Captain Hook’s Big Pine Key

Went out on the afternoon snorkel tour, hosted by Captain Ron and first mate Steve. We had three other crew members (dive instructors and Allen, the Coastie) The crew was amazing from the start. I’m giving this 5 stars because it was an awesome experience and the crew helped make that possible. The location of the snorkel/dive was Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary. The water was crystal clear and the depth about 20-30 feet in some areas. Tons of marine live all around. Thank you to the crew for an awesome experience. I will be returning for a future dive with this group once my refresher is complete.

Our dive master was a guy named David and I can’t say enough good about his calm demeanor and his skill. He really made our first scuba dive not only worthwhile but also safe. It was a new thing for myself as well as my for children and we had a great time. We worked with David on recommendation from our friends here in Minnesota and the entire Captain Hook diving was top notch and safe. We were able to see a massive grouper as well as sharks and hundreds of fish. I would highly recommend using Captain Hook, and David in particular, for diving whether you are experienced or whether this is the first time.

We spent four incredible days diving with Captain Hook’s, completing our Open Water and Full Face certifications, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Our instructor/dive master, David, was outstanding—knowledgeable, patient, and calm in every situation. He explained each skill and safety response so clearly that even as beginners, we felt completely prepared and confident. He made sure we knew how to assemble, care for, and clean our gear properly, and if any small issue arose, he handled it instantly with such ease that we always felt safe. David also has a real gift for spotting marine life. He pointed out everything from Caribbean reef sharks and nurse sharks to green moray eels, arrow crabs (which I loved!), banded reef shrimp, southern rays, sea turtles, and more. When he heard that I absolutely adored nudibranchs, he made a special point of finding them for me on every dive. It made the experience so personal and memorable. Even my 10-year-old brother, who was brand new to diving, was fully supported by both David and Shane—another wonderful instructor who worked with him. They made sure he was always comfortable, safe, and having a great time. The whole team at Captain Hook’s was welcoming, professional, and incredibly accommodating, especially the owners who were such lovely people. When we kept adding more dives—and even extended our trip just to go out one more day to dive with them with full face gear—the owners made it all happen smoothly and generously. Without them we would not have been able to be full face certified till next summer. We’re already planning to return, and we’re even considering one of their dive trips to Little Cayman during spring break. If you’re in the Keys, diving with Captain Hook’s is an absolute must. It was safe, exciting, and full of joy from start to finish: it’s truly a priceless experience!

This was the best snorkeling trip I have ever been on. I had a blast with the crew. Everyone was super funny and super friendly. We got to see a shark, some barracudas and a Moray eel as well as tons of other fish. It was absolutely beautiful down there such a nice calm ride. Josh was an awesome captain! Dave Isaiah Alyssa and Hayden were amazing and educated us every step of the way with every question we had!

I spent 2 days here completing my Advanced adventurer course. My two instructors Josh and David were both super nice and David even gave me a ride from Key West all the way to Big Pine, absolute legend for that. I highly recommend doing your dives here!!!

Had a super great trip out to Looe Key today! Captain Ron was an amazing captain he was super helpful and knowledgeable. Our snorkeling guy Isaiah was great and so was the rest of the crew!! Would highly recommend to anyone wanting to go snorkeling or even diving. The water felt super nice and the visibility was amazing.

We had an amazing experience with our scuba instructor Dave at Captain Hook’s Dive Shop! Dave was incredibly knowledgeable and made the entire learning process feel safe, clear, and fun for the whole family. His experience really shows, and he was patient with all our questions and gave great tips throughout the dives. We couldn’t have asked for a better instructor—he made the experience unforgettable. Highly recommend Dave and Captain Hook’s if you’re looking to dive!

