouper, stingrays, nurse sharks (harmless), tarpon, snook, cobia, octopus, sea turtles and a wide variety of tropical fish.
All Scuba Diving and Snorkeling Needs in One Place
Dive Shop
When arriving at our dive shop, visitors will find ample free parking and a fully stocked dive shop with all the latest dive equipment.
Our knowledgeable and multilingual staff are eager to assist with guests’ dive, snorkel and boat charter needs. We carry all the best scuba brands, such as Aqualung, Mares, Atomic, Garmin, Shearwater. We also offer a full range of freediving, spearfishing and technical diving equipment.
Visitors may come by boat, too. We have a free loading dock for our customers.
Diver’s Paradise is open 7 days a week.
Dive Pool
Our heated pool—a cozy 86°F year around—is located downstairs. On the pool deck, we have picnic tables, a freshwater shower and plenty of space to dry our visitors’ wet gear. We carry Sun Bum products in the store if customers need shampoo, conditioner or sun screen.
We often see Paradise, the local duck, checking out the pool activity. Do not be surprised, or feed him.
Gear Rentals
We offer high-quality, well-maintained scuba gear for rent—including 160+ steel and aluminum tanks, air, Nitrox, DIN & yoke, regulators, BCDs, dive computers, wetsuits, masks, fins and more.
Our wide selection of rental masks accommodates all types of faces and facial hair. Be sure to perform a mask vacuum test before leaving the shop—to ensure a proper seal.
Rental prices are per day and equipment must be returned within 24 hours. Additional days are charged for late returns. A valid driver’s license and credit card are required for all rentals. Scuba certification may be required for certain items.
Single Air Tank — $12
Single Nitrox Tank — $17
Weights Only — $10
BCD — $20
Regulator — $25
Dive Computer — $10
Wetsuit (3mm) — $20
Mask, Fins, Snorkel — $30
Mask & Snorkel — $20
Fins — $20
Dive Flag — $10
Dive Light — $15
GoPro — $50
Special: Rent for 7 days, pay for 5.
Tank Fill Station
Our state-of-the art fill system includes two top-of-the-line Bauer Verticon compressors that pump meticulously clean air. Our air is analyzed quarterly to ensure we meet or exceed all industry standards for breathing air.
Nitrox and Trimix blending are all assisted by computer— allowing for precision blends. With little waiting, we can fill 20 tanks at one time We offer visual inspections and may often perform the inspection while customers wait. Customers, bring your certification card with you for air fills.
Note: we do not fill any dive cylinder that is more than 25 years old, regardless of when the last hydrostatic test was completed. Save money with our prepaid air cards—available in store.
Single Air Tank Fill — $8
Single Nitrox Tank Fill — $12
Visual Inspection (VIP) — $25
General Information
Miami Scuba Diving
Miami is known as the “Wreckreational Dive Capital of the World." There are currently more than 75 sunken wrecks and many more expected to come during the next few years. As the port of Miami is the busiest sea port in the world, there are always opportunities to acquire new boats to sink.
Orion was the first sunken boat of the Miami artificial reef program—a steel tug sunk off of Key Biscayne in 1981. Freighters, barges, yachts, tugs, a water tower, oil platforms, army tanks and even a 727 have been sunk.
The latest addition was the Princess Brittany, a 160-foot tug sunk in May 2003. She sits at 92-feet — three miles offshore.
Typical Marine Life
Location & Departures
Our dive trips depart from in front of our shop in the Crandon Marina, Key Biscayne. Please check in 1 hour prior to the departure time listed on our booking calendar.
When using GPS / Uber, be sure to enter "Diver's Paradise" rather than our physical address. The entire marina shares one address.
There is ample free parking.
Specials
MULTIDIVE PACKAGES:
- Pre-pay for 5 trips and save 10%
- Pre-pay for 10 trips and save 15%.
*Packages are non-refundable and not transferable.
MORE SPECIALS:
- Buy 20 air or Nitrox fills & receive 20% off
- Buy a computer that is more than $999 and receive a free Nitrox class
- Free dive trip with every $750 purchased in gear (not in classes or trips)
Cancellation Policy
We require 24-hour notice prior to the check-in time to change or cancel a reservation with no fee. For fewer than 24- hours notice, customers will be billed per person for the full price of the reserved trip. Private charters and groups require 72-hour notice to cancel or reschedule a trip without fees.
