Rainbow Reef Dive Center

529

595

8 years ago

Rainbow Reef is a huge operation. I booked dives for 2 people, and when I arrived, they only had me down for 1 person. Our dive boat was booked, but luckily, someone cancelled last minute, so we were still able to dive as scheduled. They had multiple boats leaving at the same time, so it was sort of a crap show. It felt like they were herding cows...and we were the cows. We had a packed small boat. I felt like everyone was on top of each other. We also did a night dive. Since only one boat went out, check in wasn't as crazy. Also, we had a big boat with not a lot of divers, so we weren't on top of each other. My night dive experience was a lot better compared to my day dives. Another thing....it seemed like a good amount of the employees were new to the area. It would have been nice to have staff familiar with the dives to provide some tips on what to expect on the dives. read more

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Derek W.

477

1012

6578

11 years ago

A buddy of mine decided to head to Miami for his bachelor party so that we could incorporate a few days of diving along with the famed South Beach nightlife. After a sleepless redeye into MIA and having to deal with a crappy rental car company, we arrived down in Key Largo about 45 mins before the scheduled time to head out for our charter. I would recommend showing up atleast 30 mins prior to give you time to find parking and also to take care of your paperwork. Unlike a few people, it took us a bit of time to find parking as the lot was packed. The boat was packed with divers and snorkelers so getting setup took a bit longer than normal. It was a hot and humid day so I was anxiously waiting to get into the water. I forget the second dive spot but the first was Rainbow reef. Vis was decent...not the best but the water was nice and warm. Really didn't need my long sleeve rash guard but wore it just for protection. Our guide was friendly and glad we only had a total of 6. The sealife was decent but I had hoped for more sea life. The crew and captain were super friendly and offered plenty of cold bottled water along with snacks. A big plus for those that don't come prepared. If ever back in Miami, I'd definitely make the 1.5 hour drive to go diving with these guys. read more

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Erin S.

3 years ago

I received my advanced open water/nitrox certifications here and I had an amazing experience. The dive sites they took us to were unique (especially the shipwrecks), and all of the dive guides/crew were eager to help and made sure we were all having a fun time. For my courses, Odis Glover and Mu were our instructors and they both did an amazing job. We were Odis' first students and he was extremely professional and did what he could to make sure we were comfortable both in and out of the water. Overall I highly recommend Rainbow Reef to anyone wanting scuba certifications! read more

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Dima B.

4 years ago

I would not recommend going with Rainbow Reef.. I did 2 dives with Rainbow reef. Both were on pretty much the same dive site instead of going to a different location for a second dive, the explanation was that current has picked up (but in reality it felt like they were in a rush to get back to the dock). - they were very strict about getting back on a boat in exactly 60 mins - No surface interval between dives (first was shallow, but can I at least get a moment to drink some water and have a snack?) - speaking of snacks..none were offered. - no camera rinse bin. - a couple crew members criticized me over using an air from tank to clean water off the 1st stage regulator cap. Sorry, that's the way I do it and that's the way many divers do it. - weird policy about removing fins EXCLUSIVELY while on the tow line. - tank prepared for me was empty which I noticed during pre-dive check and it had to be replaced read more

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Neha C.

7 years ago

We had a wonderful time. Chirstian is a great instructor. I made a video about our experience check it out. https://youtu.be/SZtxUa8e1xY read more

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Jrouss J.

3 years ago

Stopped by during my last visit to key largo. Really appreciated the staff they were passionate about diving. I went in not sure if I needed a new bcd for my wife or not, rather than just sell me a bcd they talked with me about her complaints. Their integrity and customer focus was exceptional, I have no hesitation recommending them to anyone needing great advice with a good selection of gear. read more

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Rebecca J.

6 years ago

Wednesday was our family's worst vacation day ever because of Rainbow Reef. We were new to scuba and did the morning pool lesson with Jen (that part was great) and then the afternoon Discovery Dive. Captain Dan started the boat ride by explaining that he was a former rodeo rider. The crew gave instructions and pointed out 2 large vomit buckets in the center of the boat. I'm a lifelong boater but this was the roughest ride I have ever, ever gone on. My family spent the entire 3hr trip vomiting on the boat and holding on for dear life. The crew said the day before was worse! When my son said he was getting sick and asked for a bucket, crew told him to just lean over the side and the fish would swim up and eat it and "give us a show." Over the course of the afternoon, our son vomited 15-20x, my husband, 10 or so. I started last and only vomited 6-7x. Of the 7 guests onboard, 5 of 7 vomited. Meanwhile, the crew taunted us as we vomited by blasting a song with the chorus repeatedly singing, "We're freaking out". There were only 2 good spots to throw up over the side of the boat, so we used the buckets too when we all vomited at the same time. When the vomiting became too violent, it missed the bucket and went all over the floor of the boat and the crew washed it off between everybody's feet. When we arrived at the reef, the water was still very choppy, making it hard to walk across the boat. The crew encouraged us to scuba dive even though we were still vomiting, suggesting that if we need to, we can throw up into the respirators in our mouths while we're in the water. Then blow out and fish will come and eat it. Not sure about your family vacations but that's not on my bucket list. Maybe because we had paid over $500 for the trip, we jumped off the boat and tried to scuba. None of us lasted over 5 minutes because we continued vomiting. We were captive and vomiting in the boat for another 2 hours before returning to shore where the crew promised us the seasickness was "nothing a margarita at Sharkey's wouldn't fix." We were sick all night and the next day. Our phone message to the owner "DJ" went unreturned. Save your vacation! Don't scuba with Rainbow Reef! read more

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Jiayang B.