David and the crew at Captain Hooks on Big Pine were amazing! Me and my 14 year old twins just returned from Big Pine after finishing our dive certification with David. He was knowledgeable, patient and professional as he guided us through two days of diving. Facing a solid week of miserable wind, David and the crew were able to safely get us out to Looe Reef to get our open ocean dives. It was a memorable and amazing experience! I would highly recommend them for any and all your diving needs! Bruce F Burlington MA

Unforgettable Scuba Experience - The Best Instructors & Company! Caption Hooks I can't say enough great things about my experience with Captain Hooks and their incredible instructors, Joey and David! From start to finish, everything was absolutely top-notch. The team was professional, knowledgeable, and most importantly, patient. As a new diver (Second time diving with Captain Hooks), I felt completely safe and supported throughout the entire process. They took the time to explain everything in detail, ensuring I was comfortable and confident before getting in the water. Their passion for diving and marine life was contagious, making the experience even more enjoyable. Once underwater, it was truly magical. The instructors guided us seamlessly, pointing out incredible marine life and making sure we had an unforgettable dive. Their expertise and calm demeanor made it easy to relax and fully enjoy the experience. Whether you're a first-time diver or a seasoned pro, I can't recommend Captain Hooks and their amazing team enough. If you're looking for an adventure that is both thrilling and safe, this is the place to go. I'll definitely be back for more dives in the future! David and Joey hands down made our Vacation!!! A truly world-class experience!

I just got done with two days of diving with Captain Hook's. Day 1 was with their Key West operation, diving the USS vandeberg wreck. Day 2 was with their Big Pine Key operation, diving Looe Key Reef. Both days they provided top notch service. The boat Captains were Evan and Ron, and the staff was Steve, Henry, Lisa, Lynne, and Joey. Each and every one of them was outstanding!!! Max at the key west shop was super helpful and accommodating. I was very impressed with how each of them strived to provide the utmost professional service, and I highly recommend diving with them!!!

Amazing experience! So many fish, sea life and coral care! Captain Ron, Diver David and the crew were friendly, knowledgeable, & empathetic for those with less experience. Safety and Conservation were clear, as well as appreciation for military and first responders! Cannot say enough about this top notch experience in the Keys!

Great dive excursion, wife and kids snorkeled. Saw some amazing underwater sea life and the operation was extremely well run. Very friendly crew made for a terrific experience, less touristy than many tours- had the perfect blend of what we wanted.

We were worried about missing out on snorkeling on this trip but we're lucky to have a break from the rain and get a day of sunshine. I originally booked a dive and my 3 friends were going to go snorkeling. But after feeling bad about not getting to experience the water with them, I called the shop and asked if I could switch my dive to snorkeling since it was on the same boat. They very easily switched my dive to a snorkel and it so glad that I did. They do ask that you check in 1 hour before departure and I understand why. We had a full boat and it took a while for everyone to check in. I shopped around in the shop for a long sleeve ($50) and by the time I was done we were ready to board. At first our Captain was very stern and strict during the safety speech but once we were on our way, it was friendly, jokes and smile from him and the rest of the crew. If you are planning on having members of your group snorkeling and dive, I will point out that they keep the divers in the back of the boat to talk about the dive conditions and the snorkeling towards the front. There is not much room for interaction between them, so you won't get to "hang out" but you'll still see each other. Once we got to our reef it was more than I expected! We got to see a good variety of fish and even 2 reef sharks, 1 Sting Ray and 1 Lion fish. Since there wasn't another available buoy for the reef we couldn't move locations but the captain gave us permission to swim a littler farther for our second snorkel trip. There was fresh water to drink on the boat, but I'd take advantage of the cooler they have on board. You can bring your waters, beverages, snacks whatever you want in the cooler. Overall, we had a great time! Michelle and Lyn were great with switching out equipment if it didn't fit and were super helpful making sure we were comfortable and safe! Highly recommend booking a dive or snorkel trip!

Awesome snorkeling. Went with Ron and Bill, couldn't have had a better experience. Highly professional and worth the money!

Captain Hook's staff and snorkeling charter was amazing. The Captain (Jim) and crew (Val) were very knowledgeable, professional, pleasant and obliviously excited to take us out. Water conditions were a bit choppy; however, they moved us to a total of three locations to ensure we were able to enjoy our trip. Beyond that, they also love and care for the environment, partaking in a little bit of clean up as we were returning after our trip. Highly recommend this location for your water venture. The staff inside is friendly and the options for shopping is endless. Don't hesitate to stop by and visit Captian Hook's.

