HELP! What are the Keys like?!?

[conchrandy]

Lived here most of my life and I would say these conditions were not typical for this time of year. Normally, we see winds out of the SE at 10-15 with seas of 2 ft or less. Afternoon thundershowers, of course. This was a week long anomaly caused by a complex high that just hung around. More like March.

Particularly devastating to the diving snorkeling, fishing industry in the Keys as we all counted on a four day weekend. Worse timing possible.

Don't give up on the Keys, better days are guaranteed.

 

[Capt Gary]

Today looks like a great day to go diving.

Station MLRF1 - Molasses Reef, FL




We had over 60'+ vis yesterday on Davis Reef. I drove the dive boat yesterday and went to 3 different spots before I saw the blue water over by Davis and headed that way for two great dives. Seas were only 2' to 4' and.
Last night looking off-shore the sea calmed down to nothing, so today we should have around 1' to 2' seas and the vis should be spectacular. One thing everyone should remember is the visibility will travel up and down the reef, so where the vis is poor a half a mile in either direction the vis could be fantastic. So today tomorrow through Friday should be great diving days.


Good Diving,
Capt Gary

 

[Tremendo]

We were in the keys several days last week and the weather was showing 40-60% chance of thunderstorms everyday. The weather was fine 80% of the time for a vacation, but water was rough for boating. If the trip was fun and scuba, I'd go. If it was all about the scuba, you might not want to chance it.

 

[HalcyonDaze]

I was on the Sea Eagle out of Key West all day on Saturday the 6th (had booked the morning Vandenburg trip and then got sucked into an afternoon reef trip at the last minute). It was definitely a bouncy ride out, with the whole deck being a splash zone and someone chumming over the Vandy. The actual dives were good; pretty fair viz on the Vandy (80 feet or better) and fair-to-middlin' on the reefs (40-50 or better). Being my first Vandy dive, I'm not sure if the knot-plus current was worse than average. Surge was definitely noticeable on the reefs, but nothing outside the envelope.

 

[Daveg99]

I am supposed to go down and dive Friday-Sunday in Marathon. Im REALLY hoping I dont have to cancel. Im going to wait until tomorrow evening to decide. The windfinder forecast doesnt look too bad. Lets hope this storm moves farther east and sucks everything bad along with it.

 

[CajunDiva]

The Cajun Invasion is coming to town Friday...regardless of dive conditions

We have lots of experience dealing with tropical issues, and have EVERY confidence that once Chantal passes to the east of Florida, conditions will improve immensely. All the ugly stuff that's been hanging around south Florida will be blown out and conditions will improve considerably. There's nothing like the calm AFTER the storm

In the mean time, we know some awesomely friendly folks at Rainbow Reef Dive Center. We'll just do what we do best...make a huge pot of Cajun chicken and sausage gumbo, potato salad, garlic french bread...and invite our dive buddies over for the feast

There's always a silver lining...

---------- Post added July 10th, 2013 at 03:42 PM ----------

Looks like they're out diving today:

https://www.facebook.com/Rainbow.Reef.Dive.Center

Hope Chantal doesn't have a big effect and the diving will be great next week!

 

[CT Sean]

NHC says Chantal degenerated into a tropical wave

And there was much rejoicing

 

[iluvtheocean]

yes it did but..........up to a 30% (from 20% this morning) chance of reforming into something

A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE ASSOCIATED WITH THE REMNANTS OF CHANTAL
EXTENDS NORTHEASTWARD FROM THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA ACROSS CENTRAL
CUBA AND INTO THE BAHAMAS. THIS SYSTEM IS ACCOMPANIED BY A LARGE
BUT DISORGANIZED AREA OF CLOUDINESS AND THUNDERSTORMS. UPPER-LEVEL
WINDS ARE FORECAST TO BECOME A LITTLE MORE FAVORABLE FOR
DEVELOPMENT DURING THE NEXT DAY OR TWO...WHEN THE DISTURBANCE MOVES
NORTHWARD ACROSS THE NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS AND THE ADJACENT
ATLANTIC. THIS SYSTEM HAS A MEDIUM CHANCE...30 PERCENT...OF
BECOMING A TROPICAL CYCLONE DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS. AN AIR FORCE
RECONNAISSANCE MISSION IS SCHEDULED TO INVESTIGATE THE DISTURBANCE
ON FRIDAY...IF NECESSARY.

 

[Capt Gary]

Too bad ya couldn't be here today.

Winds - S 5 knots
Vis - 80' +
Current - none
Seas - < 1'

Forecast is calling for S to SE winds 10 to 15 knts. Seas 1 to 2 foot through Sunday. So stay home if ya want!!! Me I'm out diving!!!

Good Diving,
Capt Gary

 

[conchrandy]

Haha, yeah 70+ on Molasses today. Take a nap, Chicken Little.