Andrew Driver’s First week’s trip

Day one of our trip started with 25 plus winds out of the north and cold so our group leader Andrew Drive opted to stay at dock for the day and check out gear and prep for the next days diving. We awoke Monday morning with the wind still blow 15 to 20 but decide to head out anyway. We arrived at the Spegial Grove around eight a.m. and she was dive able. Everyone is diving rebreathers so after a 70 min run time the seas where looking a lot better. For our second dive of the day we motored down to the Eagle. Mother Nature was making things up to us by giving perfect seas with wives about a foot, no current and great vis. Drew and I run the Kate all night slow down hawks channel so that we could watch the sun rise over the Vandenberg. We two wonderful dives on the Vandenberg with about 90 min run times. For the night we pulled up to Pelican Shoal for a good nights sleep. Andrew decided to stay on this great ship for another day of diving so we are on the ol girl again today with the guys diving her with scooters and rebreathers. More to come…….Capt Scotty

Diving January 3, 2010

 

 

As the sun rose on the last day of our journey the R/V Kate was sitting on Mike's wreck. But that happened, this is the Florida Keys and its only 55 degrees this morning. Everyone decided to wait on the sun to warm things up a bit before they got into the water. We waited a bit and then moved over the City of Washington ship wreck site. Everyone opted to stay warm inside the salon and have a nice hot breakfast before braving the cool air temps. Captain Slate arrived and tied up behind the Kate and it was time for his famous Creature Feature. Bruiser the big goliath grouper was the star of the show. This was the end of our trip so off to the dock we went. The trip was great a good time had by all, the weather, diving, food was all good to us for this adventur.

Diving January 2, 2010

We slowly motored up the coast of the Florida Keys during the night so that as the sun cane up we were at Davis Reef. This area is really starting to make a comeback. The new growth corals are really looking great. This was followed by a requested dive on the shipwreck of the Duane. Off to Minnow Caves for a dive ducking through the swim through and the minnows. Then it was Banana reef where the James Bond movie was filmed in the 60's. Great live and tropical's and don't forget the Rays. This was also the spot for our last night dive of the trip.

Diving New Year's Day 2010

We started of the new year watching the sun rise over Key West as we motored out to dive the Vandenberg. There was just a little current on the surface but none down on the ship with 80 to 100 foot of visibility. It was the perfect dive and we had the ship all to our selves. This was followed by a dive on Ten Fathom Ledge which is a series of coal ledges with several coral caves that lies roughly one mile southwest of Western Sambo. Next it was off to Looe Key deep. This area is just south of the Looe Key sanctuary area. We saw lots of Hog snappers, Moray ells and all kinds of reef fish here. We finished off the day with a dive on the north end of Looe Key that turned into a twilight dive at the end. Afterwards a few people took advantage of the great reef system and took a nice leisurely night dive on this spot. Afterwards was Pasha’s annual New Year’s trip turkey dinner. What a way to dive the Florida keys.