upper keys dive report, molasses reef, MON, 5/13/13, pics,,,,

[reefman]

super conditions again returned offshore key largo: calm winds, flat seas and mostly sunny skies. double on shallow M25(logans run, eagle ray alley, winch hole, northstar)zero current, blue/green water, viz a variable 30-45FT(sponge spawn!!), water temp 79-80F @ 25-42FT. barrel sponges at it again! reef shark and abundant groupers, snappers, tropicals. pics from timg,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,




reefman
key largo

 

[reefman]

a few more,


reefman
key largo

 

[sportxlh]

reefman: so pic #14 in the original post and then the two photos in your second post are of sponges spawning. For some reason, I thought this was a night activity.....

Really enjoyed the shots: #2 looks like something out of National Geographic!

 

[reefman]

reefman: so pic #14 in the original post and then the two photos in your second post are of sponges spawning. For some reason, I thought this was a night activity.....

Really enjoyed the shots: #2 looks like something out of National Geographic!

pics M13 thru M17 are barrel sponges spawning today(those are all females). i'll let timg chime in on the details,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,


reefman
key largo

 

[timg]

reefman: so pic #14 in the original post and then the two photos in your second post are of sponges spawning. For some reason, I thought this was a night activity.....

Really enjoyed the shots: #2 looks like something out of National Geographic!

Thank you sportxlh. The sponge spawning made this a very special day. For this species, everytime we have seen it it has been during the day. Coral spawns at night, usually about 11PM in August.

 

[mntlblok]

pics M13 thru M17 are barrel sponges spawning today(those are all females). i'll let timg chime in on the details,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,


reefman
key largo

So, it wasn't just too much soap??

 

[DivemasterDennis]

Thanks for the pics. I just had to cancel a June trip to the upper Keys due to my current health issue. I enjoyed sharing your dive. I've been on the very site, and swear I have a picture of that same snook couple!
DivemasterDennis

 

[CajunDiva]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE picture #3 in the original post...great composition timg

 

[reefman]

Thanks for the pics. I just had to cancel a June trip to the upper Keys due to my current health issue. I enjoyed sharing your dive. I've been on the very site, and swear I have a picture of that same snook couple!
DivemasterDennis

first of all get yourself heathy and come on back! with 27+ mooring buoys, molasses reef tract never gets repetative. those animals are white margates(there were 3 of them, pics 7 and 10 same fish, different rock/coral formation), maximum size for that species, and they followed us for some time with the final shot near the pin on buoy M25,,,,,,,,,,


reefman
key largo

 

[timg]

Thanks for the pics. I just had to cancel a June trip to the upper Keys due to my current health issue. I enjoyed sharing your dive. I've been on the very site, and swear I have a picture of that same snook couple!
DivemasterDennis

Thank you. Get well and come jump in the water!

---------- Post added May 14th, 2013 at 05:10 PM ----------

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE picture #3 in the original post...great composition timg

Thank you CajunDiva. That chunk of elkhorn is sitting up pretty high off the reef, great little spot.