Hello! and question about Key Largo Wreck Diving

[Charlie99]

Just curious, how do you get to the wrecks? We've been to KL twice and dived the same reef spots each time. Do you need to specify when you book the charter?

Woulnd't mind diving deeper than 28 feet (since my ears hate shallow depths!)

Robin

Uuuh. The Benwood and the City of Washington won't help that very much. IIRC, the Benwood is about 35' max, and City of Washington is less.

The popular deep wrecks are the coast guard cuttter Duane and the Spiegel Grove. Most Key Largo operators run trips to them. Some operators have specific days, others by request. Most require AOW card, or at least some deep dives in your log.

 

[Brian1968]

They're both nice dives. I also like the Washington because of the big life it attracts or more correctly that comes to it for the regular feedings (not that I support that behavior). The shark on my avatar is one of the critters.

 

[murphdivers286]

Welcome Aboard!!!

It's addictive, but who cares?!?!?

Good friends and good info. What could be better???

P.S. - If you have not already done so, please fill out your profile.

City of Washington!

 

[Hunter]

Just got back from the Keys. It was some great diving before we were evacuated or should I say kicked out of Key Largo.

All are good in Largo but the City of Washington has been pelted by hurricanes to the point of looking like a pile of rubble. There is not anything other than ribs that even look like a ship. The Bentwood however still has the bow section which is recognized easily as well as the bottom portions of the hull are still intact.

The Speigal Grove, Dwayne,& the Bibb are the great deeper wrecks in Largo. I was amazed to see the sand dwellers starting to set up life in the sand swirled up from strong currents in the upper portions of the Grove in 60 ft. of water.

I was hoping to get out on the Eagle for the first time but the Charley kept us from it this trip. The Eagle is a 300 ft ship in deeper water out of Islamorada.

I try to get down there 2-3 times a year. Hunter

 

[RobinG]

Uuuh. The Benwood and the City of Washington won't help that very much. IIRC, the Benwood is about 35' max, and City of Washington is less.

The popular deep wrecks are the coast guard cuttter Duane and the Spiegel Grove. Most Key Largo operators run trips to them. Some operators have specific days, others by request. Most require AOW card, or at least some deep dives in your log.

Thanks

We have all the qualifications needed but no one ever asked us if we had a preference, so we asked about the wrecks, finally. Just have to ask, they said. Guess you have to ask when you book the trip, not on the boat.

Seems we always get on the boats with the first-time divers too--most of our gear is older than some of the divers, so I don't know why!

Robin

 

[garyfotodiver]

I appreciate all this info too, as I am going to KL over Labor Day. I didn't realize there were shallow wrecks. I will ask the charter whether they will go to one or the other.

BTW, I am looking for a buddy for a shore dive in Broward county on Friday morning, 3 September.

 

[GrierHPharmD]

I've dived both, and I like the Benwood better because it has better relief and is an interesting historical wreck. (Lots of stories out there - the most credible versions are in Shipwrecks of the Sunshine State and Histories and Mysteries - the Shipwrecks of Key Largo. Here's a few links that might be useful:

http://www.mikey.net/aue/floridawrecks.html
http://www.conchdivers.com/keys/keysdivesites.htm

Of course, if you're an experienced diver and are certified to go deep, I'd suggest the Spiegel Grove, which is a wonderful, huge, intact wreck and a dream to dive if conditions are good.

My recommendations for boats are Island Ventures and Silent World, both in Key Largo. KeyLargoBrent, of BlueWaterDivers, is pretty active here on ScubaBoard and a very nice guy, but I haven't dived with him yet, so I can only give you my first impression.

Good luck on your dives. Be sure to post a trip report when you return. If you want some Scubaboard company, just post a thread in the Private Trips area listing the dive site and the date in the title, and you'll probably see some of our divers.

Best wishes and safe ascents,
Grier

 

[Matt the Aquaman]

Hello!

I just found out about ScubaBoard today and it seems pretty great! So I need some advice on Key Largo wreck diving - do you guys prefer the Benwood or the City of Washington wrecks? I look forward to hearing back from some of you soon (you can email me too - lselvara@hsc.usf.edu). Thanks!

Take care,

Leena

Hi from Matt,

Welcome to SB! I came here to look for help with my scuba diving dream and the response has been fantastic. So, I know you will enjoy being a member here.
There are a lot of nice and informative scuba divers. It's a good place to meet other divers and share experiences and dreams. Take care from Matt. :scubadive

 

[Wristshot]

Leena,

As you can see there are a variety of opinions. Personally I like the Benwood slightly better than the City of Washington, but I would do either in a heartbeat. I haven't been fortunate enough to see the sharks at the C of W, but I have seen a lot of fish at the Benwood. There were some really huge Parrotfish at the Benwood, plus Baracuda and schools of grunts and yellowtail snapper when we were there. I am sure that timing and luck have a lot to do with what you see. Also the turtle "Bubba" hangs out at the Benwood every night.

I also liked the Benwood better because it was slightly deeper. My dives on the Benwood are always 38-39 feet, while the C of W was only 25 feet. Personally I like being a little deeper, but that is just me.

Usually the dive boats try to go to where the conditions will be best, and to match the skills and desires of the clients (that's us!). However, they don't like going to the same old places everyday, and don't like going to the same place in the afternoon that they went in the morning.

As for "requesting", it depends upon the operation. I would definitely suggest asking for what you want. The worst that they can say is "no" and maybe they have good reasons. In my limited experience, I have found that the dive boats want happy clients, so they will try to accomodate you. Sometimes the destination is set up in advance, but not always.

In 2002 we asked the Captain as soon as we got on to go to the Benwood. When he told the DM that he was going to the Benwood, she made an ugly face and asked why. He said that he "had requests for the Benwood" and that was that. That particular day the boat had divers and snorkelers so the DM wanted a shallower reef. If we hadn't asked, we would not have gotten it.

Asking early is recommended. Once they have made up their minds, or made promises to other clients, it is harder to change their minds.

Of course you can always try to ask the dive shop in advance, but usually the final decision is made at or near the departure time because conditions can change.

We also dove Mike's Wreck at Key Largo. It obviously didn't leave much of an impression because I don't remember anything about it. My online log says it was 28 feet. My actual log book with any more detail is at home.

Of course the Speigel Grove is an awesome place to dive, but it is a completely different beast from the others discussed above.

Just my opinions, and only because you asked.

Wristshot

 

[Afraid_of_Fish]

Welcome to ScubaBoard! It's great to have you as a member!!!
Hope to see you around the board!!

<33 Jess