Reef Report


Saturday, July 29
Advanced dive with Loggerhead Dive Charters in Boynton Beach

Fifteen Active Divers ventured out with Loggerhead Dive Charters from Boynton Beach for an afternoon visit to the wreck of the M/V Castor. Unfortunately or fortunately there was another boat moored on the Castor so plans changed and we moored on the wreck of the Budweiser Bar and its nearby neighbor the Captain Tony. Both were new sites to almost everyone onboard.


Dive #1 Budweiser Barge/Captain Tony- Seas 1-2 feet, depth 95 max, vis 40 feet, water 78 - 92 degrees, ripping surface current with a milder current on the wreck. The divers descended towards the wreck, hand over hand they pulled themselves along the down-line battling the current to reveal the Budweiser Bar, a 169-foot-long coastal freighter that was sent to the bottom in 1987, and now sits upright in 95 feet of water. Many also made their way to the second ship, the Captain Tony, a 167-foot freighter lying in a slightly shallower depth of 85 feet, put down in October 1996.  Swimming along the wrecks, the divers encountered typical marine life along with two goliath groupers and a large loggerhead turtle that made an appearance as the divers began their ascent. 


Dive #2 Boynton Ledges - Seas 1-2 feet, depth 65 max, vis 40 feet, water 81 - 94 degrees, much milder surface current with a smooth and relaxing current on the reef perfect for a drift dive. The divers dropped in with a lead flag group and trailing flag group and began moving swiftly along the reef. On this dive the lead group came across a hawksbill turtle and large moray eel. The trailing group were treated to a few shark encounters with some bull sharks (pending verification ��), a massive 10 ft nurse shark sleeping under a ledge, and a lemon shark patrolling the top of the reef. As they traveled along enjoying the scenery, they were also greeted by a couple of lobsters who survived mini-season, a large crab, a small spotted moray, juvenile drum fish, arrow crabs, and a very curious angelfish. Alas, the relaxing drift dive came to an end and the divers were back on board planning for their next dive.


-- Active Divers Safety Officer Rodolfo Lopez
Top two Rows: Photos by Active Diver and volunteer Jean Gruss.
Bottom Row:  Photos by Safety Officer Rodolfo Lopez.
Left: The President and First Gentleman. Right: Juan Merino and Mark Jacyna .
Left: Jean Gruss and Safety Officer Rudy Lopez. Right: Corey Prator. 
Left: Cheri Craft and Kathleen Whitcomb. Right:  Bruce Garber. 
Left: Angel and Randy Freston. Right: Anand Ranganathan and John Davis.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEWEST SAFETY OFFICER

Congratulations are in order to Rodolfo "Rudy" Lopez, who was inducted into the Active Divers Safety Officer committee on Sunday, July 30. Rudy has been a member of the club since 2019 and has been very active during that time diving most weekends during the season. In January of this year he earned his PADI Divemaster certification and in April he joined the Safety Officer Candidate training program. His excellent performance as a trainee earned him a coveted spot on our Safety Officer corps. So when you see Rudy on a future dive please extend your heartfelt congratulations on a job well done!

Let's Go Diving! Book Your Favorites Before They Fill Up!
FULL doesn't always mean full.
When our dives fill up the original number of spaces booked, we can always ask for more space from the dive shop. And when the boats are at capacity you can always ask to be put on the waitlist. We always have cancellations, so many of our members on the waitlist get on the dive, sometimes the night before or the morning of the dive. So don't miss out. If you're favorite dive says full, just ask to be put on the waitlist by contacting Rachel at 786-316-9852 or simply reply to this email. Waitlisted spots are filled on a first come first served basis so do it soon! See you on the boat!

Saturday, August 5
Blackwater Drift with Walkers Dive Charters - ADVANCED

DIVE FULL! Please contact Rachel at 786-316-9852 or reply to this email to be added to the waitlist.

Sunday, August 13
Spiegel Grove Wreck with Horizon Divers - ADVANCED

HURRY ONLY FIVE SPOTS LEFT!

Key Largo's epic large wreck, not to be missed. 

BOOK THIS DIVE

Saturday, August 19
Pompano Copenhagen/ Nursery with South Florida Diving HQ

BOOK NOW FOUR SPOTS LEFT!

Check out the wreck anchor and monument at this dive site teeming with fish.

BOOK THIS DIVE
COMING SOON!
ISLAMORADA * LOOE KEY * KEY WEST
AUGUST 25 - 27
Make plans now for the best dive weekend of the season. We'll be diving Islamorada on August 25, staying over two nights at the Looe Key Reef Resort, diving Looe Key on August 26 and the Vandenburg Wreck in Key West on August 27. There will be an optional visit to The Turtle Hospital in Marathon on Saturday morning. It's a weekend not to be missed. Book dives now with us, lodging on your own. 
Friday, August 25
Islamorada with Key Dives

DIVE FULL! Please contact Rachel at 786-316-9852 or reply to this email to be added to the waitlist.

Always one of the club's most popular dives and first of three stops for the long weekend in the keys event.

Saturday, August 26
Looe Key with Looe Key Reef Resort

DIVE FULL! Please contact Rachel at 786-316-9852 or reply to this email to be added to the waitlist.

Dive eat and stay in Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary. This is the second stop of the annual lower keys dive weekend. Enjoy the warm waters and beautiful marine life, capping it off with a visit to the always popular on-site Tiki Bar offering live entertainment nightly.

Sunday, August 27
Vandenburg- Key West with Lost Reef Adventures- ADVANCED

BOOK NOW FIVE SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE!

Can't miss wreck. This majestic and well preserved 522 ft long ship served as a troop transport and missile tracking ship. 

BOOK THIS DIVE

Saturday, September 2
Pompano Reef Drift with South Florida Diving HQ- ADVANCED

BOOK NOW FIVE SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE!

Enjoy plentiful marine life on this relaxing drift dive.

BOOK THIS DIVE

Saturday, September 2, 5:00 PM Check-in
Okinawa Dusk/Night with South Florida Diving HQ- ADVANCED

DIVE FULL! Please contact Rachel at 786-316-9852 or reply to this email to be added to the waitlist.
 

Sunday, September 10
Tavernier with Conch Republic Divers

BOOK NOW FOUR SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE!

Easy diving with abundant marine life. 

BOOK THIS DIVE