8 years ago

Worst choice of diving here. Even though, you book here unfortunately, don't ever choose Dan as your instructor. He called himself 'professional', in fact he is a racist, it was our first time diving, he did not let us take enough training in the pool, he also let his other student who wants to become an instructor in the future to train us as experiment of their teaching diving, then he said That I cannot swim at all, I've been swimming for long time, I can swim in the pool for 10 rounds, He is discriminated to Asian people. Don't waste your pressure time at here, otherwise you will find out you paid all money for diving, and you will only dive in the hotel pool for 15 minutes They refused to refund all money to you, they will take your $100 deposits for 'diving' in the pool. What a way to do business. read more

Rainbow Reef Dive Center - Wrong place to dive unless you don't worry your money - Scuba Diving Near Me - Key Largo, Florida

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Ian G.

2 years ago

I went scuba diving with my family for the first time here at rainbow reef and it was easily one of the coolest things I have ever done. The service was amazing along with the diving instructors. I had no issues at all, definitely recommend! read more

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Vicki C.

3 years ago

Please guys are amazing and I would definitely recommend driving with them! Hailey was my guide and she did a fantastic job! Everyone was very friendly and helpful, I hope I can get my AOW here. read more

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Kelsey C.

164

6 years ago

Overall well run operation. It is LARGE. Going in I was very worried that the staff wouldn't be personable, that it was basically going to be a mill, or that we would end up in a wrong location. Check in process the morning of the dives was a little confusing, because there were ALOT of people, and I wish there would have been more communication about timing of boat return and next trip... there was only about a 35 minute turn around between morning boat and afternoon (I was hungry and cranky and didn't have time to grab lunch between) I did a 2 tank morning wreck dive, and Eddie was awesome as a guide! We ended up a group of 4 and he made everything feel seamless and like we had all been diving together for years. My mom and boyfriend did a Discover Scuba class with Gabe and I cannot say enough wonderful things about him. He gave so much extra time and attention to my mom and really took the time to explain things well to my boyfriend who wants to continue on with open water classes. read more

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Chloe H.

3 years ago

First time diving in the ocean, and the experience was great! Went on an afternoon dive, check-in was at 12:45pm but traffic caused us to be late. Called ahead to see if I could still go and they said yes! They were very helpful with setting things up and making sure everything went smoothly. 10/10 recommend for any new divers! read more

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Terry P.

3 years ago

Working in the dive industry is not easy, and I debated writing this post. But, the experience I had with Rainbow Reef is one that is full of agregious threats to human life. First, I had to beg this shop to fill my tanks and Didier was very dismissive and curt on the phone with me. He said it would be too late to fill them but the time I arrived in town and in the morning they are too busy taking care of other customers. Umm, I am a customer, too. I had to beg them and entice them with tips to fill my tanks before a dive on the Speigel Grove. Captain Bill and Jeff were okay. Captain David made it known he was our captain at the last minute on the way to the dog park and didn't seem too happy to be on the boat. He took us out to dive in 7ft seas and being a seasoned diver, I chose to sit out the dives as did a few other people. Captain David was more interested in where he left his phone than the fact that divers should have never been put in these conditions and at no time did his crew post a lookout as a few divers did pop up away from the boat. He said if they want to ride back, they will swim back to the boat. He had no care or regard for the safety of the divers on his vessel. Mind you, most of my experience is diving the Northeast, and no Captain would ever be this complacent. Do you want to go diving at a place that treats you like cattle, where you have to beg to fill your tanks, and have your life threatened by being thrown into dangerous conditions? If you answered yes, then Rainbow Reef is the nightmare dive destination for you! read more

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Cole K.

4 years ago

Great group of people. Well organized, friendly, professional and fun. They know how to teach, how to lead and how to get everyone back safely. (Plus, the dives are fantastic.) We've enjoyed three years of training and trips with them. Highly recommended. read more

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Phillip M.

5 years ago

Three years of excellence in diving with RRDC has been amazing. Passed my Advanced Open Water with my amazing Dive Master Abby, thank you! Today's trips were awesome with Captain Michelle , Dive Guide Jack, Rescue Specialist Chad and the incredible First Mate Diver Dina. This crew and the whole team were off the charts. They went above and beyond to make sure every diver had a great experience & were safe. After many trips with RRDC I highly recommend them !!! The only thing that bothered me was when we were leaving I noticed that there were very few people who showed their appreciation to this crew with gratuity! Despicable. read more

Rainbow Reef Dive Center - Dive Master Abby - Scuba Diving Near Me - Key Largo, Florida

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Kelly F.

129

7 years ago

Meh. We were going to dive two days but the experience from day 1 wasn't worth it. We are both experienced master divers with a couple hundred dives over six years. Our perspective is from mostly doing local shore dives or charters in California but we do occasionally dive around the world for tropical stuff. We've had a worse charter than this, but most are much, much better. The bad: The captain gave snarky comments instead of kind, helpful suggestions. The dives are super short. The guide was uninterested and just kept swimming away. It was like a drift dive instead of him having any enthusiasm and helping us see interesting things. We would have enjoyed our dive more if we had navigated ourselves. The experience was overall just being treated as a tourist/cattle instead of being respected as fellow divers. If we come back to the Keys, we'll try to get a scoop on where the locals go. Note, Brandon and another girl were very respectful and nice. read more

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rebeca r.

5 years ago

Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice and I'm an idiot for deciding to give Rainbow reef another try. Came specifically to dive the Spiegle and the Duane. Used RR because none of the other shops I usually use where doing both. I knew it would be a hectic cattle call from the first time I dived with them but was willing to put up with it to get the 2 wreks in. I made a reservation, got a confirmation email and then got assigned to the wrong boat. They had me dive the Spiegle twice. If you're an ow student or dive once a year on vacation, you probably won't mind diving with RR. If you dive regularly, have specific sites you want to see, have a camera (no camera bucket) or don't enjoy getting kicked in the face by students, I would stay clear. read more

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Dexter D.