Another great experience with Capt Hooks Big Pine Key! This is my 3rd visit with Capt. Hooks and it remains a 5 star experience. The dive was a 2 tank reef dive to about 25 feet. On the first dive which lasted about 50 mins we spotted 2 reef sharks and a bunch of other sea life. The second dive which lasted 45 mins, a sting ray, shark, and grouper were spotted. Mark, the dive master, is the best! He explains the dive sites and will post a video on YouTube of your dives. The boat crew is top notch! The captain gave a thorough safety brief and the crew assisted with getting the divers and snorkelers back on the boat safely. This is a great dive operation for families who want to experience Looe Key reef either by snorkeling or diving. My wife and I will be back again!

I can't tell you how much I appreciate the professionalism of this company. They did an amazing job educating everyone on the boat. I am so heartened that there are people watching after the reef like the people at Captain Hooks. This review is 5 stars for that reason..I genuinely and whole heartedly appreciate the way they are conducting their tours. So many reefs have been destroyed but not o. This tour. Really great grass roots conservation work. ..... I am frustrated with my experience for other reasons... which I will now express in detail. Very professional nice people that did not fully refund me after driving me out to the reef then refusing to allow me to snorkel in what appeared to be not perfect but perfectly safe conditions I did not have good experience. Canceled due to a tiny swell and no white caps after driving all the way out to the reef. Matter of opinion, I don't argue but I do regret trusting them with my precious vacation. There could have been other issues not explained to us, but from my perspective it look perfectly good. I have been snorkeling all over the world. They did not wait , go elsewhere , know earlier, etc. . Our time is lost and I wish I would have gone elsewhere. They seemed like nice people who are here everyday and maybe forget that people like me are spending quite a bit of time and money to be there and unless it is truly unsafe we would like to get in the water. Also.. they did not fully refund after cancelling... they kept a fee of some kind back from the refund.

We dove with them 2 days in a row. We had Captain Will, boat mate Michelle, and David as our Dive Master. All were super helpful, nice, welcoming, educated, and skilled. We had beautiful dives both days and the boat is super accommodating. Some shade, a storage spot for your dry items, reef safe sunscreen, fresh water, easy ladder to get back out. All around a great time with a great crew! Highly recommend!

Kim was my instructor and she was absolutely fantastic! She was an incredibly accommodating and understanding of skills that didn't pick up naturally. If you are getting into diving I highly recommend seeking out Kim for your training. Thanks for everything guys!

Great snorkeling experience and great staff! They made us feel very safe both in the boat and in the water. I saw some barracuda, lots of fish, tons of dolphins, and even a shark! So cool to see the sea life that lives in the water. There were divers on our trip, which was cool to see them under the water exploring too! I brought my own snorkel but you can rent them as well. The boat captain assisted me in putting my mask on and getting a good fit. They provide anti-Fog spray, which really worked!! Fins were highly recommended the day we went out due to the waves and current. The fin were definitely needed! They also provided life vest. We went to two different reefs. To me they looked similar but one was closer so the fish were closer to you. It was amazing!

Was looking for a good place to go on a snorkeling trip and Captain Hook (on Looe Key) was highly recommended! I will pass along that great recommendation! Our crew, Sam, Steve and a lady dive master (sorry I don't remember her name) they were great! I am not the strongest swimmer and they made sure even I was able to snorkel and see the fish underwater! If you are looking for a great experience with snorkeling- this is the place to go!!! Definitely a 5 place!

Captain Will, First Mate Rob and team did a great job of making sure we had a great morning on the water. Great trip down this summer! Saw some parrot fish, a shark, and more fish I can't remember. The crew made sure we were safe with some weather moving in right at the end. When my family time is scarce and value I don't mess around. Would definitely come see them again! Thanks guys!!

Capt Hook's (previously Strike Zone) was ALWAYS my go to business for snorkeling trip when I had family or friends visiting. Every group I went out with or suggested the business to always had a great time. This past family vacation, we decided to book a trip and go out. As always, it did not disappoint. We had a short trip out to the reef and got to snorkel at too locations. The reefs were beautiful with lots a variety of fish visible as we snorkeled. Some of us even got to see a nurse shark that was wondering about. The only thing I do miss from the days of SZ, was the shirt history of the Keys, Flagler Railroad, and all the little things which make the Keys so unique. Since my sister booked the trip, I'm unaware if this is also provided, but there use to be a short fishing expedition with a small cookout on the boat as well. It would be awesome for this to return as it puts a perfect ending to a great trip! Thank you to Capt Linda and her crew for a great trip!! We hope to see y'all again soon!!

