Catito
Contributor
Got up at 4:15 am for a 5:15am drive to Key Largo. Arrived to the dive shop, Rainbow Reef, before they opened
Had booked two dives on their small boat— but it was out of commission. Still, they put 10 of us (only) on one of their boats that usually carries 36 (thank you RR).
Drift dive on Molasses Key. The viz was great (60ft), water temperature 80ft, slight current. Waves less than 1 ft. Animal life was…okay. One Hawksbill Turtle, a nurse shark, a reef shark, juvenile reef fish. Nothing too exciting but it was great to be in water with good viz.
Second morning dive: Permit ledge. The great State of Florida should rope this one off and start planting coral. Dead, dead, dead. Juvenile fish. Restoration is badly needed. Avoid this site if you can.
Afternoon dives:
Christ statute. I dislike going there because of how crowded it gets. However, RR was only sending pm boats there (two). We jumped in and skipped “Fire Coral Jesus”. Instead, we explored (alone) the nearby coral walls with beautiful fans. It was our favorite dive of the day. Saw a reef shark being pushed around (hard) by three huge jacks (what?). I do not know if the shark had eaten one of their buddies or if they wanted the shark out of their feeding territory. Saw a massive Southern Ray, big midnight and blue parrot fish, massive barracudas, and regular (common) reef fish . Did find three Lettuce Sea Slugs.
Last dive: Minnows Hole/North Ledge. Interesting. Reef restoration in the works, there, with Staghorn and Elk Coral. Okay fish life. One Hawksbill, big Parrot Fish, big yellow tail.
The afternoon boat felt packed (31 divers). We avoided the group and had a nice relaxing time.
Had booked two dives on their small boat— but it was out of commission. Still, they put 10 of us (only) on one of their boats that usually carries 36 (thank you RR).
Drift dive on Molasses Key. The viz was great (60ft), water temperature 80ft, slight current. Waves less than 1 ft. Animal life was…okay. One Hawksbill Turtle, a nurse shark, a reef shark, juvenile reef fish. Nothing too exciting but it was great to be in water with good viz.
Second morning dive: Permit ledge. The great State of Florida should rope this one off and start planting coral. Dead, dead, dead. Juvenile fish. Restoration is badly needed. Avoid this site if you can.
Afternoon dives:
Christ statute. I dislike going there because of how crowded it gets. However, RR was only sending pm boats there (two). We jumped in and skipped “Fire Coral Jesus”. Instead, we explored (alone) the nearby coral walls with beautiful fans. It was our favorite dive of the day. Saw a reef shark being pushed around (hard) by three huge jacks (what?). I do not know if the shark had eaten one of their buddies or if they wanted the shark out of their feeding territory. Saw a massive Southern Ray, big midnight and blue parrot fish, massive barracudas, and regular (common) reef fish . Did find three Lettuce Sea Slugs.
Last dive: Minnows Hole/North Ledge. Interesting. Reef restoration in the works, there, with Staghorn and Elk Coral. Okay fish life. One Hawksbill, big Parrot Fish, big yellow tail.
The afternoon boat felt packed (31 divers). We avoided the group and had a nice relaxing time.