6 years ago

I had my first dive in Bora-Bora. It was not enjoyable. I felt rushed through the training, and although my husband is an experienced rescue diver, I just couldn't relax & feel safe. I am a thrill seeker, as a skydiver and Chicago Police Officer, I decided I needed to give diving another chance. My experience at Rainbow Reef was life changing. MADDY! Thank you SO VERY MUCH for showing me how amazing, beautiful and FUN diving can be! Your patience at thoroughly explaining steps, demonstrating steps, then watching me execute the steps was immensely beneficial to my new lifelong passion. I did not feel like I was taking a class with an instructor. I merely felt like I was prepping for a fun swim. I cannot thank you enough! On a side note, the store adopted a stray cat. I'm very much allergic to cat dander. After standing in the store for about 15 minutes my asthma flared up. I began to wheeze, which was not a good start to my experience with Rainbow Reef. Simply stating this for anyone with the same allergy, be prepared. Also for the store owner; take this in consideration for your clients well being, take it with a grain of salt. Back to Maddy, thanks again, and I will be looking for you to dive with whenever I'm back in Key Largo. Chicago Tourist, A.L. read more

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John V.

5 years ago

Do NOT use these incompetent jerks for diving certifications. I completed my advanced open water with this shop a year ago. They have not submitted my completion to PADI so in the eyes of PADI, I am not an advance openwater diver. Over the last two months I have called over 10 times. Each time they said that they would have a manager call back. NOBODY has called back. These guys are horrible!!!!!!!! Update... I got a call from Rainbow Reef's manager. In his defense, they finally submitted the required documentation to PADI. It only took a year and 3 months, 2 months of which I called over and over again and was told each time that a manager would call me back (which never happened). The Rainbow Reef manager then expressed his concern about my review and asked me to change it. I explained to him what happened which led me to submit this review. His excuse was that Rainbow Reef is the largest PADI dive operation in North America. His attitude was one of exasperation, not at his staff for allowing this to happen, but at me for writing the review in the first place. This is all you need to know about Rainbow Reef! My response: If your staff was competent or showed any level of customer support/empathy when I repeatedly pleaded with them to assist me, I would have never written this review. BUT, after more than 10 attempts and Rainbow Reef's position that my issue was not their problem, the review is going to stay. Happy diving. read more

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Byron J.

5 years ago

About $ 245 dollars will get you two dives for two people with equipment which makes it a little higher than other diving operations on the Keys. It is a big operation running 4-5 boats that I noticed with morning, afternoon and night dives. They offer a wide variety of dives based on your level. Would I dive with this company again? Probably, but I did miss the cookies they promised! read more

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Cyndi N.

153

6 years ago

After 2 other dives by another dive shop cancelled because of weather, Rainbow Reef (I assume because of their bigger boats) were still going out. What a blessing in disguise! Despite being an hour and a half away from our rental, we were happy to return to (3 times for me and 4 times for my buddy) to them for our dives. The staff is safe with detailed briefings, attentive, and makes everyone feel comfortable despite varying abilities. Equipment is taking care of for you if you want. The guides are attentive, make sure they don't lose you and always double check your air (even tho you know you should!) It was awesome to be on a boat navigated and lead by all women (Captain Alison, First Mate Kailean--sorry something like that!-and another woman captain in training). One new thing I learned. DO NOT BRING BANANAS ON A BOAT! Be sure to ask CAPT ALISON to explain to you why. She must have this explanation published. Shout out to my patient guide Eddy for helping guide me thru bouyancy and encouraging me during my first enclosed dive, Captain Alison, Kailean (sorry!), Jeff, Capt Jo...and Im forgetting others. But all the staff were great! I would gladly return. Thanks guys! read more

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Cassie P.

4007

1849

3760

9 years ago

After nearly ten years of living in South Florida, I never snorkeled in the Keys! I was invited on a scuba trip with friends and told that I could snorkel instead, so jumped aboard. We drove about an hour and a half to Rainbow Reef Dive Center in Key Largo. It was hoppin' on a Saturday but we had a reservation beforehand. For snorkeling with equipment, I paid $55. On the website, it says $45 including equipment, but for some reason I was charged $10 for the fins, snorkel and mask when I got there. We arrived at 7:30 am, left around 8:00 am and came back around noon after visiting two dive sites. When all is said and done, the trips are geared towards scuba divers. I was able to see a nurse shark, turtles, and plenty of fish just snorkeling along, but the boat isn't made to relax on and most of the crew is focused on the divers rather than snorkelers. Thankfully, they had plenty of water, but no snacks other than Oreos. Bring food if you think you need it! The day we went out, the boat was rocking like crazy, leading many to some serious sea sickness. I would take medicine the night before and morning of even if you aren't usually prone to it. The water can be rough! All in all, I can't believe it took me so long to take a trip like this. The whole experience was painless and everyone enjoyed seeing the beautiful sea life. I would for sure come back, but maybe wait until I'm scuba certified. read more

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Erin D.

179

5 years ago

Let me start off by saying: if I could give six stars to Rainbow Reef, I would! I recently received my Open Water certification with Rainbow Reef. This was my second time with the dive shop. My instructor was Chris B. and he led a class of four students. Chris was a fantastic instructor. He was fully engaged and wanted us to not only learn, but also wanted each student to be completely comfortable underwater. You can tell he genuinely enjoys teaching the course, and helping people enjoy their time safely underwater. I went into my OW training with a mental block but succeeded because of Chris' teaching style. I highly recommend anyone looking for certifications to request Chris. The dive shop overall has a ton of friendly employees/crew. From the retail store to the boats--everyone is happy to do the work they do. As a newly certified OW diver traveling with a highly experienced diver (who has used RR for many certifications as well), we will only use Rainbow Reef while in Key Largo. They are a well-oiled machine who helps you get the most of our your diving experience safely -- no matter your level of diving. Can't wait to go back to RR for more diving and eventually my Advanced Open Water certification! read more

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Jamie H.

