Islamorada dive conditions and Upper keys 9-03-12

[deeper thoughts]

Today the viz was 100 at the Duane, 100 at Eagle and 60 benwood and 50-60 at mo per the reports.

We stood inshore because of time constraints and went to Hens and Chickens. Very dark green water and at best 20 feet viz with plenty of particles.

A few pix while fooling around with the manual settings

 

[CajunDiva]

WOW! Great shots...that lobster shot is FABULOUS

 

[deeper thoughts]

Thank you, it looked like it had horns

 

[CajunDiva]

Thank you, it looked like it had horns

I noticed that! I've never seen a lobster with those...what are they

 

[deeper thoughts]

I noticed that! I've never seen a lobster with those...what are they

I dont know. Maybe somebody will look at this thread and tell us

 

[JimJam2]

Thanks for the condition update; I'll at KL in less than a week hoping that Leslie doesn't kick things up. Also wondering (as an experienced diver who hasn't dove in 21 months when I did the Blue Hole) if I should pass up a Duane dive in favor of a shallower get-acquainted dive to begin with. Any thoughts?

 

[deeper thoughts]

Thanks for the condition update; I'll at KL in less than a week hoping that Leslie doesn't kick things up. Also wondering (as an experienced diver who hasn't dove in 21 months when I did the Blue Hole) if I should pass up a Duane dive in favor of a shallower get-acquainted dive to begin with. Any thoughts?

As long as the current is manageable these wrecks are not that hard. That being said we generally do nothing but shallow reefs. Thats what we enjoy.

 

[CajunDiva]

Thanks for the condition update; I'll at KL in less than a week hoping that Leslie doesn't kick things up. Also wondering (as an experienced diver who hasn't dove in 21 months when I did the Blue Hole) if I should pass up a Duane dive in favor of a shallower get-acquainted dive to begin with. Any thoughts?

In MY OPINION ONLY (which is based on our recent experience) I would suggest that you save the Duane until after you have done a few dives. You could get lucky and have absolutely no current, but when the current is ripping (which it frequently is) things can get pretty challenging.

We dove her last month during a stiff current and I would say challenging is an understatement. I spent most of my time hanging on to the mooring line for dear life with my legs flailing behind me like a flag in a 30 mph wind That being said, in better conditions it would be an amazing dive, so I hope you get lucky!

 

[sportxlh]

Thanks for the condition update; I'll at KL in less than a week hoping that Leslie doesn't kick things up. Also wondering (as an experienced diver who hasn't dove in 21 months when I did the Blue Hole) if I should pass up a Duane dive in favor of a shallower get-acquainted dive to begin with. Any thoughts?

I dove the Duane earlier in the year and it was challenging but doable. Like CanjunDiva indicated, we were also like flapping flags on the way up and down and during the safety stop. However, right on top of the ship's deck (as measured in inches), the current was not too bad. The divers on our boat voted to cancel the second dive on the Duane and proceed to a shallower dive site because most of the moderately experienced divers did not enjoy the dive due to the brisk current. I would have gone for a second dip though, but was out-voted. In my opinion, the Speigle Grove and the Eagle are more interesting wrecks. Those can also have current, but I've been lucky enough to have dove both with almost no current.

Generally speaking, I think the idea of a shallow dive followed by deeper dives is a good one since you have not been in the water for a while. That's what I'd do at least, but only you can assess your comfort and skill level. I've never dove anything remotely like the blue hole either.

Deeper Thoughts: thanks for the dive report, I'll be diving with Conch on Saturday and Sunday (and maybe Friday) and it is nice to see that conditions are better in the upper Keys on the deep sites than up here in WPB and Jupiter where we still have a lot of fresh storm water making its way into the ocean.

 

[deeper thoughts]

I dove the Duane earlier in the year and it was challenging but doable. Like CanjunDiva indicated, we were also like flapping flags on the way up and down and during the safety stop. However, right on top of the ship's deck (as measured in inches), the current was not too bad. The divers on our boat voted to cancel the second dive on the Duane and proceed to a shallower dive site because most of the moderately experienced divers did not enjoy the dive due to the brisk current. I would have gone for a second dip though, but was out-voted. In my opinion, the Speigle Grove and the Eagle are more interesting wrecks. Those can also have current, but I've been lucky enough to have dove both with almost no current.

Generally speaking, I think the idea of a shallow dive followed by deeper dives is a good one since you have not been in the water for a while. That's what I'd do at least, but only you can assess your comfort and skill level. I've never dove anything remotely like the blue hole either.

Deeper Thoughts: thanks for the dive report, I'll be diving with Conch on Saturday and Sunday (and maybe Friday) and it is nice to see that conditions are better in the upper Keys on the deep sites than up here in WPB and Jupiter where we still have a lot of fresh storm water making its way into the ocean.

Looks like it is going to be great seas per the noaa forecast. We should be diving Friday