Private SCUBA Dive John Pennekamp Coral Reef — Key Largo Private Charter for Up to 8 Divers
Difficulty
moderate
Duration
3–3.5 hours (195 minutes)
Fitness Level
Moderate fitness—able to climb ladders, perform surface swims, and carry gear; recent diving experience within six months recommended.
Overview
Leave the busy charters behind and take a private SCUBA trip into John Pennekamp Coral Reef—two tank dives, roughly an hour each, and the flexibility to choose sites with a small group. Certified divers get private space, quieter reefs, and local knowledge from an experienced crew.
Private SCUBA Dive John Pennekamp Coral Reef — Key Largo Private Charter for Up to 8 Divers
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The boat slips away from the mangroves with a soft metallic clink; diesel hums underfoot and the reef ahead brightens like a page turning. In Key Largo, the water wears many colors at once—jade near the shallows, cobalt past the drop-off—and on a private charter to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park the ocean feels decidedly personal. You and up to seven other certified divers ride out on a purpose-built dive boat, two tanks each, an hour at two separate sites, and the unhurried pace of a crew that runs the boat for your group alone.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Bring your certification and logbook
You must present a valid certification card and recent dive log; no card, no dive — the operator enforces this strictly.
Hydrate and rest before diving
Electrolytes the day before and a full night’s sleep reduce risk of fatigue and decompression issues during surface intervals.
Dress for sun and spray
Light layers, a wide-brim hat for the boat, and reef-safe sunscreen protect you during surface intervals.
Practice neutral buoyancy
This is an unguided dive—good buoyancy control prevents damage to delicate coral and improves your wildlife encounters.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- parrotfish
- nurse shark
History
John Pennekamp became the nation’s first undersea park in 1963, protecting offshore coral formations as development and tourism grew across the Keys.
Conservation
The park enforces no-touch rules and encourages reef-safe sunscreen; operators participate in reef cleanups and brief divers on low-impact practices.
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Adventure Hotspots in Key Largo
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Certification card & logbook
Required to dive and confirms recent experience.
Personal dive computer
Tracks bottom time and no-decompression limits for two-tank dives.
Mask, fins and snorkel (or personal set)
Familiar gear improves comfort and fit in warm, saltwater conditions.
summer specific
Reef-safe sunscreen or rash guard
Protects skin from sun and guards the reef from chemical exposure.
summer specific