138

4 years ago

I dove with the Rainbow Reef operation for 30 dives in November 2022. This is a good operation. Special thanks to Captains Abbey, Bill, and David for piloting safe boats. Thanks to dive guides and mates Chris and Chris, Carlos, Dina, Jessica, Bruce, Joe, Phillip, Noah, Areal, and others for great interpretation and for creating a safe diving experience. The most important criteria for selecting a good dive operation, is determining if the crew still has the passion for diving, and the Rainbow reef team does. Dive notes include...82 degrees Fahrenheit average water temp, lowering to 80 degrees. Dove with 3 mil shorty only when ambient air temperatures lowered into the 70s. Vis not exceptional, 10 to 20 meters. The current was minor, except for a dive on the Duane. Conch wall was a drift dive, low current. Had some low to moderate chop a couple of days. The best Wreck diving is on the USS Spiegel Grove, great live zone, safe dive throughs. Best night dive is on the Benwood wreck for turtles. Molasses reef was good diving; I last visited in 1987, its taking a bit of a beating so please be easy on the coral if you dive here. Sharkey's Grill is a good local's spot for beer and bar food. Skippers Dockside is more upper end, good food, musicians/entertainment. Docs Diner is great locals place, breakfast, or lunch between dives. Courtyard Marriott served ok as base camp, breakfast sandwiches not bad. Cons; need to top off the tanks with gas. Posted some dive videos here -- https://www.youtube.com/@jamieholloway read more

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Jeff G.

3 years ago

I've used these guys several times now on diving trips to Key Largo. They are simply top notch; efficient, friendly, fun and funny, organized, great boats and equipment. I'd recommend them to anyone. Got my advanced open water, nitrox, and a couple of specialty certifications with them also. Don't hesitate if you are looking for quality services no matter your diving skills level. read more

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Jimmy D.

236

9 years ago

It was very easy to call and set up a reservation which was a plus. The diving instructors and most of the crew were great. My only complaint was the boat captain. He was rude with the way he talked to me. He was very unprofessional. I would not recommend diving with him. I would recommend diving with his staff but I will never step foot on that boat again as long as he is the captain. The boat captain was an older man with white hair. read more

Rainbow Reef Dive Center - Rude boat captain - Scuba Diving Near Me - Key Largo, Florida

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Will T.

Elite 23

358

214

386

6 years ago

Went out with Rainbow reef recently January 2020 and also back in November 2014. Ahjah was a great nitrox instructor and guide for the first day, and Hollis was a wonderful guide the second day! Whole crew is very awesome, high energy, knowledgeable, and charismatic. Dove the Spiegel Grove, Sand Island, Logan's Run, Snappers Ledge, and Pickle's Reef. Saw a few huge moray eels, goldeneye eel, Goliath grouper, nurse shark, huge sea turtle, scorpion fish, angel fish, parrot fish, sting ray, and trumpet fish! read more

Rainbow Reef Dive Center - Boat - Scuba Diving Near Me - Key Largo, Florida

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James W.

Elite 23

851

1397

6 years ago

My wife and I went here after reviews from websites. This was a nice place, seemed a little disorganized, they ask that we show up at 0700 yet they aren't even there and ready when you arrive. I own my own business and if I ask someone to show up at 0700 I'm arriving at 0630 to set up make sure everything is ready when the other party arrives. The staff was super friendly, that helped me to relax. My wife is Padi certified yet I am not. I took the DSD course to see if I'd even enjoy scuba diving. It was an amazing time under water, but with 1 instructor for 5 folks, it felt like I was expected to already be at some form of comfort level. I can understand that to a point, since they have a limited amount of time. But, I had to progress at my own pace to get comfortable and confident enough. But once in the ocean, and no way to really communicate underwater (first part was in a pool), things got a little frustrating. My wife which is certified requested more weight 3 times and didn't get any help. I kept saying to give me a minute so I could acclimate and the instructor kept insisting I deflate my BCD to make sure I could drop. Don't get me wrong, the instructors were great for the most part, but in a rush to use time wisely and attend to everyone, things got ignored and enjoyment was diminished for us. Recommending them, I won't take that away from them.... as I would use them again, but next time it would be one of the private instructor led dives for sure. We'd considered going the next day but we were so worn out after the all day adventure. We might go on the 3rd day. The area was beautiful were we went on Elbow Reef, City of Washington and Mikes Wreck. Saw the turtles and fish for sure. No sharks. Darn. We were on the Santana boat with 3 other groups of 3 and 4. Some were doing courses for Open Water Cert and another group for Advance Cert. it was a mix but still small enough groups to have plenty of room on the boat. The other divers were super friendly. I know RRDS can't control that, but folks that share a similar passion makes it nice to have comradery, they were encouraging as well to use newer divers. It really was a good time despite the minor set backs. read more

Rainbow Reef Dive Center - Jésus, A'May (my courageous wife) and Charlie from London. This was the refresher course pool. - Scuba Diving Near Me - Key Largo, Florida

Rainbow Reef Dive Center - Elbow Reef City of Washington. - Scuba Diving Near Me - Key Largo, Florida

Rainbow Reef Dive Center - Instruction or Jésus (sp?) - Scuba Diving Near Me - Key Largo, Florida

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Bryan L.

