Couple of weekends ago, we went to Key Largo for our weekend getaway to get some dives in using Cristal Clear Charter - they are fantastic and very friendly! We decided to use Cristal Clear Charters since we had coupons from the FL dive show. We dove with them on 4 boat trips for a total of 8 dives.
March 2nd (Friday):
We have arranged to have an afternoon dive at Molasses Reef. Matthew and I have been to Molasses Reef in the past and we knew what it will be like. Matthew and I were planning to be together but due to captain's order, we have to dive with Jesus (divemaster) while other 2 newbies went alone. Matthew told Jesus that we wanted to just dive together, and that we dont need a guide and Jesus said it was no problem until the captain came and changed things. Matthew and I are pretty experienced divers and we were quite upset about that. Later in the day, we expressed our feelings to Jesus and he talked with the captain - the captain will not accept us to dive together on our own for no reason - we had no idea why the captain decided in that manner - was it because we're Deaf? It was beyond Jesus control but he was a fantastic divemaster and guide.
Anyways - now for the diving part: As we descended, we had to follow Jesus fast as he noticed something. It was a big hawksbill turtle and a reef shark! Matthew's and my first shark! We saw 1887 wrench covered with some growth. We saw several Green Moray Eels, 2 big turtles, and 1 shark. Nice and easy dive. An awesome part happened when Jesus petted a huge green moray eel - we didn't have the guts to pet one yet.
March 3rd (Saturday):
1st Morning dive at Benwood wreck, the ship was interesting to look around as I have never been to this site before. Several barracudas, several big size midnight parrotfish, and common marine life - nothing really big. Again, we were stuck with Jesus thanks to the captain.
2nd morning dive was near Benwood wreck, for those 2 people to catch some lobsters. Several nice ledges with legible lobsters. I have seen one ledge with 3 lobsters at once - good sizes! I've never been lobstering before so I watched them for a little bit - later this year, I will probably go lobstering since I will be moving to Florida this summer. Jesus also dove with us. This was our 100th dive!!!!
We had lunch at one of the restaurants near the boat, it was decent.
1st afternoon dive at French Reef was similar to Molasses Reef but we get to swim through the ledges - which was pretty cool. As usual, Jesus dove with us.
2nd afternoon dive near French Reef, again for lobstering... It also was fairly close to the Benwood but in a different location. The captain really knows where the lobsters are - if you need to catch lobsters - GO WITH THEM!. Jesus dove with us.
March 4th (Sunday):
Just 2 morning dives in Spiegel Grove and Christ in the Abyss.
1st dive @ Spiegel Grove: this time, a different divemaster (Justin) and a different captain (a very laidback and nice guy). Matthew, 2 divers and I dove with the DM as our guide to dive the Spiegel Grove. Unbelievable wreck!!! First thing I see before the wreck were two groupers that have to be at least 400lbs!!! We swam through the wreck hallways and briefly explored the wreck. Until around 20 minutes later, we had to ascent because of one of the divers has low in air and must ascent - so we followed them back to the boat. Prior to the boat, the 2 divers got on the boat, the rope got stuck under the boat's hook so I went under to get the rope out for the safety of mine and other divers - so we stayed on the rope to the boat. We loved this wreck, will go back again soon.
2nd dive @ Christ in the Abyss: very nice dive but very shallow. We dove exactly 1 hour on this site (we were briefed to dive only 1 hour) and we saw 1 barracuda, 1 Green Moray eel, and typical marine life such as parrotfish and bluehead fish. Finally, we dove on our own - because of a different captain.
THE VERDICT:
Would we dive with Cristal Clear Charters again?
ABSOLUTELY!!! As long as we're not stuck to a divemaster guide again only because of the authoritative captain - We'll have to clear this up with the office next time we dive with them again.
Do we recommend people to dive with Cristal Clear?
Absolutely!
The boat is in immedicable shape it looks like it practically is brand new. Very comfortable and roomy.
Matthew will post pictures whenever he can.
March 2nd (Friday):
We have arranged to have an afternoon dive at Molasses Reef. Matthew and I have been to Molasses Reef in the past and we knew what it will be like. Matthew and I were planning to be together but due to captain's order, we have to dive with Jesus (divemaster) while other 2 newbies went alone. Matthew told Jesus that we wanted to just dive together, and that we dont need a guide and Jesus said it was no problem until the captain came and changed things. Matthew and I are pretty experienced divers and we were quite upset about that. Later in the day, we expressed our feelings to Jesus and he talked with the captain - the captain will not accept us to dive together on our own for no reason - we had no idea why the captain decided in that manner - was it because we're Deaf? It was beyond Jesus control but he was a fantastic divemaster and guide.
Anyways - now for the diving part: As we descended, we had to follow Jesus fast as he noticed something. It was a big hawksbill turtle and a reef shark! Matthew's and my first shark! We saw 1887 wrench covered with some growth. We saw several Green Moray Eels, 2 big turtles, and 1 shark. Nice and easy dive. An awesome part happened when Jesus petted a huge green moray eel - we didn't have the guts to pet one yet.
March 3rd (Saturday):
1st Morning dive at Benwood wreck, the ship was interesting to look around as I have never been to this site before. Several barracudas, several big size midnight parrotfish, and common marine life - nothing really big. Again, we were stuck with Jesus thanks to the captain.
2nd morning dive was near Benwood wreck, for those 2 people to catch some lobsters. Several nice ledges with legible lobsters. I have seen one ledge with 3 lobsters at once - good sizes! I've never been lobstering before so I watched them for a little bit - later this year, I will probably go lobstering since I will be moving to Florida this summer. Jesus also dove with us. This was our 100th dive!!!!
We had lunch at one of the restaurants near the boat, it was decent.
1st afternoon dive at French Reef was similar to Molasses Reef but we get to swim through the ledges - which was pretty cool. As usual, Jesus dove with us.
2nd afternoon dive near French Reef, again for lobstering... It also was fairly close to the Benwood but in a different location. The captain really knows where the lobsters are - if you need to catch lobsters - GO WITH THEM!. Jesus dove with us.
March 4th (Sunday):
Just 2 morning dives in Spiegel Grove and Christ in the Abyss.
1st dive @ Spiegel Grove: this time, a different divemaster (Justin) and a different captain (a very laidback and nice guy). Matthew, 2 divers and I dove with the DM as our guide to dive the Spiegel Grove. Unbelievable wreck!!! First thing I see before the wreck were two groupers that have to be at least 400lbs!!! We swam through the wreck hallways and briefly explored the wreck. Until around 20 minutes later, we had to ascent because of one of the divers has low in air and must ascent - so we followed them back to the boat. Prior to the boat, the 2 divers got on the boat, the rope got stuck under the boat's hook so I went under to get the rope out for the safety of mine and other divers - so we stayed on the rope to the boat. We loved this wreck, will go back again soon.
2nd dive @ Christ in the Abyss: very nice dive but very shallow. We dove exactly 1 hour on this site (we were briefed to dive only 1 hour) and we saw 1 barracuda, 1 Green Moray eel, and typical marine life such as parrotfish and bluehead fish. Finally, we dove on our own - because of a different captain.
THE VERDICT:
Would we dive with Cristal Clear Charters again?
ABSOLUTELY!!! As long as we're not stuck to a divemaster guide again only because of the authoritative captain - We'll have to clear this up with the office next time we dive with them again.
Do we recommend people to dive with Cristal Clear?
Absolutely!
The boat is in immedicable shape it looks like it practically is brand new. Very comfortable and roomy.
Matthew will post pictures whenever he can.
