Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Amoray Dive Center?

We are located within the Amoray Dive Resort, located at mile marker 104 in Key Largo on the Bayside. Our address is 104250 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037. Our boat departs from the Amoray Dive Resort property.

I’m here! Where do I go?

Check in with the Dive Team in the main office, located in the very first building on the right as you drive into the property! The Dive Team will welcome you, help you make sure any waivers are completed, check any certification cards, direct you to the gear cage for any rental gear, and then down to the boat.

Where is Dolphins Plus?

Dolphins Plus Bayside is located at mile marker 102 in Key Largo, right next to Dolphin Pointe Villas. Their address is 101900 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037.

Do I need a reservation?

While walk-ins are welcomed for diving, snorkeling and dolphin swims, reservations are highly recommended to avoid disappointment!

What is your cancellation policy?

For diving and snorkeling, full payment is required upfront and at least 24-hours notification is required in order to receive a full refund. If you cancel less than 24-hours before a tour then it is non-refundable, however we may be able to re-book you or offer a voucher depending on the circumstances. No call, no show bookings are non-refundable.

For Dolphin Swims, full payment is required upfront. If you cancel with 7-days notice or more you will receive a full refund. If you cancel with less than 7-days notice, you will receive a 50% refund, and less than 24 hours is non-refundable.

What if it rains?

Diving, snorkeling and dolphin swims all take place rain or shine. In the unlikely event we cancel our dive boat due to lightning, or adverse weather conditions, you will be re-booked, offered a voucher (valid for 2-years) or refunded depending on the situation. Dolphin swims may be delayed if there is lightning / storms in the area. If Dolphins Plus is forced to cancel your experience due to adverse weather, you will receive a reschedule or a full refund, depending on your preference.

Diving & Snorkeling with Amoray

What amenities do you have on the boat?

Our boat is a 45′ Corinthian Catamaran with a large, open deck so it feels quite spacious, even when nearing capacity. On board we have several amenities for our guests including:

• a freshwater shower with reef safe shampoo and conditioner
• reef safe sunscreen
• a large dry box to keep your towels, shirts, etc. dry
• a marine head (toilet)
• a communal cooler for keeping drinks and food cold
• a large cooler of ice water to stay hydrated in the hot Florida sun
• light snacks, including pretzels, peanut butter pretzels, and jolly ranchers

Can I bring my own cooler with alcohol and snacks?

Yes, small personal coolers can be brought, along with alcohol, but please refrain from consuming any alcoholic beverages until you are done snorkeling or diving. You will not be allowed to get in the water if you have been drinking.

I dive but my partner does not. Can divers and snorkelers go together on the same boat?

Yes! We welcome both divers and snorkelers on board our 45′ Corinthian Catamaran, the Amoray Diver, so everyone can enjoy the underwater world together!

Do you teach SCUBA classes?

We are a PADI 5-Star facility, offering classes from Discover Scuba all the way up through Divemaster, along with many specialties. Please call us at (305) 451-3595 for more details about certification!

I want to dive but I don’t have a buddy, can I still go diving?

Yes! We do not allow solo diving on our boat, but we will try to buddy single divers without buddies together (who want to be buddied) or, for an additional fee, we do have professional dive guides available to buddy with you and show you the best our dive sites we have to offer.

How deep are your dive sites?

Generally our shallow reef sites are all great for both snorkelers and divers, with shallow areas around 5-8 ft deep as well as deeper areas around 25-30 ft deep. The Captain will provide a detailed briefing before you get in the water, letting divers and snorkelers know the best areas to go for their activities.

I get seasick, do you have any recommendations?

We recommend taking a seasickness tablet (Bonine or Dramamine) the night before your excursion and then the morning of your trip for it to be most effective.

What is your minimum age?

Our minimum age for snorkeling is 5-years old and diving is 10-years old. If conditions allow, younger children may be allowed on the boat for snorkeling, at the Captain’’s discretion. Under 5 must wear a life preserver at all times. Please call (305) 451-3595.

How long is the excursion?

We have 2 departures daily:

• AM Trip
  • Check in 8:00am
  • Depart at 8:30am
  • Return to dock 12:00-12:30pm
    
    
• PM Trip
  • Check in 12:30pm
  • Depart at 1:00pm
  • Return to dock 4:30-5:00pm

How many locations do you go to?

Each trip is 2 tank, or 2 locations. The Captain will ring a bell 10 minutes before you arrive so you can get ready to splash, and after their briefing they will give you an hour to explore your first site. After a short turnaround, they will move the boat to a new, nearby location for another hour of underwater exploration!

What does “Captain’s Choice” mean?

Captain’s Choice means that we do not have a set location for our trip that day, and the Captain will choose the best location based on the conditions reports from other captains out earlier. The location will be either a shallow wreck or reef within Pennekamp State Park, from Molasses Reef at the south end, through Elbow Reef in the north.

Do you go to the Christ Statue (Christ of the Abyss)?

Yes! Our boat visits the Christ Statue on Wednesday and Sunday mornings. We may go there at other times as well during the week if requested, but Wednesday and Sunday are our scheduled trips.

Do you do any deep dives?

Yes! Every Thursday afternoon we are scheduled for a double deep trip. We usually go to our flagship wreck, the Spiegel Grove, though we occasionally will mix it up and try the Duane or Bibb.

Do I need to wear a snorkel vest?

We do not require guests to wear snorkel vests, though we do have them available on our boat. We also have pool noodles available for our snorkelers to use as well.

Sunset Cruises

What is the minimum age for a sunset cruise?

There is no minimum age, but participants under 5-years old are required to wear a life preserver at all times.