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

706

478

601

9 years ago

I did my checkout dives for my Open Water certification here, and I definitely recommend coming here for your first dive. All the captains and divemasters have been working here for ages, and are very knowledgeable of the sea conditions and just about everything in the area. They're also relaxed and friendly, they seem to run their business more like one big family than a dive shop. I rented my BCD and regulator here, which were both in fine condition. BCD's were relatively new Aqualung ones, and the regulators were in good condition as well. They also seem to follow all the procedures I learned in class, except for the buddy check as you're setting up for the gear. Before leaving, the captain and first mate introduce themselves, and the divemasters give the briefing of the dive sites and roll call as well. At this point, you also set up the gear over the air tanks and put on your wet suits. They also go over fire and emergency procedures, pointing out where the fire extinguisher, life raft, and emergency transponders are on the boat. They also throw a couple jokes here and there for the VIP area ('seasick' location). Then they head out. Before they arrive at the dive site, the divemasters will sound a 10 minute bell to gear up. With the way the tanks are set up, it's difficult to do the pre-dive safety check with your buddy because you have to be seated with the tanks in the respective holders. Once they arrive at the dive site, they throw all the lines out and give one last briefing on conditions then guide the divers one by one off the end of the boat with a giant stride. However they do check as they guide you off the boat, in case one strap is lose or some other complication. They give you the typical 3000 PSI for the tanks, not sure about the nitrox tanks though. It was plenty enough to last the duration of the dive. On the first couple days we visited parts of Molasses reef, then on the final day we went to Spiegel Grove and Bentwood wreck. Since a tropical storm had just passed, the waves were roughly 4-6 ft on the first day, and the surge was strong too. Visibility was fine, and the current wasn't bad except at Spiegel Grove. We didn't get to see any turtles or rays during my visit, but we did get a glimpse at a couple nurse and reef sharks. Spiegel Grove was amazing. The first two days we didn't dive that deep, but going down the buoy to Spiegel was a sight to behold. There was a good amount of fauna there too, fish hiding in crevices and swimming around. The American flag was also fun to pose at. Bentwood barely looked like a ship at this point, but was home to a lot more fish than the reefs we visited the past two days. One of my friends on the trip even saw a pretty big shark too. I really appreciate all the time and effort they put in to make the trips enjoyable. Onboard they hand out water bottles and cookies regularly, and you can take as much as you want. The boat also has freshwater showers, a designated bin with freshwater to store your cameras, a mask washing station at the end of the boat, and a cooler for storing water and cold drinks. You also got amazing views on top of the ship and nice tanning spot at the bow. If you're lucky or decide to skip out of a dive, you can even jump or dive from the top of the ship for fun. read more

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100800 Overseas Hwy
Key Largo, FL 33037
Directions
(305) 451-7171
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.rainbowreef.us/

Hours

What time does Rainbow Reef Dive Center open?

Rainbow Reef Dive Center opens at 8:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

What time does Rainbow Reef Dive Center close?

Rainbow Reef Dive Center closes at 8:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Mon-Sun 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Payment methods

Does Rainbow Reef Dive Center take credit cards?

Yes, Rainbow Reef Dive Center takes credit cards.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Rainbow Reef Dive Center have bike parking?

Yes, Rainbow Reef Dive Center has bike parking.

Does Rainbow Reef Dive Center have parking?

Yes, Rainbow Reef Dive Center has parking options. Private Lot Parking

From the Business

Specialties

Rainbow Reef Dive Center offers scuba diving trips daily and is a 5-star PADI Scuba Diving Training facility from new divers through instructors. We offer diving for divers with all levels of training and experience. Our dive trips include optional complimentary in-water dive guides.

Rainbow Reef Dive Center Reviews in Other Languages

Spanish
1 Review

Ask the Community - Rainbow Reef Dive Center

What is cancellation policy?

From our interaction with them, the cancellation policy is quite flexible. Let them know as soon as you know that you can't make it, before the dive of course. The company take payment details when booking but you get charged after completing all… Read more

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Review Highlights - Rainbow Reef Dive Center

“My 12 year old son and I got Nitrox certified in the morning and went on dives at Molasses Reef in the afternoon.”

Mentioned in 16 reviews

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Sail Fish Scuba

4.9

(195 reviews)

3.1 mi

Nice dive shop with an amazing crew. This isn't a big…read moreoperation... Diving with this team is like diving with friends and family. Even the owner's kids went diving with us. The owner was one of the guides. HE is just as excited to discover fish as the kids. They made the experience easy, fun, relaxed and at the same time safe. This might be our new Key Largo favorite.

My son and I had a fantastic experience diving with Sail Fish Scuba. Michaela, T, and the entire…read moreteam run an excellent shop and made us feel welcome and well taken care of throughout the trip. Over two consecutive days, we completed four dives at French Reef, City of Washington, Hannah M Bell, and the Benwood Wreck. The dive masters did a great job leading the dives and making the experience both fun and relaxed. They also captured outstanding photos and videos during the trips and shared everything afterward via Flickr, with more than 300 photos and 60 videos from the two days. We had an amazing time and will absolutely dive with them again the next time we return to the Keys.

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Wreck dive

Horizon Divers

It was good. A little boring. I prefer drift to anchored dives. But the viz was decent and I saw a…read morecouple of cute turtles! The one thing that wasn't my favorite was that they don't have a DM in the water and since I didn't go with a buddy, I was forced to pay $40 for a guide - even though they were super easy dives and I would have been absolutely fine on my own. 25 feet max, very very easy, and the guide kept redirecting me to what he wanted to look at. Every time I would swim off he would come get me and "redirect" me. It was kind of annoying. I just wanted to swim around and he kept pointing at things that I had no idea what he was trying to show me. It was weird. He was very nice though. The boat was reasonably comfortable but no snacks are offered. No help to get gear on or off boat. I'm spoiled by my usual boats though. But we did see a pod of dolphins on the ride back so that was cool.

