SPIEGEL GROVE, a few pics, saturday, 11/2/2013,,,,,,,,,,

[reefman]

warm sunshine, calm seas in the AM increasing to 1-2FT by afternoon offshore key largo saturday. 1ST dive: buoy SG5(starboard crane), light NE current, powdery/very dusty blue water, viz a ho hum 35-40FT @ best, water temp 82/83F @ 60-100FT. 2ND: repositioned to buoy SG4(portside crane), minimal current, viz again 35-40FT(that might be somewhat generous!), 82/83F @ 60-92FT. our timing was spot on for a weekend on the SG as the commercial operators(horizion divers, ss minnow and bluewater divers all double dipping) were on their surface interval for our first dive and gone by our second. ship to ourselves both dives! nice November day on the water althought the balance of the upcoming week looks ugly. pics from TIMG,,,,


reefman
key largo

 

[scubadada]

Beautiful pictures, as usual, particulary like the Rock Beauties, baby Trunkfish, and the Midnight Parrot. Thanks!

 

[timg]

Beautiful pictures, as usual, particulary like the Rock Beauties, baby Trunkfish, and the Midnight Parrot. Thanks!

Thank you scubadada. Seems as thought there is a family of rock beauties on the port side crane mount. Very nice area of the wreck, and a great place to finish the dive.

 

[sportxlh]

Nice: especially like the GG's and the picture of your buddy with the flag.

 

[timg]

Nice: especially like the GG's and the picture of your buddy with the flag.

Thank you sportxlh. That's reefman with the flag

 

[drrich2]

That is an interesting and creative composition on the flag shot, incorporating the diver. I also like the Goliath Grouper; neat fish.

Richard.

 

[timg]

That is an interesting and creative composition on the flag shot, incorporating the diver. I also like the Goliath Grouper; neat fish.

Richard.

Thank you Richard.

 

[Fundive123]

Very nice photos! Especially the flag and diver. Just out of curiosity is that a Oceanic Whitetip checking out your fin in you avatar pic?!

 

[reefman]

Very nice photos! Especially the flag and diver. Just out of curiosity is that a Oceanic Whitetip checking out your fin in you avatar pic?!

that was an oceanic whitetip @ elphinstone reef in the southern red sea. animal made 3 close passes while I was snorkeling above our remaining divers(I had already burned my cylinder and elected to snorkel above them, all photographers, as the shark approached). close enough that I felt compelled to push the shark away with my cressis(heel of right fin, touching shark) on all 3 flybys. happened a few days later @ daedalus island as well with a smaller but just as aggressive whitetip. I believe 3-4 months later a French woman also snorkeling lost her leg and subsequently died from a whitetip attack @ Daedalus and ive heard most liveaboards now prohibit snorkeling(southern red sea) in the presence of sharks. divemasters believe the large yellow cressi fins might have attracted the shark as well as the fact that I was the only one swimming on the surface. oceanic whitetips are fearless! BTW, timg took the SG photos(I'm the diver next to the flag),,,


reefman
key largo

 

[reefman]

Very nice photos! Especially the flag and diver. Just out of curiosity is that a Oceanic Whitetip checking out your fin in you avatar pic?!

way off topic, however, here's a few more from a different photographer, Fundive123,,,,,,,,,


reefman
key largo