S4:E12| The only TRUE dive resort in The Florida Keys just got an upgrade
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- Amoray Dive Resort is the only dedicated dive resort in the Florida Keys.
In fact, Key Largo is considered the “Scuba Diving Capital of the World”. Jeff Gneiser (and his wife, Cynthia) own the PADI 5 Star Dive Amoray Divers that operates with the Amoray Dive Resort. Jeff sat down with me to tell the story of how they’ve renovated and expanded the facility, and what it takes to be a 2023 and 2024 award-winning dive operation. They took us to the reefs and the famous Spiegel Grove shipwreck, and we stayed a few nights at the resort. After seeing some of the local sites like The History of Diving Museum (and feeding the tarpon at Robbie’s) we even had dinner with the two of them at what is now our new favorite waterside dive.
This is someone who has it together and loves his work. If you want a peek into what the dream looks like, this is it.
For a discount offered directly by the resort:
Rate code: sweetwater10
Booking link: hotels.cloudbe...
104250 Overseas Highway
Key Largo, FL 33037
Reservations: 800-426-6729
Phone: 305-451-3595
amoraydive@amoray.com
Instagram: / amoraydiveresort
Facebook: / amoraydiveresort
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Kenny Dyal is the host of The Scuba Diving Podcast:
TikTok: / kenny_dyal
Instagram: / sweetwater_scuba
Facebook: / realkennydyal
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kennydyal
X: / realkennydyal
www.sweetwaterscuba.com
This was the first dive resort that I visited when I first certified as a diver. This was back when Amy still owned it. I had almost forgotten how great the diving was there till I saw this video. I'm definitely going to see about returning.
Took my daughter on her first open water dive after certification last year and I can definitely agree with the connection between family underwater. I had enough tears in my mask that I had to clear it…lol! One of my best moments ever.
Love this!
Love Amoray.
I've been a regular customer/ diver there since 2008. Love what Cynthia and Jeff have done.
I was on the boat the day you filmed.
Everyone does a great job. That's why I keep coming back.
Peace love Dive 🤙🤿
Awesome! Thanks for saying hey! We were shocked how much fun everyone from the crew to the Guests were having and how smoothly everything ran- we’ve got a new favorite for sure!
I love Amoray and its people. This was to be my recommended dive spot until Covid. That was when Florida hotel prices went crazy. Jeff and Cynthia are wonderful.
They really are- they love working and being there facilitating everything and it shows!
This seems to be a great place for beginner divers, I'm going there on my next trip to FL, for sure.
It’s absolutely the best in the area for beginners- highly recommended!
I've lived and worked all over the world. I have lived in Florida for 8 years now on the Space Coast but Key Largo is my favorite place in the world. My first dive in the Keys was with Amoray. That was 5 years ago. I've tried other dive shops on the Keys but tell everyone - Amoray is the greatest. Hey Jeff, wanna hire a senior citizen Instructor? Will work for dives 😘 Now that's Amoray.
Haha I’ll make sure he sees this 🤣✌️🪸
I live on the Space Coast ,
I like the Keys but nothing compares to the awesome Drift Diving in Jupiter and West Palm. Blue Heron Bridge is a bonus in WP.
Cozumel has awesome Drift Diving too. A hop,skip and a jump from Florida.
Thanks man! Taking my 10 y/o son down next month to get certified and we'll try Amoray. This was super helpful. Appreciate ya man!
I have been going to the Keys since I got certified in 2004 and have stayed at many nice hotels but Amy Slates is my favorite. Problem with the Keys is the crazy insane cost of doing a dive trip there. I live in central Ohio and by the time I fly to Fort Lauderdale, rent a car, pay for my room, diving and food I can do a dive trip to Cozumel where the diving is 1000% better than the keys. I stay at an all inclusive resort where all food and drinks are included. I take a shuttle from the airport and can walk to San Miguel for restaurants . Key Largo has the wrecks and if you have never done the Spiegel Grove/Duane/Bibb or Eagle you should definitely go to check out the wrecks.
Thank you for sharing this. I dive in key largo a lot and I've never heard of these guys. I will definitely be checking them out on my next trip. Looks like an incredible place to take my kids. Thank you so much for sharing.