If a trip is canceled because of weather or unforeseen events, there will be no charge to the deposit. If a customer has prepaid, a full refund will be issued through the customer's chosen payment method.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to know how to swim to participate in snorkeling or scuba diving activities?
Yes. All scuba diving and snorkeling participants must be comfortable swimmers.
Do I need to be a certified diver to scuba dive?
Yes. All scuba divers must be certified divers in order to scuba dive on all of our trips.
There is an exception for students in training and Discover Scuba Divers. These participants may experience the thrill of scuba diving for a day without being a certified scuba diver.
On what kind of trips may I snorkel?
Our boats take both scuba divers and snorkelers out on the same trips. We are sure to indicate on all of our trip listings whether a specific site will be suitable for snorkeling or not.
Snorkeling, however, is not available at all of our sites. Any trip listed on our calendar that includes the “Snorkelers welcome on this trip” message will be a shallower site that is a great location for snorkeling.
May I take my scuba class in Spanish?
Yes. The majority of our Diver’s Paradise staff are bilingual. Among our team members, we speak 10 different languages.
Diver's Paradise offers Open Water Diver classes in both English and Spanish.
We can offer private classes in Portuguese, German, Italian and French, too.
What happens if my dive is canceled because of weather?
At Diver’s Paradise, our number one priority is ensuring the safety of our trip passengers & crew. We closely monitor wind and weather conditions to assess if they are suitable for diving and snorkeling.
If one of our dive trips is canceled because of unsafe weather conditions, all customers will be notified of the cancelation by both e-mail and by phone—ahead of time.
Customers will be given the option to reschedule or to be refunded for their trip booking. Customers may indicate their preference by replying to the cancelation e-mail. Refunds are typically processed to completion during seven to 10 business days.
How long does it take to get my certification card after completing a class?
Students will receive either a digital license or temporary card immediately when completing a class. Plastic PADI cards take 1 to 2 weeks to process and to arrive at your home.
May I fly after diving?
According the the PADI dive tables, divers must wait 18 to 24 hours (post diving) until being able to fly. If a diver is participating in three dives, we suggest waiting a minimum 24 hours.
Refer to your dive computer for instructions on flying after diving.
What is the minimum, required age for scuba certification?
The minimum age to earn a scuba certification is 10. We advise that kids close to this age be strong swimmers and be mature students who study their training materials with minimal help.
Any class with a 10 or 11 year old is limited to a maximum ratio of two students to one instructor.
When the students turn 15, their Junior Open Water certification will be converted to a full Open Water status.
Divers who are ages 10 to 14 must dive with a certified adult diver at all times.
Do I need a certification to scuba dive?
Yes. A scuba certification is required to scuba dive and to rent scuba equipment.
If you do not have a certification and want to scuba dive, our Discover Scuba Diving class is perfect for you.
I forgot or lost my scuba diving certification. May I still dive with you?
If you hold a PADI, SSI or NAUI certification card, we can verify it through online confirmation.
If you hold any other training agency license, you must contact the agency and request official proof to be sent to you. We suggest you take a photograph of your certification card, so that you always have access to it.
What if I cannot complete my dive class?
You have one year from starting a class to complete the dive class.
If you can not complete your class with us, we will issue a referral so that you may continue with another PADI dive center.
We do not issue refunds, in part or in full, for any dive classes.
Why are mask, snorkel and fins not included in any of the certification classes?
These items are personal in nature and need to be tailored by a professional to ensure proper fit and to be sure you have the right equipment for your diving environment.
All of our classes allow plenty of time for fitting prior to any in-water training.
We do not allow snorkeling gear (like the type sold at Walmart) as personal gear. It is not suitable for scuba diving
May I dive while on my period?
Yes. It is completely safe to dive, as long as you feel mentally well enough.
There are no documented incidents of sharks being attracted to menstrual blood.
May I dive if I am pregnant?
No. There is no research to support diver safety while pregnant.
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