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Train to reach 18–40 meters with instructor-led dives on the reef off Ramrod Key. This two-day SSI Deep Diving Specialty teaches gas planning, deep dive profiles, and practical computer use so you can explore deeper reef walls and wrecks with confidence.
Train to reach 18–40 meters with instructor-led dives on the reef off Ramrod Key. This two-day SSI Deep Diving Specialty teaches gas planning, deep dive profiles, and practical computer use so you can explore deeper reef walls and wrecks with confidence.
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Operated by Looe Key Reef Resort · Ramrod Key, Florida
Ramrod Key, Florida sits on the western edge of the Middle Keys, a short boat ride from the Looe Key marine sanctuary. Deep Diving is a two‑day SSI specialty course that trains certified Open Water divers to plan and execute dives between 18 and 40 meters under instructor supervision. You’ll move from classroom review and pool skills on day one into a sequence of four open-water deep dives designed to build comfort, gas planning competence, and use of dive computers and consumable calculations. The real draw here is the reef itself: Looe Key is a hard and rubble coral formation of staghorn and brain corals, with ledges and spur-and-groove features that channel currents and hold life. Expect large sponges, grouper and snapper congregations, turtles, and eagle rays that patrol the drop-offs at depth. Visibility often extends beyond 20 meters on good days, letting you practice buoyancy and compression equalization while watching a deeper reefscape of orange cup corals and purple sea fans. For students interested in wreck or advanced wreck specialties, deep training opens access to deeper artificial reefs in the Keys. Instruction focuses on conservative dive planning: depth limits, ascent rates, required stops, air consumption calculations, and practical use of dive computers and redundant timing. Instructors recommend Nitrox training to extend bottom time and stress gas management; the course pairs neatly with wreck specialties. Classes are kept deliberately small to maximize surface briefings, in-water coaching, and post-dive debriefs analyzing profiles and gas use. If you’ve already completed SSI Advanced Open Water with a recorded deep dive, the program can be shortened, and a partial fee reduction may apply. Logistics are straightforward: participants must be at least 15 and hold an appropriate Open Water certification. Bring personal gear that fits well—mask, fins, BC, and a dive computer are essential; rental equipment is usually available for tanks and weights. Expect boat-launched dives from a reef-access vessel, with a typical two-dives-per-afternoon rhythm and classroom time earlier in the day. This course amplifies what makes the Keys exceptional: warm water, complex reef structures, and an abundance of life concentrated along deep edges. Completing the SSI Deep Diving Specialty not only widens your immediate site options but also serves as a prerequisite for more technical specialties. To book or ask about group rates for more than four students, contact [email protected] or call (305) 872-2215. Beyond certification, deep diving cultivates better situational awareness underwater and a disciplined approach to gas and decompression planning that benefits all dives. Instructors log detailed profiles and provide feedback, so both cautious and adventurous divers leave with measurable skill gains. Bring logbooks, medical clearance if needed, and a curious but conservative mindset to make the most of this deep-water course.
challenging.
2 days.
Divers should have good cardiovascular fitness and comfort swimming with full scuba gear; ability to manage moderate physical exertion during boat operations is required.
You must be at least 15 and hold an Open Water Diver (or equivalent) certification from a recognized agency.
If you’ve completed SSI Advanced Open Water with a recorded deep dive, the course may be shortened and a partial fee reduction considered.
Nitrox is recommended to extend bottom time on deep dives and is often taken prior to or alongside this specialty for better gas management.
The standard schedule includes four open-water deep dives across two days (two dives per day).
Rental tanks, weights, and some dive equipment are usually available; bring personal items like mask and fins for best fit.
For groups larger than four, contact [email protected] or call (305) 872-2215 to discuss scheduling and rates.
Looe Key is part of the Florida Keys marine region protected for its coral communities and diverse reef structures.
Practice buoyancy to avoid contact with coral, use reef-safe sunscreen, and follow local rules to minimize your impact on this fragile ecosystem.
Looe Key Reef Resort is a dive and education center located on Ramrod Key, Florida. The resort offers a diverse catalog of SSI courses and non‑diving ecology classes designed for recreational divers, advanced students, and marine enthusiasts. Programs include emergency response training, specialty deep and decompression diving, independent diving certification, search and recovery, equipment techniques, and reef‑focused non‑diving courses such as coral identification, manta and ray ecology, and marine ecology. Instruction typically combines classroom learning, pool sessions, and open‑water dives where required, plus hands‑on scenarios for practical skill practice and risk management. Several courses award official SSI certifications upon successful completion, including React Right and Deep Diving. Training emphasizes scenario‑based drills, dive computer use, Nitrox and decompression awareness, and safe equipment selection and maintenance. Non‑diving offerings allow visitors to deepen reef knowledge and species identification without entering the water. Located on Ramrod Key with direct access to the Looe Key reef system and nearby dive sites, Looe Key Reef Resort supports both entry‑level students and divers seeking advanced qualifications. By presenting documented SSI course options and combining classroom, pool, and open‑water components, the resort provides verifiable training pathways and practical reef education for divers and marine enthusiasts seeking recognized certifications and a deeper connection to Florida’s coral ecosystems.
Book with Looe Key Reef Resort