Dive Trip Report to:
Purpose:
To Dive in Florida for Lobster
Dive #1:
Saturday, 03-Sept-2000, Late Morning Dive. My Dive #335
A. Dive Boat / Location:
Conch Republic
- Tavanier in the Keys
/ Davis Reef
B. Conditions:
Visibility:
It seemed like forever. Instructor Rick said it was 100 ft (the water wasn't
that deep). I say the vis was great!
Seas:
Flat to 6 inches
Water Temp:
85 deg
Skies:
Sunny, with some slight overcast to keep the sun from beating down on us!
Air Temp:
80 - 90's
C. Dive Information:
Depth & Time:
Me: Genesis Nitrox Dive Computer - 27 ft for 43 min
Air consumption:
Me: 300 lb to 1500 lb (80 cu ft)
Current:
None to slight
Description:
Well to keep it short (I'll add some more later] - the vis was great, the dive
was great. On first entry, we did see a
SHARK
!! Yea, it was only a 6 ft nurse
shark - but Snorkel Lady's big fear of the ocean was to see a shark! Their it
was 20 ft away While swimming around, we saw about a 5 ft wide spotted manta
ray, it was swimming arcoss our path. We tried to get closes, but could only
get up to about 30 ft away! There was a
big green moray
, some
barracuda
lots of other fish (including the normal thousands of grunts) and colors and a
trumpet fish.
The ledge was 1 - 2 feet.
Dive #2:
Saturday, 03-Sept-2000, Late Morning Dive. My Dive #336
A. Dive Boat / Location:
Conch Republic
- Tavanier in the Keys
/ Hens and Chickens
B. Conditions:
Visibility:
20 ft - poor vis, lot's of floating stuff
Seas:
Flat to 1 ft
Water Temp:
85 deg
Skies:
Same as above, some light cloud cover to keep the sun away
Air Temp:
80 - 90's
C. Dive Information:
Up Time (time between dives):
0:44
Depth & Time:
Me: Genesis Nitrox Dive Computer - 20 ft for 43 min
Air consumption:
Me: Not Recorded (80 cu ft)
Current:
Slight to Moderate
Description:
Well, H&C is a very large reef composed of
large Brain Coral
. My last dive on
this reef was the same - poor vis,
coral is all dead
. Years ago, on a previous
dive, this reef was alive with the yellow / orange brain coral. Now, these 20
- 50 ft round coral heads are all dead and covered with algae growth. The vis
is also poor due to suspended matter. This reef is a navigation nightmare -
no straight lines to follow!
We did find the remains of a metal ship (Metal rather then wood shows age was
after 1900's). Three was some keel pieces, ribs and other parts. We
understand this is called the Poultry Ship as it was carrying Poltery! While
we were examining this ship's remains, a twin screw boat passed directly
overhead at a high rate of speed. We were at a depth of 15 - 20 ft! Ya gotta
keep an ear out for boat motors!!