How long is the sunset cruise?

The sunset cruise is approximately 1.5-2 hours long. Our captains will take you on a gentle cruise on the bayside which tends to be much calmer, and you can observe the wildlife and our mangrove ecosystem before watching our gorgeous sunset from the open deck of our catamaran.

What time does the Sunset Cruise depart?

The sunset cruise departs one hour before sunset and returns about ½ an hour after the sun has set.

Where does the Sunset Cruise depart from?

The sunset cruise will depart from Amoray Dive Resort, 104250 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037.

What wildlife can we expect to see?

Though not guaranteed, we often see dolphins, occasionally manatees and nurse sharks, as well as lots of our wild birds like herons, anhingas, cormorants, and frigate birds.

What amenities do you provide?

Our spacious catamaran offers spectacular views of the sunset from the water, on board we provide light snacks and drinks — cheese and crackers, chocolates, cookies, lemonade and water. Occasionally the captain and mate may even treat guests to a sunset toast on the water, and guests are always welcome to BYOB for the cruise as well. We have a cooler on board for guest use.

Dolphin Swim Encounters

May I take a camera in the water?

Typically cameras are not allowed in the water. The only exceptions to this may be a GoPro type camera that has a head strap. If you have such a device, you may bring it with you and the Animal Care staff will determine if it is appropriate to use in water.

If you have spectators in your party, they are welcome to bring a camera or video camera. They will be shooting from the designated viewing area. They may be shooting at an angle or distance, depending on where the participants are located in the lagoon.

Can my family come watch?

Yes, your family can come and watch. There is a general admission fee for spectators — $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children. Children six-years-old and under are free to observe. If you have spectators in your party, they are welcome to bring a camera or video camera. They will be shooting from the designated viewing area. They may be shooting at an angle or distance, depending on where the participants are located in the lagoon.

Why aren’t observers allowed dockside to take pictures?

Only guests participating in our dockside or in-water interaction programs are permitted on the training platforms. Space on our floating docks is limited and therefore, for guest and animal safety, is reserved only for training staff and guest service personnel assisting individuals directly involved in our dolphin encounters. Spectators are permitted along the concrete walkway, adjacent to our dolphin lagoon, and may take photos or video of our sessions from this designated area. Additionally, our facility does its best to provide professional photographers to take pictures of every program participant. If a photographer has been assigned to your friends’ or family’s program, he or she will be more than happy to provide you with the information and steps on viewing the photos online after the session.

Why do I have to wear a flotation device? I’m a great swimmer!

We require all in-water participants to wear a flotation device. The Signature Swim requires guests to be in deep water, thus, the vest allows you to float comfortably in the water, enabling you to focus on the dolphins. This will be helpful when doing behaviors with the dolphins which require you to float in a standing position.

Can pregnant women swim with the dolphins?

No, pregnant guests are not allowed to enter the water with the dolphins. However, pregnant women are permitted to participate in any of our dockside interactions (Dolphin Dockside and Meet a Dolphin Program). It is sensationalized information that the animals become aggressive towards pregnant individuals — it is simply untrue. Dolphins’ echolocation gives them the ability to detect if a woman is pregnant in the water, and the ability to see the baby and heartbeat. Anecdotally, staff have actually seen the animals become quite curious, attentive, and gentle towards pregnant trainers.

I have a 5 year old who is dying to touch a dolphin, can a trainer just have him come down and touch them at the end of a session?

Unfortunately, the trainers are unable to invite guests down onto the dock unless the individual has been signed up for an interactive program. If a young child is interested in touching one of our dolphins, we do have 3 programs that might interest you: Our waist-deep, Shallow Water Encounter involves hands-on interactive behaviors with the dolphins like body rubs, handshakes, or kisses. The Dolphin Dockside program is similar, but guests remain dockside and this program also includes a custom painting by one of our dolphins. The minimum age for each of these programs is 3 years old and may require an adult to participate as well. We also offer a Meet the Dolphin program for guests as young as 6 months old. All of these programs are offered daily.

How long will I be in the water?

Our dolphin interaction programs are not based on time but rather on the number of behaviors per guest. This is done to ensure that everyone has a similar experience, regardless of dolphin attention. Dolphin participation is voluntary, and the dolphins sometimes do not interact continuously with guests. Dolphins are social animals and may periodically take breaks to interact with each other. Our dolphins live in a natural lagoon and are very aware of changes to their environment (a manatee at the fence, boats/kayaks coming and going). If the dolphins come and go, guests may be in the water longer because the total number of behaviors will take longer for the dolphins to complete. The length of the session is also dependent on the number of swimmers as well as outside influencing factors, including individual guests’ needs (translators, swim assists, etc). However, the entire program (including check in, the educational briefing, your interaction, and check out through the gift shop) should take approximately one hour to one hour and a half. The participants will be in the water a portion of that time.

What is the difference between the signature swim and the shallow water encounter?

Both the Shallow Water Encounter and Signature Swim are in-water, hands-on interactive programs. Our Shallow Water Encounter allows you to stand in the water comfortably on a submerged platform where you will meet our dolphins up close going through a series of behaviors like belly rubs, body rubs, handshakes and hand kisses.

In our Signature Swim you will start and end your encounter in our shallow water area where you will meet our dolphins up close going through a series of behaviors like belly rubs, body rubs, handshakes and hand kisses. About mid way through your program we will have you swim out into the deep water portion of the lagoon and take you through a couple of our high energy behaviors. You may hold on to their dorsal fin while they pull through the water or they may push you by your feet like Superman.

The Shallow Water Encounter cost is $185.00 per person and the Signature Swim us $225.00 per person.