About the Florida Keys Dive Center
The Florida Keys Dive Center “Flakeys” is a full service PADI scuba diving resort in the Florida Keys, offering daily guided scuba diving trips, scuba instruction, spearfishing and private dive charters. As a proud family member of “Scuba Town”, you can find us in Islamorada, Fl at mile marker 84 along the Overseas Highway, Just 10 minutes South of Key Largo and a short drive from Key West and the Fort Lauderdale/Miami area.
Whether you’re looking for wrecks or reefs, Flakeys has your ticket. We are one of the top dive destinations in the world. People come from as nearby as Florida and as far away as Australia and New Zealand to visit our dive sites. Our dive guides are renowned wreck and reef experts who will take you on thrilling tours, illuminating the wonders of the deep.
While we know it’s all about the dive, Flakeys is a comprehensive experience. Your adventure begins the minute you walk through our doors. Our friendly and experienced staff handles all the details of your trip, from making sure you have all the gear that’s right for you to setting it up on the boat to spraying it down for you at the end of the day. Everything will be taken care of when you’re on an Flakeys dive. After diving with us just once, we feel confident that you’ll be ready to join the Florida Keys Dive Center family and make Flakeys your home dive shop whenever you’re around. Thanks for stopping by!
Learn To Scuba Dive
Get your diving certification in just 2 days
Daily Dive Trips
Over 50 dive sites include shipwrecks & reefs
Discover Scuba Diving
Not sure about diving? Give it a try!
Advanced & Rescue
CPR, Rescue or Advanced Certifications
Discover Sharks
Learn about & dive with Sharks
Spearing & Lobstering
Become an underwater hunter
Diving in the Florida Keys
Watch the video to see what we’re about! Then cruise around and check out our amazing photos from some of our latest trips.
The Wonders of the Ocean
Spearfishing with Captain Eric
Nurse shark cam Islamorada
Bull shark on the Eagle wreck
Rare batfish
Feisty Loggerhead turtle
What is the Florida Keys Dive Center?
Watch the video to see what we’re about! Then cruise around and check out our amazing photos from some of our latest trips.
Learn to Dive in the Florida Keys
Octopus on the wreck of the Eagle
Islamorada Turtle diving
Huge sawfish diving in the Florida
The Depths are Waiting
Scuba and Marine Conservation
Our Crew
Chobee
We are dog-friendly here. Every day you can pretty much guarantee one of our fur babies is hanging around the shop.
Chobee: Scuba Mom – Grace
Nitro
We are dog-friendly here. Every day you can pretty much guarantee one of our fur babies is hanging around the shop.
Nitro: Scuba Pops – Jason
Fin The Chow
We are dog-friendly here. Every day you can pretty much guarantee one of our fur babies is hanging around the shop.
Fin: Scuba Mom – Jessi
Tyler Morris
Job: Marketing Director / IDC Staff Instructor
Favorite Dive Site: Victory Reef
Favorite Keys Restaurant: His BBQ
Tyler is originally from Texas and then Tennessee where he still owns a pilates studio. But he loves the Keys and instructing and we are happy to have him. Tyler not only is one of our instructors but also our Marketing Director. He has amazing photography skills and loads divers up with fantastic images on our social media platforms. At the shop he’s hard to miss, he’s the one in the cowboy hat.
Claire Stickney
Job: IDC Instructor & Shop Staff
Favorite Dive Site: The Eagle
Favorite Keys Restaurant: Italian Food Company
Claire started diving because she loves the ocean and couldn’t wait to get to experience the underwater world. Quickly after being certified, she knew that she wanted to become a pro so that she could share the experience with others!
Jessi Goring
Job: Captain / Instructor
Favorite Dive Site: Crocker Wall
Favorite Keys Restaurant: Old Tav
Jessi moved to the Keys from the Show me state of Missouri. As one of our top instructors you’ll find her in the pool and occasionally off-gassing in the shop. Keep an eye for her furry partner “Fin” who accompanies her in shop and sometimes on the boat. Make sure that you say hi to Jessi before you say hi to Fin though!