I'm an experienced diver but have to be careful with my back after multiple spine surgeries. Sam was wonderful in helping me in and out of the water. Using their BC and regulator was a bit clumsy for me but Sam really helped make it a non issue. Bless you Sam! The boat was very well appointed and crew super nice. Boat however was overloaded due to some last min joiners. Some folks stood instead of being smooched together. This made getting in and out of the water in a timely fashion difficult. I would definitely recommend this trip as the crew and boat were efficient and top notch.

This was the most AMAZING dive/snorkel trip we've ever been on. Captain Will, 1st mate Vince & dive master Luke were the best! We thoroughly enjoyed talking to Will the whole time. I can totally see us being friends if we lived there . While we were at 1 of the reefs I happened to spot a sailboat nearby that had a potential friend on it. He had my eyes on me the whole time to make sure I was safe. While underwater we had our 1st shark encounter. I thought I would be more nervous but Cap Will said just relax and enjoy it. We did and it was great! I was a little freaked out from the barracudas glaring at me but they were harmless. Our daughter dove while we snorkeled. The reefs were so beautiful and clear. So many fish that would follow you around. 100% we would come back in hopes to have Captain Will again!

Our first time diving in the Keys and we lucked out with Captain Hook's! Rented regulators and BC --top notch gear. The crew on the boat were great! Big shoutout to Heather for her great job guiding and earning her dive instructor certification! Highly recommend!!

Great bunch of people - all of them. A few dozen dives logged with them. I think I've adopted them - Malcom, Jim, Vince, Rob, Sid many others ...

Short boat trip out to the reef which was nice. Staff and crew are all very friendly and accommodating. Huge store on site with lots of good stuff Only reason I didn't rate 5 stars is because you have to dive with a guide. My husband and I have been diving for over 25 years and have never used a guide

We went diving/snorkeling on a trip this week. As far as for divers (there were 3 of us), there was a lot of equipment malfunctions. When hooking up dive equipment, my daughter's one regulator was leaking and needed to be swapped out quickly before leaving. However, once out on the water, my husband's BC was discovered to be broken and unable to inflate. Although there could be equipment problems on a dive boat, there was no spare equipment on the boat to fix this problem. The dive master wound up switching BCs with my husband so he could safely dive, but it vastly affected the dive as the weight and size was off. Additionally, their first aid kid was out of bandaids (which is pretty basic) as we discovered when one of our snorkelers got a cut on his finger. They ran out of cups to drink water and the bathroom was also broken. Overall, the company had too many things broken/missing that affected the quality of the dive and snorkel experience.

Just finished a two tank dive this morning with Captain Malcolm and Dive Master Rob. My wife and I were the only two divers this morning, lots of snorkelers though. Rob did a great job reassuring my wife and calming her anxieties around diving enough for us to enjoy two 40+ minutes down with plenty of sea life to see. Barracuda, angelfish, parrotfish, etc... I recommend this location, this crew, and the dive site.

Amazing staff! I've done 25 dives with Captain Hooks with 16 out of Big Pine and the rest out of Key West. I've also done over five snorkel trips. Their staff is very helpful and a lot of fun! Shoutout to Sydnie, Rob, Val, Captain Jim, Captain Malcom, Henry, Vince, Frank, Jordan and many more! Always a good time and loved every trip :)

We did a snorkeling cruise out of Captain Hook's! Our crew was Malcolm and Kimmy, they were amazing, we had so much fun. They were very knowledgeable, professional and just made the experience so enjoyable. We got to Captain Hook's around 9am, had to fill out some paperwork and we're able to immediately get on the boat. Super easy and overall great time!

Wow! Our snorkel trip was amazing. We did two parts of the reef. Captain Will, and mates Nick and Val were very professional and fun. I whole heartedly recommend this company. You will get more than your moneys worth snorkeling Looe Key. There were also people diving too. They were just as impressed. I want to go back and will definately choose Captain Hook's again!

