Captain Hook's Marina & Dive Center - Florida Keys
The team at Captain Hook's Marina & Dive Center are our pick for hitting the Marathon wreck scene. They’re a solid, no-nonsense operation, perfect for divers who appreciate efficiency and a crew that really knows their local sites. If you’re here for the big wrecks, and frankly, why wouldn’t you be, Captain Hook's is where we send our friends. We’ve always found their boats to be well-maintained and the divemasters keen, not just going through the motions. Our last trip out, the current was running a bit at the Thunderbolt, and their divemaster gave a briefing that was spot on, making sure everyone understood the drift and where to regroup. We love that they don't overcomplicate things; you check in, gear up, and get diving. They specialise in getting you out to those deeper, more interesting sites quickly, which means more bottom time exploring the holds of the Thunderbolt or the nooks of the Adolphus Busch. We’d suggest booking ahead, especially on weekends, as they fill up fast, particularly for their two-tank afternoon trips. Go early in the week if you can for slightly smaller groups.
- Location
- Florida Keys, United States, North America
- Coordinates
- 24.729996, -81.030410
- Phone
- 3057432444
- [email protected]
- Website
- https://captainhooks.com/
- Courses
- Dive Certification, Dive Instruction
- Equipment Rental
- no
- Address
- 11833, Overseas Highway, Marathon, 33050
Dive Sites Near Captain Hook's Marina & Dive Center
Captain Hook's Marina & Dive Center provides access to 15 dive sites in Florida Keys.
- 1 Girón
- 9-foot Stake (reef)
- Ajax Reef (reef)
- Alexander Springs
- Alligator Reef (reef)
- Anglin Pier Ledge - 10m (reef)
- Anglin’s Pier Reef - 5-15m (reef)
- Aquarium - 10m
- Ball and Chain - 11m
- Banana Patch Reef - 10m (reef)
- Barracuda Dive Centre
- Beach House - 19m
- Blue Grotto Spring (cave)
- Boynton Comb Reef (reef)
- Boynton Ledges - 21m (reef)
Other Dive Centres in Florida Keys
Best Time to Dive in Florida Keys
The warmest water temperatures in Florida Keys occur in July, averaging 31.5°C (up to 34.8°C). The coolest conditions are in January at 19.3°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 19.3°C (air: 18.5°C)
- February: 20.5°C (air: 21.6°C)
- March: 23.1°C (air: 22.4°C)
- April: 25.5°C (air: 24.3°C)
- May: 27.8°C (air: 25.9°C)
- June: 30.2°C (air: 27.5°C)
- July: 31.5°C (air: 28.3°C)
- August: 31.5°C (air: 28.3°C)
- September: 30.2°C (air: 27.3°C)
- October: 27.3°C (air: 26.0°C)
- November: 24.1°C (air: 22.3°C)
- December: 20.9°C (air: 19.8°C)
Marine Life in Florida Keys
Home to 91 recorded species including 69 reef fish, 6 sharks & rays, 3 other, 3 hard corals, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs, 2 sea urchins.
Notable Marine Life
- Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas) - Sharks & Rays
- Blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) - Sharks & Rays
- Cowfish (Rhinoptera bonasus) - Sharks & Rays
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Blacknose shark (Carcharhinus acronotus) - Sharks & Rays
- Great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran) - Sharks & Rays
- Prodigal Son (Rachycentron canadum) - Reef Fish
- Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) - Reef Fish
- Sailfin Molly (Poecilia latipinna) - Reef Fish
- Least Killifish (Heterandria formosa) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Florida Keys
Based on average water temperature of 26.0°C, currents 1 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 26°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories