Key Largo - Trip Report 10/24 - 10/31

[IndyDiver]

My son and I just got back from Key Largo last weekend after a great week of diving, and hanging out in the sun and warm air. The weather was perfect. It was in the mid to upper 80's all week, and it only rained once, for about 15 minutes, during the whole trip. The water temp was in the 81-83 degree range on all the dive sites we went to, and wind was 5-10 mph for most of the days.

We got into Largo late Saturday afternoon, so all we had time for was to stock up on supplies for the week at the Publix Supermarket and then go out to dinner.

Sunday - After breakfast, we went over to Pennecamp and just hung out on the beach for a couple of hours. It had been cloudy/rainy and in the low 50's the week before we went down, so just enjoying the sun and warmth was a great start to the vacation. In the afternoon we dove French and Molasses reefs. Even though the viz was not the best I have seen, it was still about 70'. The sea conditions at both sites were excellent with 1 foot seas and zero current. Molasses had its usual abundance of sea life, and a lot of jellies as well. In fact, there were jellies at the deep sites we went to as well, so a full 3mm or rash guard is definitely in order right now.

Monday - This was the first day of a Deep specialty class with Scuba-Do dive center, and we did a double dip on the Speigel Grove. This is the first time I have done the Grove; and I must say, it is a very impressive ship. Great dives, saw some really big barracuda and an octopus; zero current, but the viz was only about 40'. I was also very impressed with the Scuba-do operation. The captain, Jared, was a fun guy and a very competent boat jockey. Our instructor, Jason, did a great job and I was very pleased with the class. Since we only had two other divers on the boat, Jason also served as divemaster and gave the briefings.

Tuesday - The water was pretty rough, with 6-7 foot swells and a pretty good wind. Several ops cancelled their dives for the day, but we decided to make a try at the Duane, anyway. It was just the instructor, myself, my son, and two wreck divers from New Jersey on the boat. When we got there the current was ripping pretty good, so we hot dropped about 25 feet up-current of the buoy, grabbed the downline as we swept past, and went down looking like pennants on the line. The current was still pretty strong on the bottom; we had to hug the deck to keep from getting blown off the wreck. The current was running down the length of the ship, so there was no real lee side to go to and it turned into a short dive with only about 15 minutes on the Duane. We decided to bag the second dive on the Duane, and went over to Molasses and did a drift dive on the deep side. This worked out great because the current was running directly along the ridge line of the dropoff, so we did a nice 55 minute dive along the reef with no effort at all.

Wednesday - Back to the Grove to finish the Deep class, since the Tuesday dives really didn't count. Pretty much a replay of Monday with a little better viz, maybe 50', and very little current. Saw a few big pelagics and a 5' barracuda, and did a swim thru of the windless room on the second dive.

Thursday - Dove the Eagle with Conch Rebublic. The Eagle is one of my favorite dives. Something about how the wreck lies, with all the blast holes showing and the break in the middle, just makes it look like a shipwreck should look. There was a great variety of life on the wreck. Saw a couple of goliath groupers, some barracuda, and a couple of nurse sharks. We did Davy Crocker as our second dive on the way back. Generally, I think that is a great reef; but this trip it did not have nearly the number of creatures as Molasses did. Conch Rebublic runs a nice operation; not as friendly and personal as Scuba-Do, but very organized and professional.

Friday - Didn't do any dives - went parasailing with Key Largo Parasail. Great off season deals there. Tandem flights are $39 per person with web coupon for a flight with 15 minutes of air time. Spent the afternoon doing a little snorkeling and hanging out on the beach.

Great trip and a great time to go to Largo. The water is still very warm and there is no one on the boats. We had a 12 person boat to ourselves, a 10 person boat with 4 divers, and a 30 person boat with 10 divers, on the various trips during our stay.

[comet24]

Sounds like a great trip. I really need to get back down to the Keys again. I really like Conch Republic and done a few of the wrecks with Capt. Gary.

I've never dived the Daune or her sister ship the Bibb without a good current. The Spiegel is cerainly a sight the first time you see her, especially when the vis is good and you can see the whole ship as you descend.

[Splitlip]

Great report.
Thanks.

[IndyDiver]

Originally Posted by comet24

I've never dived the Daune or her sister ship the Bibb without a good current. The Spiegel is cerainly a sight the first time you see her, especially when the vis is good and you can see the whole ship as you descend.

Now that you mention it, everyone I have talked to about the Duane said there was a pretty good current on it when they dove it. Question: Has anyone here ever dove the Duane when it had zero current like you see on the Eagle?

[rednose83]

Sounds like you enjoyed your trip!

[sanjose80]

Great report. Thanks. have some pictures?

[IndyDiver]

Originally Posted by sanjose80

Great report. Thanks. have some pictures?

Yeah. I'll put up some pictures tomorrow evening after I get back form the Colts game.

[Sansho]

Good report. I agree the Eagle's a nice dive. No current when I dove it earlier this year, with alot to offer.

[DMWiz]

Originally Posted by IndyDiver

Now that you mention it, everyone I have talked to about the Duane said there was a pretty good current on it when they dove it. Question: Has anyone here ever dove the Duane when it had zero current like you see on the Eagle?

Nope I've never been on the Duane w/o a nice current. I've tales of diving the Duane or the Bibb for that matter w/o current but have never experienced that.

Thanks for the report BTW!

[comet24]

Originally Posted by DMWiz

Nope I've never been on the Duane w/o a nice current. I've tales of diving the Duane or the Bibb for that matter w/o current but have never experienced that.

Thanks for the report BTW!

There are places on the wrecks with little or no current.