Hens and Chickens 10-23-13 some pix

[deeper thoughts]

Finally able to enjoy these great seas. Viz was 40/45 feet but plenty of backscatter
dive op in Key Largo called in 100 feet at Molasses today. No current and flat calm, nice soaking rain when we were heading home
Plenty of big moon jellies during the dive

 

[Scubagirlfl]

Beautiful dive pics from H&C, one of my fave dive sitesk:

 

[drrich2]

Good to see your shots; got me thinking about what I saw there. From my dive trip to Key Largo in late September, I kept comparing to what I'd seen in Bonaire before. Similarities and differences.

1.) You've got Sand Diver, a.k.a. 'Lizardfish' shots. I saw a couple in Key Largo over 20 dives, but nowhere near as many as in Bonaire.

2.) I saw hogfish in Key Largo, and a few Spanish hogfish. Only Spanish hogfish in Bonaire.

3.) I saw porkfish in Key Largo; never in Bonaire.

4.) I think I saw grey angelfish in Key Largo; never in Bonaire.

5.) I saw black grouper & a Nassau grouper (& goliaths on wreck dives) in Key Largo; only tiger grouper in Bonaire.

6.) I saw the spadefish like you photographed in Key Largo; can't recall offhand seeing them in Bonaire.

I never got to dive Hens and Chickens! Sounds like a good reef.

Richard.

 

[deeper thoughts]

Good to see your shots; got me thinking about what I saw there. From my dive trip to Key Largo in late September, I kept comparing to what I'd seen in Bonaire before. Similarities and differences.

1.) You've got Sand Diver, a.k.a. 'Lizardfish' shots. I saw a couple in Key Largo over 20 dives, but nowhere near as many as in Bonaire.

2.) I saw hogfish in Key Largo, and a few Spanish hogfish. Only Spanish hogfish in Bonaire.

3.) I saw porkfish in Key Largo; never in Bonaire.

4.) I think I saw grey angelfish in Key Largo; never in Bonaire.

5.) I saw black grouper & a Nassau grouper (& goliaths on wreck dives) in Key Largo; only tiger grouper in Bonaire.

6.) I saw the spadefish like you photographed in Key Largo; can't recall offhand seeing them in Bonaire.

I never got to dive Hens and Chickens! Sounds like a good reef.

Richard.

Viz is always iffy but the fish life can be fantastic. I have seen dolphins, tarpons and sailfish all in less then 25 feet of water

 

[CajunDiva]

Good to see your shots; got me thinking about what I saw there. From my dive trip to Key Largo in late September, I kept comparing to what I'd seen in Bonaire before. Similarities and differences.

1.) You've got Sand Diver, a.k.a. 'Lizardfish' shots. I saw a couple in Key Largo over 20 dives, but nowhere near as many as in Bonaire.

2.) I saw hogfish in Key Largo, and a few Spanish hogfish. Only Spanish hogfish in Bonaire.

3.) I saw porkfish in Key Largo; never in Bonaire.

4.) I think I saw grey angelfish in Key Largo; never in Bonaire.

5.) I saw black grouper & a Nassau grouper (& goliaths on wreck dives) in Key Largo; only tiger grouper in Bonaire.

6.) I saw the spadefish like you photographed in Key Largo; can't recall offhand seeing them in Bonaire.

I never got to dive Hens and Chickens! Sounds like a good reef.

Richard.

Richard, I often say that it's easy to take Key Largo for granted. Even after traveling to some exotic dive locations, I can come back to Key Largo and spot something that I have never/rarely seen. We are truly blessed to have the Keys in our own backyard

 

[Scubagirlfl]

We are truly blessed to have the Keys in our own backyard

Couldn't agree more:thumbs-up

 

[drrich2]

I see what you mean. I've dove well over 100 times in Bonaire, 2 tanks in Cozumel, 2 in Puerto Rico, 2 in Costa Maya, 2 in Grand Cayman and 4 in St. Thomas...160 something dives total.

Never saw a shark.

Did 1 dive trip, 20 dives, Key Largo, saw a few reef sharks and a few nurse sharks. All that running around, hoping to see a shark, and didn't till I dove back home in the U.S. And the Goliath Groupers on the wrecks, of course; those guys are impressive.

Plus about the lowest average cost/tank of any boat trips I've done, and way cheaper than my Bonaire trips would be with family (wife, baby, mother-in-law) along.

If anybody is like I was, a Caribbean lover thinking about maybe trying the Keys, head on down. It's good diving.

Richard.

 

[deeper thoughts]

I see what you mean. I've dove well over 100 times in Bonaire, 2 tanks in Cozumel, 2 in Puerto Rico, 2 in Costa Maya, 2 in Grand Cayman and 4 in St. Thomas...160 something dives total.

Never saw a shark.

Did 1 dive trip, 20 dives, Key Largo, saw a few reef sharks and a few nurse sharks. All that running around, hoping to see a shark, and didn't till I dove back home in the U.S. And the Goliath Groupers on the wrecks, of course; those guys are impressive.

Plus about the lowest average cost/tank of any boat trips I've done, and way cheaper than my Bonaire trips would be with family (wife, baby, mother-in-law) along.

If anybody is like I was, a Caribbean lover thinking about maybe trying the Keys, head on down. It's good diving.

Richard.

I remember we went to the Caymans and dove the north wall all week.
Loved the dives and the walls but they were excited to see 1 or 2 eagle rays during the week.
A couple of months ago I saw 18 together at a reef called rocky top in Islamorada