RickI
Contributor
We decided to pack up the family and spend a couple of days in Islamorada diving and roaming around on the water. We were planning on boating on Saturday and kayaking on Sunday. I got in touch with long time friend Brad Lange of Islamorada Watersports and Sevensports about renting a boat. We hit the Eagle, Alligator Reef Lighthouse, Conch Reef, Hen and Chickens Reef, Indian Key, shooting a lot of images along the way.
Whale Harbor home of the Islamorada Watersports Company in Islamorada, FL.
Brad set us up with a great 21 ft. Carolina skiff (above) rated for up to 16 passengers. I figured with three of us including an active 2 year old baby girl (BG) and my eight month pregnant wife we should be well set up. Brad has a nice selection of open fishermen, pontoon boats, a ton of wave runners as well in rental from several locations on the island. You can find out more on his website but he offers water fun out the wazoo via:
Boat Rentals and Charters
Private Fishing Charters on the Genesis
Snorkling, Waverunners Rentals / Tours
Kiteboarding Lessons and Camps
Wakeboarding Lessons and Camps
StandUp Paddleboarding Rentals / Tours
Kayak Rentals and Tours
Brad Lange and crew by our able vessel
Whale Harbor the location of Islamorada Watersports Company and kite beach in Islamorada at Mile Marker 84 just over the bridge.
More rental vessels by the fuel dock. Brad can have boats delivered to local docks upon request. He has operations throughout the island.
...
For the first stop of the day I decided to go free diving on the Eagle, an artificial reef sunk in 110 ft. of water to the south.
It was easy to get around and find far flung spots from long and lat coordinates using my iPhone and a great ap, Navionics. It allows easy navigation and consumes little power too. It is a good idea to keep a weather eye out for shallows and carry a paper chart too. So many vessels have struck in these waters after all, from small craft to large ships going back centuries.
I was scooter free diving on the wreck. Unfortunately visibility was pretty low at around 30 to 40 ft.. It is a lot easier to drop on these things when you can see them from the surface. Helps the quality of the photography too, still you take what you can get. The SCUBA diving is great on all these sites as well, no need to free dive them if you are so inclined. Don't attempt scooter free diving without proper free diving training, skill development and procedures.
Passing through the break in the hull caused by a hurricane as shown in the figure above. There was a nice sized goliath grouper hanging around in the gap. The vessel although sunk as an artificial reef, ended up on its side.
The Eagle was originally known as the "Raila Dan" and several other names over the years. She is shown here years back in slightly cooler waters than the Keys.
Having a look inside one of the holds forward of the forward of the forecastle.
Moving further in, I see what looks like a blast hole through the hull large enough for me to fit through. So I head for it through a school of fish.
(snip)
...
Now we run south to anchor off the Alligator Reef Lighthouse. The lighthouse has marked shallows for the Florida Reef Tract four miles offshore to shipping since 1873. The light is 136 ft. high in sand covered rocky shallows.
A shot from the kite at last year's Pryde Group Americas dealer meeting in Islamorada. More from that excellent event at: First look at Cabrinha 2012 Gear - Islamorada, FL - FKA Kiteboarding Forums
It contains an accommodation section for the lighthouse crew prior to 1963 when the light was automated. Who is up for weathering a Cat 5 hurricane in white iron sardine box of this baby?
Anchoring up near the lighthouse, momma and baby go into to cool off.
Continued at:
Islamorada Adventure! - FKA Kiteboarding Forums
.
Whale Harbor home of the Islamorada Watersports Company in Islamorada, FL.
Brad set us up with a great 21 ft. Carolina skiff (above) rated for up to 16 passengers. I figured with three of us including an active 2 year old baby girl (BG) and my eight month pregnant wife we should be well set up. Brad has a nice selection of open fishermen, pontoon boats, a ton of wave runners as well in rental from several locations on the island. You can find out more on his website but he offers water fun out the wazoo via:
Boat Rentals and Charters
Private Fishing Charters on the Genesis
Snorkling, Waverunners Rentals / Tours
Kiteboarding Lessons and Camps
Wakeboarding Lessons and Camps
StandUp Paddleboarding Rentals / Tours
Kayak Rentals and Tours
Brad Lange and crew by our able vessel
Whale Harbor the location of Islamorada Watersports Company and kite beach in Islamorada at Mile Marker 84 just over the bridge.
More rental vessels by the fuel dock. Brad can have boats delivered to local docks upon request. He has operations throughout the island.
...
For the first stop of the day I decided to go free diving on the Eagle, an artificial reef sunk in 110 ft. of water to the south.
It was easy to get around and find far flung spots from long and lat coordinates using my iPhone and a great ap, Navionics. It allows easy navigation and consumes little power too. It is a good idea to keep a weather eye out for shallows and carry a paper chart too. So many vessels have struck in these waters after all, from small craft to large ships going back centuries.
I was scooter free diving on the wreck. Unfortunately visibility was pretty low at around 30 to 40 ft.. It is a lot easier to drop on these things when you can see them from the surface. Helps the quality of the photography too, still you take what you can get. The SCUBA diving is great on all these sites as well, no need to free dive them if you are so inclined. Don't attempt scooter free diving without proper free diving training, skill development and procedures.
Passing through the break in the hull caused by a hurricane as shown in the figure above. There was a nice sized goliath grouper hanging around in the gap. The vessel although sunk as an artificial reef, ended up on its side.
The Eagle was originally known as the "Raila Dan" and several other names over the years. She is shown here years back in slightly cooler waters than the Keys.
Having a look inside one of the holds forward of the forward of the forecastle.
Moving further in, I see what looks like a blast hole through the hull large enough for me to fit through. So I head for it through a school of fish.
(snip)
...
Now we run south to anchor off the Alligator Reef Lighthouse. The lighthouse has marked shallows for the Florida Reef Tract four miles offshore to shipping since 1873. The light is 136 ft. high in sand covered rocky shallows.
A shot from the kite at last year's Pryde Group Americas dealer meeting in Islamorada. More from that excellent event at: First look at Cabrinha 2012 Gear - Islamorada, FL - FKA Kiteboarding Forums
It contains an accommodation section for the lighthouse crew prior to 1963 when the light was automated. Who is up for weathering a Cat 5 hurricane in white iron sardine box of this baby?
Anchoring up near the lighthouse, momma and baby go into to cool off.
Continued at:
Islamorada Adventure! - FKA Kiteboarding Forums
.