Excellent crew and office staff. Loo Key was spectular. Go with this group, they were knowledgeable, professional, and fun. Plenty of parking, a nice gift shop (holding a drawing for nice Yeti good with the purchase of a shirt, great selection), a comfortable setting area outside as you wait to depart, and is located at the west end of the key. Do not let this opportunity slip by and go with the Captain.

Incredible morning on Looe Key reef with Captain Will, Val and Nick. Well run, safe and clean gear and boat. The gorgeous scenery above and below water are unmatched. Thanks for a day we'll never forget!

Excellent service, great equipment and affordable adventure. Staff well experienced as well! Highly recommend Captain Hooks for snorkeling and scuba diving excursions!

We took a group to snorkel and dive. The guides were awesome. Super friendly and we had a ton of fun. It was my kids' first real snorkel trip. My 12-year-old son loved it and now wants to get his dive certification. My 11-year -old daughter was not a fan and elected to stay on the boat. She got to watch dolphins play and the boat crew was so sweet to make sure she still had fun while everyone else was in the water. They put us on a shallow reef and we saw a wide variety of beautiful fish and even a couple of sharks!

Awesome snorkeling trip at a great price. We were worried that it might be a little crowded and touristy, but once you're in the water its pretty easy to get away from people. This is the best snorkeling I have ever experienced (including Hawaii). In addition to fish, we saw several grouper and black tip sharks while in the water. From the boat we saw a sea turtle (!!!!) and a pod of dolphins followed us for a bit on the way back. Our guides were solid and enhanced the trip. We went with a group with several families and younger kids, which turned out to be ideal since they got tired and left the water earlier so you were left with even more space to swim uninterrupted. I was frankly pleasantly surprised with the quality of the experience for the price. Will be going again, possibly for a dive with this company, when back in the area.

We had a great time on both day dives as well as a night dive! But the reason we will book again with Captain Hooks in a heartbeat is because of the professionalism and safety measures they take. While on an outing, a passenger on the boat had a medical emergency. The crew was calm and collected. Each member had a job to do during this emergency and they did it calmly and efficiently. There was no drama and it was obvious that they were very well preparedand had trained for any situation that should arise. When I am out on an adventure I want myself and my family in the hands of these folks should an emergency arise. Safety first!!!

Another beautiful dive day with Captain Hooks in Big Pine. By far the best experience in the Keys. Extremely knowledgeable and experienced dive professionals at Capt Hooks' Big Pine, Marathon, and Key West. Always a great crew, like family. Thanks for the awesome dives y'all. See ya soon. 3 spotted eagle rays flew by today, sweet!

Very good experience. The Captain Will and Dive Master Dan, I think was his name. Very nice! I was afraid and nervous to go on the dives and backed out of my first one but they were understanding and helped me back on the boat and helped me relax. I ended up going on the 2nd dive and the dive master helped me lower down and held on to me until I was down at the bottom. This helped me relax and enjoy the experience. Great crew.

Captain Will, Miranda, Sam, and Luke were all amazing! They were all great to talk to and made sure everyone on board had a great time and stayed safe. Some of the best visibility I've ever seen while snorkeling and an overall great time. 100% would recommend!

Captain Will and Crew member Sydney were delightful! I learned much more than I expected on what I thought would just be a boat ride. Will and Sydney are great guides and within a few minutes, all on board had relaxed and were enjoying the tour. As a single woman, I felt safe and secure and never left out. I would highly recommend snorkeling (my choice) with Captain Hook's Diving. You will not be disappointed unless you hate enjoying yourself. That is a whole other story.

Not for the experienced diver. This company limits dives by time. Times up, your dive is over even if you still have plenty of air. The dives are guided and limited in scope and area. We crisscrossed over the same area a few times. Our boat was overwhelmed by snorkelers. This outfit would be good for novice divers and families out for a swim on the reef but too limited for my taste. Looe reef is pretty cool. We saw a couple of sharks hunting along the reef. I advise using a different boat if you have some experience as a diver.

We visited this shop several times for clothing and hats, and we ended up taking a snorkeling tour. Everyone was super friendly and helpful. The reef trip for snorkeling was a great spot,loaded with all kinds of fish.