The store was small There was a selection of some sunglasses…read moreThe clothing was okay The diving instructors were helpful

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Quiescence Diving Services

4.8

(82 reviews)

3.7 mi

Boutique full service dive shop. 3 six pack dive boats with very talented dive instructors and…read morecrew. The sell and service gear too. Best experience diving in the upper Keys.

Excellent private charter experience. Six of us double dipped Spiegel Grove on a day that was…read morestormy to start but turned out beautiful on the surface and down below. Captain Luke was friendly and highly knowledgeable. Smooth checkin process and a great shop tops the cake. I couldn't ask for more when it comes to a small private charter. Highly recommended.

Thank you for the hospitality! 08/05/2022

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View from boat dock

Key Largo Dive Center

Locally owned & operated

Great diving center in Key Largo. We come every year and they do not disappoint. Everyone from the…read morestaff to the captain run an excellent operation. Scheduled dives run as planned, everything is ready to go with no delays. The dive shop has the latest gear and took a specialty course last year and it was great. Thanks again Key Largo staff, we will see you next year.

My friend and I have been coming from Las Vegas for the last two years now and have done over 14…read moredives with them in two years, You could not ask for a more friendly, interactive group of people, the front office help smiling friendly and knowledgeable, Larry the boat captain, outstanding knows how to pick good sites and runs a clean well maintained ship, max and Ryan very good guides underwater. And to the newest member of the crew sage wonderful bubbly attitude, friendly and willing to help can tell she will only make this dive shop better than it already is. Thanks again can't wait to see you guys next year

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Silent World Dive Center

4.8

(72 reviews)

6.6 mi

I was nervous to go snorkeling for the first time (and during Winter) but Caesar and Emily made my…read morefirst trip very comfortable. They were both super friendly and so was the staff that got us fitted for our wet suits! Would come back again 100%

It was our first time in Key Largo, and we wanted to make the most of it scuba diving. We went with…read moreSilent World for an unguided boat dive and were so impressed! Our captain, Killian, and first mate, JoLisa, were absolutely amazing--so professional, safe, and welcoming. Everything felt relaxed and well taken care of, and we never felt rushed. They took us to two beautiful dive sites, and it turned out to be our best dives yet. We'll definitely be back next time! #KeyLargo #ScubaDiving #SilentWorld #DiveLife #OceanAdventures #ScubaTravel #UnderwaterWorld

Going to dive site

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On the dive boat

Key Largo Scuba Diving

(3 reviews)

2.9 mi

Just completed Open Water Dive certification with KLSD. They were fantastic throughout. Constant…read morecommunication as needed via text leading up to our on site training and dives. Beau (our instructor) was great. Very calming personality, helpful all along the way, and provided a good balance of humor and seriousness. Looking forward to doing our Advanced Open Water with KLSD!

Made to Christ of the Abyss pretty cool great area to snorkel.Staff was friendly.We did a snorkel…read moreout of state park 2years ago and was told they would take us their but did not .Great day on the ocean seen lot of cool fish.

Sea Dwellers Dive Center

My wife and I had another wonderful dive vacation with Sea Dwellers. This is the third time using…read morethis shop and will go to no others, they are excellent. We had 3 days worth of dives with 3 different guides. We went to Christ of the Abyss and Banana Patch with Emily as our guide, she did wonderful job of pointing out all the sea life. We had Bo as our guide when we dove the USS Spiegel. Bo knew the wreck and dive so very well and was great and making it a very fun and very safe dive, especially when my weights fell out on the dive. We have Jasmin as our guide when we visited Fire Coral Cove and Sand Island, she did a great job pointing out the sea life and was fortunate to find us a few nurse sharks. Captain Kate was great always making sure we have a good trip while keeping safety first. Sebastian and Ryan were also very helpful on board. Emily also helped us get Nitrox certified. We will be back in a couple months and will definitely come back to Sea Dwellers. Would highly recommend.

Sea Dwellers was awesome! I had such a great experience with them. They were super friendly and…read morehelpful and made the whole process fun and easy. Sebastian made the check in process super quick, Bo got my gear together and was my amazing and hilarious dive buddy, Merlin and Kate were the knowledgeable and responsible Captains who took us to some killer spots, and Emily was out super responsible deck hand. Conditions were amazing and I saw a ton of organisms while the crew made the experience super relaxing and enjoyable. Would 100% recommend and will dive again. Next time I'm bringing my mom for the Discover Scuba class they offer. Also I found a teal mask I cannot live without lol

The boat heading out in the morning

The ocean from the boat

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The crew getting us ready

Conch Republic Divers

4.8

(65 reviews)