Angeline Lawson
Job: IDC Staff Instructor / Fish ID Expert
Favorite Dive Site: Rocky Top
Favorite Keys Restaurant: Ziggy Mad dogs
Angeline moved a little south from Alabama. Don’t let her small stature fool ya, she’s as tough as nails. An amazingly patient instructor and is wonderful with the kiddos. Nicknamed the “Pink Angel” by our guests, you wont lose her colorful gear underwater.
Nate Sterns
Job: Master Instructor / Dive Heart Coordinator
Favorite Dive Site: Duane Wreck
Favorite Keys Restaurant: Tacos Jalisco
Nate comes from the great state of Massachusetts. He’s an excellent instructor and helps out with our conservation programs. He’s our ocean garbage picker, so he’s got that going for him…which is nice.
Seanna Knight
Job: Shop Manager / Conservation Coordinator
Favorite Dive Site: Davey Crocker
Favorite Keys Restaurant: Hobos
Seanna is from Maryland and is our go-to liaison for all our conservation programs. She is super knowledgable and teaches students and leads our team in marine debris clean ups, shark aware programs and coral restoration. When you take part in one of these activities, you’ll be in good hands.
Alanna Hall
Job: Instructor
Favorite Dive Site: Davey Crocker
Favorite Keys Restaurant: Sharky’s
Alanna (Lana) sailed over from Arizona with her fur baby Sophia. She’s full of energy and her students love it. If she’s not guiding or instructing you’ll find her scootering around our reefs.
Grace Billips
Job: Instructor / Guide
Favorite Dive Site: The Shrimp Boat
Favorite Keys Restaurant: Cheeca Lodge MM 82 Oceanside
Grace hails from Michigan. She’s an instructor but mostly helps run the shop with Hubby Eric. She’s responsible for keeping that shop trendy and cool. Addicted to the sea you’ll find her, in her free time, diving, crabbing or simply hanging on the boat.
Captain Eric Billips
Job: Owner, Captain and Instructor
Favorite Dive Site: The Eagle
Favorite Keys Restaurant: Kaiyo Grill and Sushi MM 81.7 Oceanside
A hobby became a passion and then a dream became a reality for Captain Eric with the opening of Islamorada Dive Center. Eric traded his business suit for a wetsuit when he moved to the Florida Keys from Michigan. His credentials include: PADI Master Instructor, Rebreather Instructor, Spearfishing Instructor, US Coast Guard Captain, Author of “Spearfishing the Upper Keys” and the PADI specialty class, “Underwater Hunter.” On his surface intervals Eric can be found lifting heavy objects, staring at motorcycles, or playing with his mini me, Bodie.
Sonja Bayer
Job: Instructor/ Spearfishing Guide
Favorite Dive Site: Wherever the grouper are
Favorite Keys Restaurant: Jordans Kitchen
Sonja hails from the cool town of Doylestown Pennsylvania. Sonja is one of our best instructors and a certified slayer in the spearfishing game. You’ll see her trusty furry companion Lee by her side on many of our trips.
Captain Greg Lehman
Job: Captain / Instructor
Favorite Dive Site: Victory Reef
Favorite Keys Restaurant: Snappers
Captain Greg comes to us from Pennsylvania. He drives all of our boats and is our head captain for private charters. His background is in mechanics so if you don’t see his face driving a boat you’ll probably see the other end sticking out of an engine compartment.
Captain Jason Adams
Job: Captain
Favorite Dive Site: Alligator Deep
Favorite Keys Restaurant: Dillons
Jason is a pure southern charmer from North Carolina. He heads up our vessel the “Aquatic Liberty”. He’s the chillest, most laid back Marine you’ll ever encounter.
Devon Buttenshaw
Job: Spearfishing Guide / IDC Staff Instructor
Favorite Dive Site: Victory Reef
Favorite Keys Restaurant: Bayside Gourmet
Devon comes to us from the Garden state of New Jersey. You’ll find Devon in the pool a lot teaching our new divers. He’s a great instructor with really fun energy.
Tomos Williams
Job: Instructor
Favorite Dive Site: Any Drift
Favorite Keys Restaurant: C&C
Born in Pittsburgh PA, he was raised on the 5 D’s of Dodgeball. Sadly his professional Dodgeball career never took off and he followed his second passion, the Ocean. A self described “Water Enthusiast,” he spends his days making sure our divers explore the reefs safely and find the passion that drives him to live and work in paradise.