Dove with Captain Hook's at Looe Key- staff extremely professional. We usually avoid boats with a lot of snorkelers but Capt Hook's did a great job organizing the divers and snorkelers it really was very enjoyable! Captain Will was great and divemaster Sidney was knowledgeable, comfortable, laid back, and very professional. They let me and my dive buddy do our own thing and separate from the group, and asked us to just return based on time and air left. They tried to maximize our dive time. Will definitely use them again when we go back!! Reef was beautiful!

Our group had a great time snorkeling at Looe Key with Captain Will, Megan, and crew. They were patient and fun! Highly recommend.

My fiancé and I had a great experience on our SCUBA diving trip! Vince, our dive master, was amazing! The crew double checked our gear after it was set up to make sure we were safe in the water before jumping in! We got to see the beautiful reef of Looe Key and lots of sea life. Highly recommend them for taking you out to Looe key for snorkeling or scuba diving!

Very nice boat, they only had 22 people and the boat holds 49 . It was nice they were operating at half capacity. Very good Captain and crew.

Can't say enough positive things about Captain Hooks. Very professional instructors. Employees all have great people skills. Owners are present and making sure customers are satisfied. Dove with other outfits - none compare. Captain Hooks is clean and they have top of the line boats and equipment. Dive with them if you want the best, safest, dive.

The boat was the holiday princes and it was clean and comfortable... plenty of room. Tammy, the dive master and Captain were awesome... they took care of our every need. We will dive with them again. No issues!

This is a great company to dive with!!! Yesterday, we did a couple dives on Looe Key, and had a blast! Today we have been thwarted by mother nature as the Gulfstream is on top of the Busch Wreck, so the dive has been scratched. In SCUBA diving, safety comes first. Some dive boats might have forced us to get wet in unsafe or not desirable condition, just to save a refund. Captain Hooks not only has friendly service and knowledgeable staff, but your safety is priority #1 and it shows. They now have shops in Key West, Big Pine Key and Marathon!! Highly recommended! Best dive company in the middle & lower keys!!

Went out for a couple of dives during the slow season. The crew was very helpful and inviting. We were in a group of about 12. A few more experienced divers wanted to go off on their own (without the dive master) and they had no problem doing so. They were given a time to be back on the boat and sent their way. For those of us needing a bit more guidance, the dive master stayed with us and directed us through the reefs and helped point out interesting wildlife. We felt comfortable and never rushed. The reefs are pretty shallow, which was good for us as we are only certified to 60 feet. Nice variety of marine life.

Dropped in to this well out fitted dive shop. Took a gamble and it paid off. Booked a two tank dive for Looe Key reef with them and had a great time. Seas were choppy and the shop gave us the heads up it would be rough on the surface. Prices were typical for the area shops but the service was outstanding. Our dive master Meghan was a young lady with excellent confidence which helped this novice diver feel at home. Great captain and crew got us out to the reef in no time. As predicted it was rough but once under there was a ton of sea life to see. Bottom time was about 45-50 minutes and the reef did disappoint. Rental equipment was high end and almost new. Everything checked out with no issues. I would highly recommend this dive shop.

Captain Hooks has come highly recommended by dive shops in other parts of the Keys. We spent the last two days diving with them, and while we are certified we had others with us who were completing their checkout dives. Frank and Wayne were a wealth of information, friendly and attentive. Love the emphasis on safety without the hard core "you can't do that." Excited to follow this business as they grow and flourish. They even fixed our tank which we paid to have serviced at another shop and found to have a significant leak... no charge, come back and see us. We have we will!! Greta place!

Took 2 trips with Captain Hook. Fantastic service , great crew and dive masters. Made me feel like the only one on the boat! Definitely a 5 star operation!

We had such a great time with Captain Hooks and their crew. Captain Mike was amazing. We went out May 15, 2019 for the afternoon snorkeling trip. The people inside were great. They helped my wife with her mask fogging up. The girl used a lighter on the mask and it never fogged up again. Unfortunately, I cannot think of the name of Captain Mikes first mate the day we were there. But he was he was awesome. What an amazing crew. Very knowledgeable, polite, friendly and helpful. Snorkeling is not my thing, but my wife loves it. So I go along for the boat ride and enjoy the day. My wife was so excited about seeing two sharks, the goliath grouper, lobster, barracuda, eels, stingray, and tons of other fish. Thank You all so much... Kevin & Kristie.