8.8 mi

Fantastic Personalized Experience with a Woman-Owned Business! Highly Recommend!…read more Our family had an unforgettable dive experience with Conch Republic Diving on Christmas Eve afternoon. We booked the dive with only about an hour's notice, and they truly went above and beyond to accommodate us. The team arranged for a private boat just for our group, which included my wife, three sons, my mother-in-law, and myself. We were taken out to two amazing dive sites--Betty's and Davy Crocker--which were absolutely breathtaking. We saw incredible wildlife, including green moray eels, dozens of nurse sharks, and schools of reef fish so big we had to swim through them. The dive sites were gorgeous, and the underwater scenery was just stunning. Our dive guide, Will, was excellent. He did a fantastic job handling our group, which included both my two younger sons who are still new to open water diving, as well as my mother-in-law who is also a beginner. Will made sure everyone was comfortable, safe, and having a great time, adjusting to our varying skill levels with ease. Ashley, the first mate and owner of the company, was super friendly, bubbly, and passionate about what she does. As a woman-owned small business, you can feel the level of care and attention to detail in everything they do. Ashley's dedication to providing a top-tier experience really stood out, and it made the whole trip feel more personal. She made sure to include thoughtful touches that went beyond just the diving. The boats are state-of-the-art and updated, with warm water showers to rinse off after the dive, which was a nice luxury. They also provide reef-safe sunscreen to help protect the environment, which we really appreciated. One especially thoughtful touch was the leave-in conditioner for long hair--a small but impactful detail that made a big difference for us and left us all feeling a little better than they found us. Captain Greg was very confident and clearly experienced, which made us feel safe and secure the whole time. On top of the amazing diving experience, they have a fantastic selection of merch--fun, serious, and even a bit goofy! It was a nice touch, and we ended up buying some fun souvenirs. What really stood out to us, though, was the level of personalized service. Conch Republic Diving seems focused on making each trip unique and enjoyable, which really sets them apart from some of the larger companies around. They truly care about their guests and it shows in every aspect of their service. Overall, we couldn't have asked for a better diving trip, and we highly recommend Conch Republic Diving for anyone looking for a more personal, top-quality dive experience with a business that truly loves what they do. We'll definitely be diving with them again on our next trip!

Cool marine gift shop to browse in the Tavernier Creek Marina operating since 1987. Ashley was…read moresuper nice and gave us info on the 50% clearance apparel. The black speckled CR caps were only $10.00 but my head was too large. The short sleeve Conch Republic shirts were also a good deal at $14.00 and had plenty of 2XL. Lots of scuba gear in the back room and offer tank refills. Good place to find diving necessities and a friendly smile.

Conch Republic Divers at Tavernier Marina

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Bluewater Divers

(56 reviews)

6.6 mi

Just wrapped up three days of diving. Pascal and crew were great. We had a couple of new divers on…read morethe boat and they took really good care. Great personalized service. Would absolutely recommend them over any of the larger more commercial outfits.

Knowledgable and friendly staff. Very accommodating when we had changes in our trip due to the…read moreweather. Had all the equipment available to us that we needed. Had a blast diving in the beautiful waters of key largo!

Thanks Dwayne for taking some photos for us!

Crab

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Molasses Reef

(10 reviews)

1.4 mi

If hindsight were a thing, I'd probably want to redo my 1st experience of Molasses Reef as a…read moresnorkeling trip. Unfortunately, I actually went there initiallly via a glass-bottom boat tour, and as a result we saw virtually no fish :-( Maybe it wasn't the boat but the time of day we went - regardless, I expected to see tons of different fish, but I actually saw less than a hundred of maybe three different species... It also might have been the fact that the boat's engines were so loud that they scared off a majority of the fish we might have seen. Whatever the actual cause, I suggest that you skip the boat tour and come here to snorkel instead.

My buddy and my best night dive ever - multiple sharks and eels, including a free-swimming one…read more Just about everything else you'd want in a dive - a ray and octopus, an 1887 wreck. The reef has fantastical shapes which provide ledges, holes and lots of growth for the fish. In addition, the water had bioluminescence (turn your lights off)

Http://www.pennekamp.com/dive/mol.jpg

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John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

4.1

(532 reviews)

5.6 mi

We visited here Monday Februrary 1, 2026. Located at mile marker 102.5 Key Largo near the northern…read moreend of the Florida Keys (mile marker 0 is on Key West). This is a multi-use Florida State Park. There is a visitor center w/ a 30,000 gallon aquarium & other educational resources. The park has a concession stand, general store (picnic, watersports, ice, etc), restrooms, dive shop, a swim beach, snorkeling tours & rentals, scuba tours, kayaking & rentals, paddleboarding & canoe rentals, & glass bottom boat tours. Also short hikes. Handicap/wheelchair access is available on tours. Open everyday 8am-sunset, visitor center & concessions 8am-5pm. Lots to do here for a family day adventure. Thank you to the staff. Nick & Liz, Albany, NY, USA

Admission fee $4.50 ea, things to do for free - picnic, swim in the lagoon and walk on the nature…read moretrails. There is canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals in the park next to the public restroom. Double kayak for $55/4hours. It's fun to kayak in the mangrove jungle with clear water. We saw lot of fish while kayaking. There are two kayak routes, each about 1.5 to 2 hours, we were given the laminated map and kayak follow the route. remember to wear hat and bring water, as some of the routes are pretty hot.

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Beach at Founders Park

3.8

(19 reviews)

12.4 mi

What a find!! Just wanted a place to sit near the water and read a book. Decided to check it out so…read moreI went for a drive. Well, if you live in this town or staying at a place here on Islamorada. This place is free. Great place for a walk, sit and yes read a book or even go into the water...FREE. The beach is very clean, sandy and also has some tables. Can't beat free.

AWESOME beach wow. Crystal clear water. Clean bathrooms. Charcoal grills, pavilions, wheel chair…read moreramp right onto the beach. Would be a great spot to have a family gathering or children's birthday party. The actual park is massive. There is a marina, tennis courts, Olympic size pool, soccer field. The beach is a decent size and has ropes with buoys on them at about 5 ft. I saw ppl go under the ropes and swim out. I also saw paddleboarders in the distance. Saw some cool fish. There is seaweed under the water. On the bottom of the ocean. Would be fun to be scuba gear! Sand is soft no water shoes needed. Also an outdoor shower near bathrooms :) if you are staying on islamorada show them your reservation for free access to the park. Otherwise I think it's $8 per adult.

