Keys Diving Conditions

[KeyLargoBrent]

After being blown-out most of last week, this week's diving has been phenomenal! Yesterday, I had a rare day off, and a fortunate opportunity to join HarleyDiver, Mrs. HarleyDiver, HarleyDiver's sister and her S.O. on the "Thunderbolt Wreck" off of Marathon. Conditions were excellent, with no wind, no seas, minimal current, and forty plus feet of viz!

Anyone wanting to see Goliath Grouper should visit this wreck. I spotted no less than six on a single dive, including at least two weighing in at several hundred pounds apiece! It's great to see this species of concern making a comeback.

Anyone wanting to experience Keys diving at its springtime best should pack up the car and head this way, as the wind is on hold through this weekend (at least)!

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

Anyone wanting to experience Keys diving at its springtime best should pack up the car and head this way, as the wind is on hold through this weekend.

We had about 100 feet of visibility at Looe Key and at the wreck of the Adolphus Busch over the past several days.

Water temp at 77° F

 

[KeyLargoBrent]

We had about 100 feet of visibility at Looe Key and at the wreck of the Adolphus Busch over the past several days.

Water temp at 77° F

These are the days we live for! We took advantage of the calm seas and took a fifteen mile boatride to dive "The Eagle" wreck yesterday afternoon. We had no current, and sixty-plus feet of viz... ya gotta love it!

 

[KeyLargoBrent]

The wind kicked-up a little yesterday afternoon. Seas were 2-3 feet and on the sloppy side. Below the surface, however, conditions were near-perfect... practically zero current, and eighty plus feet of viz. At the Duane, these conditions are rare indeed!

I've dived the Duane regularly since 1996, and never done more than a "fly-by" on the crow's nest. Yesterday, we were able to check it out during a liesurely 60' deep stop. There's a whole little community up there, with a penthouse view of one of the finest artificial reefs in the Keys. It looks as tho, at one time, there was a mooring line attached to the top of the conning tower... wouldn't want to descend there on an average day!

 

[HarleyDiver]

Thanks Brent we had a week of great diving.
Two new Wrecks - Thunderbolt & Eagle.
Plus two of my favorites, the Duanne & The Grove.
Not to mention the shallow/older ones the Benwwod, the City of Washington & Mikes wreck out at the elbow.

During our time there the wind started from the NE & shifted to the Ease, then South, then West, then North and was back to the NE when we left. Guess we dove in ever wind configuration possible. Just hope it lightens up before we get back.

Maybe next time we can go visit Capt Jim Wyatt & do Looe Key and at the wreck of the Adolphus Busch.
I haven't been to Looe Key since 1978.


See ya soon.

 

[gj62]

Dove the Thunderbolt on Tuesday - agree it was a great dive. Saw the large Jewfish (same as Goliath Grouper - or do I have the name wrong?) just hanging out on the sand - able to get fairly close too. One had his head just outside a hatch - pretty cool...