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Well, we condensed the trip into
two days, waiting for the seas to
subside. Captain Elliot’s fishing
boat the “Big E” came out Friday
night, and they said it was lumpy,
but not too bad, that the waves were
in a swell, not choppy, so we
decided to risk it and see what we
could see. I gotta tell you, trips
like this are why I run a dive boat.
Even though conditions on the
surface were, let us say,
challenging, the divers were all
gung-ho, happy we had come out, and
most divers did most dives. We went
to the West bank, arriving a little
late, but had the divers in by 7:30.
We saw a free-swimming green moray,
many large black grouper, and the
usual reef inhabitants. The water
temp was 77, seas 5 feet in an 8
second period, Air temp 82 under
partly cloudy skies, and vis was
stellar, at 100+ feet. After two
dives, we left for Stetson Bank so
we could have a night dive on
Stetson. Conditions on Stetson were
even more challenging than on the
West bank, but the divers were
tough, the water was beautiful, so
we went diving. Three dives were
completed on buoy number 1. Critters
seen included large lobster, dozens
of stingrays, schools (100+)
crevalle jacks, a young loggerhead
turtle, and the usual stuff. Seas
were 6 feet in 8 seconds, water temp
76 surface, 75 at depth, wind 15 kts
SE, air temp 82, and vis was 100+
feet. In the morning we shifted to
Stetson buoy number 3. Many ling cod
were seen on the first dive, as well
as large, unidentified sharks. I
suspect that hammerheads are done
for the year, and they are certainly
done for the Spree as we depart for
Key West Tuesday at noon. The seas
on Stetson have laid down to 3 feet
in a 7 second period, water temp 76,
Air temp 80 in thunderstorms,
current slack, vis 100+ feet. I
know we will see some of you in the
Dry Tortugas and others when we
return. I will continue trip reports
when I am there, just to titillate
and tantalize you, and we do have a
few spots still available the first
and second week we are there. Thanks
to all of you for a great spring
season, the website and direct
booking system are working well,
we’ve gotten most of the bugs worked
out, and I will be learning to
control the weather for next year. Captain Frank
M/V Spree |