Short trail

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Sunset

Boy Scouts of America Florida Sea Base

3.8

(10 reviews)

25.4 mi

My name is William Carson Fortenberry III. I attended the Boy Scouts of America Sea Base in 2018 as…read morea member of Troop 7303 from Carneys Point, New Jersey, along with our Scoutmaster--my uncle--and several scouts. This review has been a long time coming. Everyone of importance in our group submitted feedback after we returned, but I never got the chance to. After years of staying silent, I want to share our troop-wide experience with brutal honesty so future participants and parents know exactly what to expect. I hope this does not get flagged as fraudulent, because everything I'm saying is true, and BSA knows our case well. Sea Base started out fine. We arrived in Orlando, drove across the long bridge, and stayed the night at the main camp. Spirits were high. The trip only fell apart the moment we canoed to the barrier island. Before landing, we had a brief snorkeling session that was actually beautiful--our first exposure to coral reefs for many of us from New Jersey. But after 15 minutes, we were rushed onward. When we arrived at the island, we were told we'd need to retrieve our troop's water from the boat. What we didn't know was that we'd be lifting 90-pound barrels not just for our own group, but for everyone else. Our campsite was the furthest from shore, and we were one of the smaller groups--around six scouts total. Every other troop had already been prepped about helping with water. We weren't. While others pushed barrels through the water in a chain, we stood on the shoreline physically hauling these massive water containers--filled with other people's supplies--out of the ocean and dragging them 50 yards to the treeline. No one wanted to rotate. Everyone stayed in the water where the job was easier. Our troop got the short end of the stick, and our leaders were justifiably furious. This was not a "group effort" as they claimed--it was exploitation, plain and simple. The next day, we were taken to see the "world's biggest tree that was struck by lightning." What we got was a stump you could sit on. That's it. Our guide looked confused that we weren't impressed. We then hiked to the "salt flats"--another massive letdown. We didn't even know we were standing on them until we were told after the fact. There was nothing but rocks and a vague white dusting where salt may have dried. A complete joke. Then came the deep-sea fishing trip. We thought maybe, just maybe, this would redeem the experience. Wrong again. Despite our leaders purchasing licenses to fish, they weren't allowed to cast a line. None of us were. The staff on the boat did everything for us--cast the line, put it in the holder, and only let us reel in the fish by turning the knob. We never got to actually fish. This was insulting and a massive waste of time. After that, we were scheduled to go deep-sea snorkeling again. Based on our past disappointment, we collectively told our guide we didn't want to go. She reported it, and some higher-ups came to confront us. We explained we'd already done snorkeling, had seen little, and preferred to stay and stargaze. They left us alone--finally--and that evening under the stars was one of the only genuinely enjoyable moments of the entire trip. The next day, we were told to "help the island" by cleaning up rotting sargassum filled with maggots. We refused. Why? Because BSA staff had literally warned us that this same seaweed regularly contains used needles and dead bodies. That's what they told us, word for word. Then they turned around and tried to force us to clean it. We were threatened with being sent home if we didn't comply, so we reluctantly held the trash bags. It was revolting. The final straw? Our troop had scheduled a trip to an alligator farm, using the official BSA-endorsed bus reservation system. The bus never showed up. BSA admitted their mistake and sent a replacement four hours later--too late for us to visit the farm, and dangerously close to missing our flight. Our "make-up" for all the chaos was nothing but a waste of time. In the end, the best part of the trip was the moment we left. There are no lies here. Every word is based on our lived experience. Sea Base was a joke. It was a waste of time, energy, and a disgraceful use of the money our families sacrificed to send us. I write this in hopes that others will look beyond the brochure and prepare themselves--or better yet, choose another experience. Sea Base failed us at every turn, and those running it should be ashamed.

Great scout summer camp! I had Nick as my leader, and he did great! Food was good for camp food,…read moreand the dorms were incredibly clean and welcoming! Also, Sharky's: green milkshakes at a cheap price. I would absolutely recommend this for any members of scouting America or Girl Scouts.

The least expensive squished penny machine I have found on four continents!

Galley

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December 2013

Caribbean Watersports & Enviro-Tours

(66 reviews)

2.4 mi

Best option in upper keys for a sunset cruise--the views on the bay are incredible! They also have…read morea really cool unique snorkeling experience at an island, where we learned more about the marine ecosystem on Florida bay--they have floats and paddleboards on the snorkel trip too! We always choose Caribbean Watersports whenever we want to get out on the water in the keys!

Great experience with this rental, no complaints. The staff were very friendly, prices were very…read morefair, and we even got money back for returning our rental sooner!

Keyzee, breezy and beautiful Captain Lolly!

The four of us and fun couple from Ohio

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Sunset Champagne Cruises

Key Largo Princess Glass Bottom Boat

3.9

(130 reviews)

0.2 mi

Nice trip but very windy people were getting seasick. Crew…read moreknowledgeable and nice. Didn't see much at the reef because of roughness. Did see a nurse shark while still docked. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the trip, as a boater myself I certainly understand mother nature. I would do the trip again with better weather. We just weren't able to get everything it would normally do that's what I based my rating on

Great trip Jeff was very knowledgeable and easy to talk to. We have done the one out of John…read morepennekamp as well but enjoyed this boat better it was easier to see sea life with the way the glass is positioned flat instead of angled. Great trip would recommend to anyone wanting to get out and see the reef and stay dry.

Coral Reef sight seeing at the Princess II Boat

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African Queen Key Largo

4.3

(38 reviews)

0.2 mi

This wonderful piece of British and American history is sitting in the canal just steps off of the…read moreOverseas Hwy. Tours on the African Queen are available but a self guided viewing of the vessel are always FREE. The original wood steam boiler from the old vessel is on display in the lobby of the Holiday Inn Resort next door. Also if you get bored you can feed the fish with food from the feeder machine for .25 cents on the dock next to the African Queen vessel.

Historic boat from the movie African Queen sitting on the canal across from the overseas highway…read more Donations are accepted from the public to maintain the old boat and rides on the canal are available.