Well, nature didn’t cooperate, but it was still one of the best
trips of the year for the crew of the Spree. 23 divers and 7crew met at the
Hogfish Grill in Stock Island for a meal that couldn’t be beat. We boarded the
Spree, and after a safety briefing from Melanie and I, boarded our last
crewmember and passenger and headed out for the Dry Tortugas.
We tied up first at 8 fathom reef for a couple of dives. Current was mild, but
visibility was around 50 feet. It is the time of year for goliath groupers to be
spawning, so none were seen the entire trip, but there were blacks, reds, gags,
and some big hogfish on the site. In the afternoon, we moseyed over to Great
Every Time, for more grouper, lots of jacks, snapper, and the usual reef
critters. Current picked up in the afternoon, but was manageable. Seas were 1-3
feet, temps were 80-82 degrees, winds 10 – 15 knots, and Vis 100 feet. Divers
remarked on how much better the reefs look this year than in years past. The
real bummer of the trip happened on the night dive, a
lionfish was spotted and photographed by one of the divers. The other bummer
was that the coral didn’t spawn At all. The whole trip. Ever.
Friday morning we dived Keeney’s wall. What a nice dive it was. Current was
again mild, but picked up a little on the second dive. The usual stuff was seen,
including little tiny sea spiders, lots of black coral, and, of course,
groupers, snappers, and mackerel. The afternoon dives were at Bat Cave. Folks
got to see the cave, as well as the coolest decorator crab going. There were
several squids and octopus, and we saw Squid, too.
Saturday morning we woke up at the fort. Many wanted to visit Ft. Jefferson, so
Saturday morning was the time. After the fort visit, we were off to Dante’s
Inferno. It was always a pleasure, but the current came up on the second dive,
and didn’t settle all day. Strenuous was the word used to describe the diving.
We spent the evening and night dives at Sanctuary. This site is always a crew
favorite. Vis was 100 feet, currents strong, temps in the low 80’s, and seas 1-2
feet. CP saw a Squilla, but the video didn’t come out, so he didn’t really see
it at all.
Sunday morning we came back to Key West to do a dive on the Vandenberg.
Conditions were perfect, little current and 100 feet of vis. It was pretty well
decided by the customers to do a second dive on the reef. We dove Haystacks at
Western Sambo, which I think is as nice a dive as you can do in Key West ? |