NOAA was calling for 4-6 foot seas, and Buoy weather was
calling for 1-2’s, so with a little bit of trepidation, we set off from Robbie’s
on our way to the Dry Tortugas. We’d had 2 ladies fly in from Saudi Arabia for
the trip (OK, Not JUST for the trip), and their internal clocks were all messed
up. They arrived at the boat Friday night for dinner. We boarded Saturday night.
We liked them anyway. This was the trip where everything would break on the
customers dive gear. We had every spare and boat rental computer strapped onto
the customers, and we actually had to work to keep everyone diving in working
gear. The boat, as usual, performed perfectly.
We arrived in the Tortugas Ecological Reserve – North at Dante’s Inferno. Since
the last time we’d been here when the current was howling and the thermocline
was vicious, we found conditions very benign. Current was slack to barely
noticeable, temps were 81 to the bottom, Seas were 1-2’s, and visibility was in
the 75-100 foot range. Dante’s, however, was covered with green nasty
filamentous algae. Every surface was loaded with the stuff. We almost never see
it at this time of year, this year we’ve seen it throughout the year, although
not to this extent. It coats the gorgonians, whip corals, everywhere but the
stony corals. The sea urchins are having a field day, eating every bit of this
stuff in sight, but they can’t keep up with it. I have no idea where it’s
blooming and growing, but it is free floating through the water and getting hung
up on the reef. Not all of the reefs, Dante’s was the worst. That afternoon we
moved to Great Every Time, where the algae was much less. Conditions were
similar at Great Every Time as they were at Dante’s.
Monday morning we moved over to 8 fathom reef, which had some of the algae, but
was loaded with black grouper. I saw the biggest hogfish I’ve seen in Tortugas,
and lots of different Jacks, including horseye and bigeye and Black. Currents
were still mild, temps moderate, no thermocline, and seas were 2-3. Monday
afternoon we dove at the Bat Cave, which is always a great dive. At the Bat
cave, I had the opportunity to demonstrate shooting an SMB from depth to my solo
students. When I got back to the boat, there were bags popping up all over, as
everyone was practicing shooting SMB’s in anticipation of taking a solo class.
Little orange mushrooms popping up after a rain storm.
Tuesday morning we dove Keeney’s Wall. It was reportedly the best dive we would
do in the Tortugas Ecological Reserve before moving into the park. Afternoon
dives were spent at Texas Rock, along with a fort visit. I think everyone agreed
that Texas Rock was the highlight of the trip…
Until Wednesday morning on the Vandenberg. It is one of those rare days when
everything is perfect. Visibility is 75 feet, current is slack, Joe Weatherby is
leading the dive, and life is good. This is our last summer sport trip in Dry
Tortugas, we’ll be headed slowly for Texas, stopping at the Florida Middle
Grounds for a week, then off the Louisiana coast for 3 weeks, diving the Flower
Gardens for a month, then the Oriskany for 3 weeks. We’ll be back in the Keys in
time for Fantasy Fest, and it is looking like we will spend at least part of the
winter in the Caribbean.
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