reefman
Contributor
invited to join an advanced digital camera workshop this week, for 6 days of diving(whole boat charter) aboard ocean divers 48FT newton the Santana. conditions topside and below the water in the keys have been hit or miss for the past 3 weeks, frankly, overall they've sucked. beginning the charter/workshop this past sunday was no exception. ironic in that i'm practically the only one diving without a camera and have no pics to post, but these folks are busy with classroom beginning 1hr upon returning to the dock and lasting until 7-730PM. maybe a few this weekend. I rarely comment about the upper keys dive operators for a variety of reasons, having said that, ocean divers runs like a well oiled machine. for a "cattle boat" operation they are top notch, the crews(captain and 2 divemasters to handle all the cameras) have been terrific, well filled tanks(3000-3200PSI) and the newtons ride really well in rough seas. searching for viz has been a challenge all week,,,,,,,,,,,
SUNDAY, DAY 1: sunshine/clouds, 3-4FT seas, green viz 20FT, surge/mdt current, water temp 81F @25-38FT. MOLASSES REEF. dive #1, the winch hole/logans run. dive#2, permit ledge/fire coral caves. arguably the worst underwater conditions iv'e ever observed @ MO, in a word; brutal. fishy if you could get close. only dive boat on this reef,,,,,,,,,
MONDAY, DAY2: searching for clean water(reported viz 15+ on the bentwood, SG, MO) led us to a double @ the ELBOW, long haul from OD's dock! sunshine, 2-3FT seas, blue/green viz 25-30FT, no current, water temp 82F @ 20-32FT. #1, mikes wreck. #2, city of Washington. nice dives considering the day before.
TUESDAY, DAY3: storms/rain gave way to sunshine, 1-2FT rollers. #1, SNAPPER LEDGE, decent viz, blue 40-45FT, light current, 82F @ 20-36FT, typical abundant fishlife for this site. #2, back to MOLASSES permit ledge/fire coral caves. viz was dreadfull again even @ high tide, green 25FT, particulates, light/mdt current, 82F @20-38FT. fish life however was super: 3 goliaths under the overhang, eagle rays, large schools of snapper, cudas, jacks, I enjoyed it, the photographers, NOT SO MUCH!
WEDNESDAY, DAY 4: sunshine/storms, waterspouts, 1FT swells. #1, AQUARIUS UNDERWATER REEF BASE, blue 50-60+FT, mdt current, water temp 81F @ 45-70FT. split the boat for 2 dives, fish life was phenomenal, schools of permit, jacks, snook, tarpon, snappers(cuberas, dog, schoolmaster, grey, yellowtail, mutton), groupers, rays, cudas(under the enormous support buoy), reef shark, you name it, someone observed it! #2, bypassed MO(rippin current, blue water) and dove the BENWOOD. zero current, typical viz 30-35FT, 83F @25-70FT(went to the dropoff). fishy, lots of subjects, a photographers dream! conditions are improving daily and the marine forecast is favorable thru the beginning of next week. tomorrow, north again to the elbow, statue, and glass minnows @ north/north or horseshoe,,,,,,
reefman
key largo
SUNDAY, DAY 1: sunshine/clouds, 3-4FT seas, green viz 20FT, surge/mdt current, water temp 81F @25-38FT. MOLASSES REEF. dive #1, the winch hole/logans run. dive#2, permit ledge/fire coral caves. arguably the worst underwater conditions iv'e ever observed @ MO, in a word; brutal. fishy if you could get close. only dive boat on this reef,,,,,,,,,
MONDAY, DAY2: searching for clean water(reported viz 15+ on the bentwood, SG, MO) led us to a double @ the ELBOW, long haul from OD's dock! sunshine, 2-3FT seas, blue/green viz 25-30FT, no current, water temp 82F @ 20-32FT. #1, mikes wreck. #2, city of Washington. nice dives considering the day before.
TUESDAY, DAY3: storms/rain gave way to sunshine, 1-2FT rollers. #1, SNAPPER LEDGE, decent viz, blue 40-45FT, light current, 82F @ 20-36FT, typical abundant fishlife for this site. #2, back to MOLASSES permit ledge/fire coral caves. viz was dreadfull again even @ high tide, green 25FT, particulates, light/mdt current, 82F @20-38FT. fish life however was super: 3 goliaths under the overhang, eagle rays, large schools of snapper, cudas, jacks, I enjoyed it, the photographers, NOT SO MUCH!
WEDNESDAY, DAY 4: sunshine/storms, waterspouts, 1FT swells. #1, AQUARIUS UNDERWATER REEF BASE, blue 50-60+FT, mdt current, water temp 81F @ 45-70FT. split the boat for 2 dives, fish life was phenomenal, schools of permit, jacks, snook, tarpon, snappers(cuberas, dog, schoolmaster, grey, yellowtail, mutton), groupers, rays, cudas(under the enormous support buoy), reef shark, you name it, someone observed it! #2, bypassed MO(rippin current, blue water) and dove the BENWOOD. zero current, typical viz 30-35FT, 83F @25-70FT(went to the dropoff). fishy, lots of subjects, a photographers dream! conditions are improving daily and the marine forecast is favorable thru the beginning of next week. tomorrow, north again to the elbow, statue, and glass minnows @ north/north or horseshoe,,,,,,
reefman
key largo
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