Reef
Report
Sunday, October 11
Key Largo with Island Ventures
Winds
were 5-10 knots, seas 1-3 feet. Air
temperature 95 degrees Fahrenheit, partly cloudy,
beautiful day. 9 divers were on board Island
Ventures. Boat crew consisted of the
“Howling Wolf Captain” and first mate/divemaster
Kristine. The captain and crew were
professional, helpful, and pleasant to work with.
USS Duane: Cancelled
due to extreme current and the buoys being
underwater.
1st Dive:
Molasses Reef, South Wall Drift – This
dive was suggested by the safety officers and
agreed upon by Island Ventures as an alternative
to the Duane that would be fun and
different. Visibility 40 feet. Current
2-3 knots plus. Two Teams of 4-5 divers
drifted a section of the wall with depths ranging
from 45-85 + feet. Water temperature 82 – 88
degrees. Diver’s followed crew’s
instructions to maintain a northerly course to
stay on the wall. Sightings observed by
divers included: Various Parrotfish, Blue,
Queen, Gray and French Angelfish, Large Barrel
Sponges, Tube Sponges, rare Black Coral, Reef and
Four-eyed Butterflyfish, Soft Corals, Sea Fans,
Blue Tangs, Bar Jacks, Surgeonfish and a large
Hogfish. This was the first drift dive for
at least one diver and so was very exciting.
Entering the boat in a stiff current proved a
challenge successfully navigated by all with the
help of a competent crew and our safety officers.
2nd Dive:
West Ledge, French Reef – Visibility
25 feet. Current minimal. Water temperature
82 - 86 degrees. Although the “vis” wasn’t
great, this reef, with an average depth of 41 feet
and a 51+ foot sandy bottom held a lot of life and
an amazing amount of very large fish as well as
plenty of reef fish and invertebrates to please
both the wide angle and macro fan. Spotted
by divers: A very nice size reef shark near
a good-sized school of 4-5-pound Horse-Eye Jack,
several large groupers; including a Black Grouper
of about 20 pounds and a Gag grouper of at least
10 lbs. Also, seen, were some very large
snapper of over 10 lbs. and “flag” yellowtail up
to 5 lbs. Under a ledge a very large Margate
was spotted as well. On the small side, in
addition to the various angelfish, damselfish,
parrotfish, snapper, wrasses, grunts and other
typical reef inhabitants were seen several Butter
Hamlets, a Soapfish, Harlequin Bass, Trunkfish,
Pufferfish, Trumpetfish, Barracuda, Rock Beauties,
a gnarly Stonefish, Tobaccofish, Pederson’s
cleaning shrimp at a cleaning station, Neon gobies
at another cleaning station, green and spotted
moray eels, and more than one type of
Squirrelfish. Another highlight for divers
was a large cavern containing a massive school of
circulating Glassy Sweepers accompanied by a
beautiful, if undesirable invasive Lionfish.
The lionfish was reported to the captain for
future removal, as Island Venture is a Blue Star
operated. Divers agreed they would love to revisit
this spot another day, hoping for better
visibility.
-- Safety
Officer in Training Mark Silverman |
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