Keys GPS Coordinates?

[KWBuddy]

Does anyone have a list of GPS coordinates
for the Florida Keys?

I'm currently working on a comprehensive list
of dive sites. So far, I have hand entered
data from the Florida Keys National Marine
Sanctuary and a few other sources. These
are dive sites that are already public
information, but I'm also looking for other
published information or coordinates for
public sites.

When I complete the list, I'd like to publish
it in some useful format. My GPS loader
program creates files in various formats.
Is there a preferred format for publishing
GPS Data?

Any help or giudance would be greatly
appreciated.

--

Bud

 

[MarineVet32935]

I don't think you'll find any dive sites in the Keys that aren't known about. There are a few great sites, that locals keep to themselves, so they don't end up like the others. Overdived and destroyed. I know of a lot of reefs that the cattle boats don't go to, but I don't think I'll be telling anyone, sorry.

 

[wreckchick]

Yeah, I'm with Wayne on this one. You should probably punch in Looe Key and the Adolphus Busch near me, but the secret spots are just that. If you publish them then anyone can find them

Rachel

 

[KWBuddy]

Sorry about the delay in my response. My access to
the internet has been nonexistant in the last few
days.

I'm currently working on a comprehensive list
of dive sites. So far, I have hand entered
data from the Florida Keys National Marine
Sanctuary and a few other sources. These
are dive sites that are already public
information, but I'm also looking for other
published information or coordinates for
public sites.

I don't think you'll find any dive sites in the
Keys that aren't known about. There are a few
great sites, that locals keep to themselves, so
they don't end up like the others. Overdived and
destroyed. I know of a lot of reefs that the cattle
boats don't go to, but I don't think I'll be telling
anyone, sorry.

That's why I specifically asked for "coordinates for public
sites." I’m not into publishing information on private sites.

Yeah, I'm with Wayne on this one. You should
probably punch in Looe Key and the Adolphus
Busch near me, but the secret spots are just
that. If you publish them then anyone can find
them

It seems to me that if I had a dive shop that I'd
want its location in the Keys Dive Database. That
way the shop is much easier to find. I’d also want
to publish the locations of the local boat ramps so
that divers with their own boats have easy access
to the water. Heck, I’d also want the location if
some of the area public dive sites such as Newfound
Harbor Patch Reefs, American Shoal, the wreck of
the H.M.S. Looe and the Wilkes-Barre as well as
the artificial reef sites in the area. Note that
none of the above sites are private sites since
all of the GPS coordinates are published by
government agencies.

That way when someone plans a trip to the Keys in
their own boat, they will be more likely to stop
at my shop for gear and fills. They will explore
sites in the area and return to my shop for more
air and gear. But that's just me, I suppose.

Anyhow, there doesn't seem to be a lot of interest
in the database. Note that the only responses were
along the lines of "you’re not getting my
information." Not that I asked for any private
sites. "Forget the facts, I'm defending my turf
here." Nobody has suggested any data transfer
formats, for instance. I wonder whether it's
because few people use a computer to upload and
download data to their GPS units.


--

Bud

 

[Vtdiver2]

Try http://www.flkeysdiving.com/ and check the dive sites. It has GPS coordinates.
C-Dawg

 

[archman]

There's so much diving and boating intensity in the Florida Keys, locals are far more inclined to keep sites mysterious than known to the public. Greater dissemination of additional publicly-accessible sites would also not be viewed well by Sanctuary staff and the locals, as those areas wouldn't have mooring balls. One of the primary functions of the NMS is actually to funnel divers into areas where it's harder to do boat and diver-related damage to the environment.

Many of the best dive sites now in the Keys are only "best" due to hardly anybody knowing about them. They're good because they're pristine.

Regarding GPS coordinates, I hardly know anyone that takes their computer along on boating or diving trips. If a GPS is programmed, it's done before the trip. Divers with their own boats routinely purchase nautical charts beforehand. There's some nice ones for the Keys that show where all the NMS dive spots are, as well as important wrecks. These can also be located online without too much trouble.

Most recreational GPS users use the proprietary software from the manufacturer. I, for instance, use file types compatible with Garmin units. These are funky file types (gdb, wpt, grm, etc.). Even using GIS software, file formats are tricky.

When I store coordinate information, I do it in an excel file. From there I can convert it into more specific file types... but none of these I believe are compatible with my Garmin GPS mkV. My advice would be not even bothering with dissemination as a data file, but printing out hardcopies.

 

[aue-mike]

For wrecks in the Keys, get this:
http://uwex.us/shipwreckbook.htm

 

[WetDawg]

Excellent site:

http://www.divespots.com/scuba/site-florida-keys/area.info

 

[Bob3]

REEFBALL had a list of a lot of the areas their fine products were being placed.
http://www.reefball.com/arsites.htm
also see their old list: http://www.artificialreefs.org/ARsites/arsitesold.htm
I have some other GPS numbers for the Keys, but it'd take an awful big bribe to get me to talk.

 

[KWBuddy]

I'd like to thank everyone for the fine suggestions. I'm looking for the Wreck Book now (I'm assuming that it will be available in dive shops) and I'll definitely dive some of those wrecks when the water gets warmer and the boat is back in the water.

Offlist I made a *great* score. Someone from NOAA gave me a copy of their anomaly database. It has several hundred wrecks, obstructions, coral heads and the like. Here is a sample, "UNCHARTED WRECK LOCATED BY SIDE SCAN SONAR. DIVERS DESCRIBE A 'DILAPIDATED WRECK' WHOSE REMAINS CONSISTED OF A MAST, SCATTERED TANKS, PROPELLOR, SHAFT, AND A DECK WINCH."

Here is the my dilemma. Most of these would probably be those "private little spots" that nobody wants to share with the general public. For instance, this wreck is just charted as a lump on the bottom rather than an obstruction or a wreck. Does anyone have any input as to how to handle the potential dive spots in this database?

Input would be greatly appreciated.

--

Bud