Spiegel Grove, Duane & Bibb

[tjmills]

It definetly was not the Benwood. I have also been there and that is not the wreck we were on that day. In fact I was just there a few weeks ago and you are right that it is a junk yard.

Most of this is from memory and due to some over indulgence in college it could be flawed. Although I did write this in my log book.

What I remember is large sheets of steel laying on their sides and broken over on each other. Some were flat and some were leaning up against each other. No real super structure to as it could have been a junkyard rather than a wreck. The Duane was intact. Spiegel was intact. Eagle was intact. Benwood was a junkyard. Bibb was a junkyard.

We should get Captain Gary on here to give us a better description.

 

[scubamickey]

It definetly was not the Benwood. I have also been there and that is not the wreck we were on that day. In fact I was just there a few weeks ago and you are right that it is a junk yard.

Most of this is from memory and due to some over indulgence in college it could be flawed.

What I remember is large sheets of steel laying on their sides and broken over on each other. Some were flat and some were leaning up against each other. No real super structure to as it could have been a junkyard rather than a wreck. The Duane was intact. Spiegel was intact. Eagle was intact. Benwood was a junk yard.

Do you remember if you saw the screws? Since it's laying on it's side you can see the screws.

Do these pictures look familiar? http://www.bluewaterdiver.net/bibb.htm

 

[tjmills]

Do you remember if you saw the screws? Since it's laying on it's side you can see the screws.

Do these pictures look familiar? http://www.bluewaterdiver.net/bibb.htm

Sorry, don't remember. I didn't go back to that site the other 2 times because it wasn't worth it when there were other sites that I felt were far superior. I won't rule out the possibility but considering who I was diving with at the time I felt it was fairly credible.

Again, if we can capture Capt Gary on here from Conch Republic he can likely clear this up.

 

[scubamickey]

I hope so because I was hoping to dive that site this June. I don't want to waste the money if there's nothing left. We can just stick to the Duane.

 

[tjmills]

I hope so because I was hoping to dive that site this June. I don't want to waste the money if there's nothing left. We can just stick to the Duane.

I can tell you that the Duane, Eagle and Spiegel Grove are all NOT to be missed and if you can do the Duane or the Eagle at night.....you will remember it forever.

 

[scubamickey]

I can tell you that the Duane, Eagle and Spiegel Grove are all NOT to be missed and if you can do the Duane or the Eagle at night.....you will remember it forever.

I would love to dive the Duane at night. For me it will depend on current, though. I have yet to do a night dive and although I'm planning a couple while I'm in Key Largo, I'm not sure that I'm ready for deep night dive with a strong current. I plan on doing about 10 daytime dives to warm up before heading to the Duane and the Spiegal Grove.
Thanks for the advice

 

[scubamickey]

I also wanted to mention that I just learned that It's A Dive does 2 dives at the Spiegal Grove in their 6-Pack. Advanced reservation is required, though.

 

[tjmills]

You might also try Conch Republic as they go to all of the wrecks and not just Spiegel Grove. Most of the Ops in Largo won't go to the other wrecks.

Capt Gary is a regular on here. PM him.

 

[scubamickey]

You might also try Conch Republic as they go to all of the wrecks and not just Spiegel Grove. Most of the Ops in Largo won't go to the other wrecks.

Capt Gary is a regular on here. PM him.

Thanks for that heads up. I went to the website and 2 things stood out. They do custom mixes of Nitrox, and they'll drift dive in strong currents.

 

[BILLB]

I want to mention a great dive shop in Tavenier. Diver City. They do all the wrecks and will do two dives on them too. You must be a known entity to the owner, Barbara, to do two dives. She also does the night dives on the Duane and Eagle.

Located at MM90 she is located not that far away for all the great wrecks in the Key Largo area. She also has steel tanks and any kind of gas you are qualified to use.

Diving in currents on the wrecks in Key Largo is a fact of life. To decend on the wreck, the boat does either a "hot drop" or ties up on the stern so you can easily grab the down line to the wreck. Then you do your dive. I have been lucky in that all the currents I have ever encountered generally take you from the stern to bow. You can then ascend and once on the surface, release your hold on the line (buoy) and drift free until the boat swings around and picks you up. Barb does this as well as anyone I have ever dove with. If the currents are really strong, a second dive will usually be a deep drift dive. No shallow reefs here!


Did I mention that Diver City service is also wonderful. Give them a try. You will not be disappointed.