Hey this is awesome to hear! We loved it! Have fun 🤿🤙
Great video! We live in Palm Beach and visit the Keys often. This will be our next stay. It will allow me to make more underwater videos for my channel.
Awesome! Hope you love it as much as we did!
I live in SWFL I’ve been diving up & down the Keys. It’s been heartbreaking to see how devastated the coral is. There are awesome wrecks and amazing life. But the Hurricanes and bleaching events and disrespectful divers have defiantly left their mark. Glad that iCare is trying a new coral to help bring back the life & color. But my favorite dive location is Pompano Beach. They have 3 reef lines to dive, amazing colorful coral, LOTS of life from macro to Pelagic and multiple wrecks and wreck treks. The Lady Luck being my favorite.
Enjoyed your video so much I decided to go for a week with my family over the New Year. I have not dove the keys in 10 years. Looking forward to spending some quality time at Amoray dive resort..
Glad to hear that! We are going back there in a couple months ourselves with friends that aren’t diving just to explore the area some more - it really nails the vibe 🤙
We LOVE Amory!! Thanks for all the background info! Part of me wants to keep it a secret 🤫
Haha I know what’s mean 😂
Love this episode! Love the imagery!! ❤❤❤
Thank you!!! 🙏🏽
Didn't know about this place before your video, but it is definitely on my list now.
Thank you for letting me know! Makes this that much more worth it! 🤿🍻🙏🏽
It is now on my radar🤿
On my to do list now!
🪸🍻🪸
Incredible video Kenny. This summer will be our dive shops 3rd trip to Key Largo and I had no idea this place existed. This may be the answer for divers in the Keys with non-diving spouses/partners.
Awesome and thanks for the feedback! 1000% recommend this place! 🤙
Will see you soon. Like soon in a weeks time. Will be there 6th July. Can't wait
Tiki bar with booze for the Holidays.?!. Yes please!
💯
These guys are only an hour from Miami I will definitely check it out take my first dive with them
Awesome! They were great with us!
Nice ❤
🤿🍻✌️
Thanks for the info
Thank YOU for dropping by 🤿🤙
I've stayed there
Got certified there in 86.
Awesome!
How are the keys in the summer? Is it unbearably hot and humid?
It gets hot for sure! But if you’re swimming, diving, wear island clothes and flops and make sure there’s a pool, it’s epic! There is often a breeze, too, which helps 🤙
It’s really hot and humid. I wouldn’t call it unbearable, but that will depend on your opinion. We camp in a travel trailer at John Pennekamp State Park for a week each summer. The bugs can be annoying too. But it’s practically paradise, so I tolerate a lot while I’m there.
Summer is hot for for Florida and cool for Louisiana and Texas. The water tends to moderate the temperature.
Got to visit this place soon. New diver and rarely done it in my own state. I think because The Keys is so close to the Caribbean people consider it like as the "Step brother" of the Caribbean and not as good. Give me the choice to dive Cozumel or The Keys, hands down Cozumel it is. Just saying
I agree Coz is gorgeous. But also being to just drive and not lose 3 days to travel (the fly days plus the 24hrs before flying after the dive) and deal with connections, customs etc also has its advantages. A lot of it also depends on how far you’re coming from of course 🤙
If they cater to rebreathers I’m so in
WTF, you're really advocating a 34 diver barge as the epitome of diving in the Keys?! For sure the owner's love their big barge they can cram 2 1/2 dozen divers on, works for them. Count me not there. Doesn't matter how many gate choices, there's still going to be up to 34 divers in the same proximity at the same time, and you can bet most of them will be thrashing around kicking up silt and grabbing onto whatever living bits they can reach. Oh, and the one choice over-water suite... yeah, so nice and everyone can book that reasonable room rate.
Well I’m sorry you feel that way- there are other choices but we went and it was fine thanks to the size and exit points. It’s not always for the pros or tech divers, this is more suited to families and average divers that just wanna have fun- we’ve done it all a thousand times over and there was nothing wrong with this boat for a simple easy dive (the advanced stuff usually has way smaller groups btw) there were 6 of us on the Spiegel Grove