The Sweet Life on Molasses Reef & Upper Keys

[deeper thoughts]

The wind finally quit for awhile. 1-3 foot swells. We went to Hens and Chickens no viz and secret gardens no viz.
Dove Davis reef 30feet viz. Fishing boat hooked right up to the ball and fishing in the SPA, FWC called and did respond

Saw 3 green morays a southern stingray,cero, amberjacks an unfortunately 3 Huge lionfish. They are now swimming freely on the reef.

One white fuzzy creature that I am not sure what she is.

 

[deeper thoughts]

WEDNESDAY
NORTHEAST TO EAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS EARLY...BECOMING
VARIABLE. SEAS AROUND 1 FOOT. NEARSHORE WATERS SMOOTH TO A LIGHT
CHOP. ISOLATED SHOWERS.

Should be great on the reef tommorrow!!

 

[reefman]

WEDNESDAY
NORTHEAST TO EAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS EARLY...BECOMING
VARIABLE. SEAS AROUND 1 FOOT. NEARSHORE WATERS SMOOTH TO A LIGHT
CHOP. ISOLATED SHOWERS.

Should be great on the reef tommorrow!!

tim and i are diving molasses tomorrow, where you headed?



reefman
key largo

 

[deeper thoughts]

tim and i are diving molasses tomorrow, where you headed?



reefman
key largo

Not sure either Mo,Alligator or Secret Garden. If Mo is great than I will take the ride there. Will you have your radio on 16 if so I will call if close?

 

[reefman]

finally a decent day on the water, double on deep molasses: seas 2 ft early/< 1FT on the ride in, blue water, viz 50-65FT, mdt but manageble current, water temp 75-76F @ 55-90FT, 65 min dives(love those 100HP steels). brought out the 5MM suit with hooded/vest. only 1 other non/commercial boat on MO; turtles, abundant tropicals, nice dives,,,,


photos from tim(photo #2 gives one a perspective of the steepness of the dropoff @ mo, about 45 FT of relief @ this spot, not the walls of the cayman islands but nice for the keys,

reefman
key largo

 

[mselenaous]

Hey reefman, thanks for posting. Once again, stunning photos TimG.

So after all these weekends with lousy seas, I finally got out yesterday afternoon to finish my long pending OW class for a local fella and we had a blast at Molasses. Dolphin mom & calf dancing in the wake followed by turtles, eels, lobster, nurse shark. It's a blast to watch students faces when they first see some of these critters for the first time.
Seas were still subsiding about 3ft, vis was about 40 ft, 77 deg, but some very weird currents sending us in one direction on the bottom and another on the top. Boats at the mooring balls were turned every which way with tag lines at angles (usually the current has most boats pointed in the same direction).
My question is what happened to the mooring ball on Spanish Anchor?

 

[mselenaous]

Since you posted that Lionfish photo:

PBS Special by REEF.org's Lad Adkins:
Video: Alien Invaders | Watch Changing Seas Online | WPBT2 Video

 

[deeper thoughts]

We went to Alligator yesterday in the afternoon. Seas less than a foot about 50/60 feet viz.
Tons of fish life but the fish acted as if my camera was a speargun. No pix worth posting, that being said nice hour and a half dive. Saw at least 20 groupers on the site and fat meaty cudas all over the place!

 

[reefman]

Hey reefman, thanks for posting. Once again, stunning photos TimG.

So after all these weekends with lousy seas, I finally got out yesterday afternoon to finish my long pending OW class for a local fella and we had a blast at Molasses. Dolphin mom & calf dancing in the wake followed by turtles, eels, lobster, nurse shark. It's a blast to watch students faces when they first see some of these critters for the first time.
Seas were still subsiding about 3ft, vis was about 40 ft, 77 deg, but some very weird currents sending us in one direction on the bottom and another on the top. Boats at the mooring balls were turned every which way with tag lines at angles (usually the current has most boats pointed in the same direction).
My question is what happened to the mooring ball on Spanish Anchor?

i suspect the mooring line was cut by a prop or possibly the ball broke free due to the constant 20-30+KT winds over the past 2 months. tim is going to email bob snyder, the mooring buoy specialist with FKNMS today and advise him that that ball is possibly missing. the sanctuary installed new buoys on deep molasses within the last few weeks,,,,,

reefman
key largo

 

[Reef_Haven]

Amazing the difference two days can make. We were in Key Largo Monday and tried to get out. Water inside the reef was pure milk and 7 - 9' seas turned the boat around halfway to the Spiegel.