upper keys dive report, deep molasses, 1/28/12

[reefman]

overcast skies and breezy conditions gave way to abundant sunshine and light N/NE winds by around 1100Z. double on the 2 northern deep buoys @ molasses. terrific conditions for late january; 1ft seas, zero current, dusty blue water, viz 50FT, water temp 73/74F @ 50-90FT, air 82F, 60+min dives. tim shooting macro(60mm), portraits. 3 turtles, lots of tropicals, small/medium size black groupers, mutton snappers,,,,,,,,,,,,,


reefman
key largo

 

[reefman]

and one more from today





reefman
key largo

 

[Garrobo]

Well, I guess I might as well head on down to Islamorada then if it's that good.

 

[sportxlh]

Reefman: beautiful photos!!!!! thanks for posting. we should have a 'name that fish' contest for some of the ultra closeups!!

 

[deeper thoughts]

Very nice as usual. Didnt dive this weekend, we spent the night in Key West for dinner and the arts/crafts show. Sounds like the diving conditions were good

 

[reefman]

Reefman: beautiful photos!!!!! thanks for posting. we should have a 'name that fish' contest for some of the ultra closeups!!

here you go, in order:


french angel, gray angel, black hamlet, black hamlet, graysby(orange elephant ear sponge), channel clinging crab(reef spider crab) inside giant barrel sponge, barred hamlet, spanish hogfish/bar jack, longsnout butterflyfish, red lionfish, blue hamlet, pygmy filefish(giant barrel sponge), green moray, stoplight parrotfish/ juvenile bluehead wrasse, grasby(giant barrel sponge) and queen angel,,,,,

all of tims photos shot in 50-90FT,,,,,,


reefman
key largo

 

[reefman]

Very nice as usual. Didnt dive this weekend, we spent the night in Key West for dinner and the arts/crafts show. Sounds like the diving conditions were good

it was nice yesterday. tim went out with OD this PM with a student, i elected to stay @ the dock(i was chilly with an old 5mm with a 3/5 hooded vest, over 2hours underwater and temp around 73F). winds are going to howl tonight thru wed. hopefully try again towards the end of the week with a new wetsuit, youre welcome to join us. i'll send you a PM when the forecast improves,,,,,




reefman
key largo

 

[timg]

Reefman: beautiful photos!!!!! thanks for posting. we should have a 'name that fish' contest for some of the ultra closeups!!

Thank you sportxlh and deeper thoughts. Reefman finds most of the stuff, I just hang out and shoot what he points at. Then he moves to the next part of the reef and finds something else and I catch up. Works great for both of us.

 

[DiveNC]

Good morning from NC,

I am new to the board and am not even sure how to use this yet. I have been diving for 25 years and have been many places in the Carribean, Belize, Honduras, Socorro (I think I took the first trip on the Solmar V years ago), Pacific Panama and Galapagos. I am a single woman and planning a trip to the Keys the end of next week for a few days of diving. Do you have any recommendations for affordable housing and diving? I do not have tanks. You guys seem to know what is going on down there, so hope you can help. Thanks so mu7ch,

 

[timg]

Good morning from NC,

I am new to the board and am not even sure how to use this yet. I have been diving for 25 years and have been many places in the Carribean, Belize, Honduras, Socorro (I think I took the first trip on the Solmar V years ago), Pacific Panama and Galapagos. I am a single woman and planning a trip to the Keys the end of next week for a few days of diving. Do you have any recommendations for affordable housing and diving? I do not have tanks. You guys seem to know what is going on down there, so hope you can help. Thanks so mu7ch,

Hi DiveNC, welcome to SB.

I don't know much about the housing end of the spectrum, so I can't speak to that.

Do you know where in the Keys you want to dive? There are lots of choices from Key Largo to Key West, so if you can narrow it down I am certain you will begin hearing from some of the dive operators.

Reefs, or wrecks, or both?

I live in Key Largo, so of course I am biased to my home waters.

I dive off a private boat most of the time (reefman), but I also work through Ocean Divers and Key Largo Dive Center to teach photography. My personal short list of operators I have been out with in addition to OD and KLDC, all of whom were fine, is Horizon Divers, Tropical Adventures, Conch Republic, Sea Dwellers and Keys Diver, in no particular order. KLDC is a six-pack if you like smaller boats. I know of others that run a tight ship, but have no personal experience on their boats, so I am not in a position to say.