Key Largo report

[lmorin]

Had a very nice three days of diving recently with Horizon Divers in Key Largo. Conditions were a bit on the rough side with a fair amount of sediment churned up in the water. Some spots were much better than others within the same reef. Conditions limited the boat to giving us 6 dives on Molasses Reef.

Stayed at Bay Harbor Lodge (mm97.7) which is a somewhat quaint, but clean and nicely tended and quite inexpensive place. Each room has a microwave and refridgerator. Recommended, if you do not need upscale accommodations.

Here are two pictures. The first is a group of 5 spotted eagle rays that were trailing another 2. Seen at, of all places, the dive called "Eagle Ray Alley" on Molasses Reef.

The second is of a Blue Angelfish, the first of this species we have seen.

Photos taken with a Canon a570is camera using the CHDK software; jpgs created from CRW files converted to DNGs, then edited slightly in Picasa and saved as jpgs.

 

[deeper thoughts]

Nice to see the Eagle rays

 

[johnny_bravo]

Good shot of the E.Gs - love those critters!

Cheers.

-J.-

 

[wadivediva]

What is the vis? How are conditions for diving the Duane or Bibb? We are leaving cold Washington for a week of diving in Key Largo. Weather report says scattered thundershowers. Any info is helpful
Thanks

 

[deepstops]

What is the vis? How are conditions for diving the Duane or Bibb? We are leaving cold Washington for a week of diving in Key Largo. Weather report says scattered thundershowers. Any info is helpful
Thanks

Please take no offense but it's mostly useless to post today's viz and conditons because tomorrow won't be the same 98% of the time.

 

[suzette]

Fantastic pictures! I had a wonderful ray encounter today on Molasses reef as well. Oddly, I've been at Eagle Ray Alley probably 4 times and never saw an eagle ray there!

deepstops is right, vis varies dive to dive in the same day, sometimes. Generally speaking, the vis has been fantastic lately, though- no storms coming through and stirring things up.

The weather says scattered thundershowers from about May through October, so that's no indication of weather either. You just have to get up in the morning and see how things are!

 

[The Surly Mermaid]

Great shots !! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Going The Distance]

Please take no offense but it's mostly useless to post today's viz and conditons because tomorrow won't be the same 98% of the time.

He isnt kidding, If you plan a trip have an alternate plan. It can be dead calm, 70ft vis, and almost no current. And a few hrs 20knts west, current east, and it becomes a washing machine.

 

[Bratface]

Wonderful picture, but it is a Townsend Angelfish. They are identified by the yellow on the tail and fins where the Blue does not have the yellow markings. Some even have a crown similar to the Queen Angel. The body shape is almost idential to the Blue. The fish is a result of interbreeding between the Queen and Blue Angelfish. I have seen several Townsends in Key West. Check the book "Reef Fish Identification" by Paul Humann and Ned Deloach for pictures and description of this species.

 

[Diver Kat]

Great pix of the eagle rays!! We should be landing in Kew West about this time next week, then heading to Key Largo! Can't wait to get wet and hopefully see a bunch of rays fly by!!