Keys TravelerDive Edition

Wreck Trekking In the Keys

fla-keys.com/diving Underwater Hijinks Dive ‘Voluntourism’ Learn to Dive in the Keys America’s Barrier Keys Reefs … Carlos Estape Learn to Dive in the

he Florida Keys, a 126-mile island recreational scuba chain located parallel to the divers, eligible to rent Tcontinental United States’ only dive gear and book living , offer perfect teaching dive trips to depths of grounds to learn new skills or perfect about 60 feet with most abilities as a scuba diver, providing a operations worldwide. lifetime of fun, adventure and memories. At-home online Learning options range from learning through introductory one-day experiences, full computer programs certification and various specialties to enables students to career opportunities, complete classroom all with personalized training. Here are work required, then Successful completion of pool-based classes leads to open-water some basic facts. schedule time in the training and certification for scuba divers. Who can learn to dive? Keys to obtain certifications. advantage of the Florida Keys over any is a sport, an investment in adventure Refresher courses review diving other U.S. destination is year-round that any healthy and active individual as knowledge and water skills for tropical weather and clear, warm seas young as age 10 can enjoy. occasional divers. Dozens of specialty to practice skin diving and What classes are available? The courses include navigation, , virtually any day of the year. Training Blue-striped grunts gather at Florida Keys have it all. Entry-level, , digital photography, coral conditions are nice and easy, with light Snapper Ledge off . … Abundant and Diverse “open-water” certification involves three reef conservation and professional currents and great underwater visibility. he Florida Keys boast an unparalleled variety of marine green moray eels on a single trip to the reef. to five days of training and classroom career training as a dive instructor. Why dive the Keys? Ocean depths life, abundance of fish species and consistently clear, The Keys have a tradition of preserving . With work covering concepts such as basic Where do students receive their dive from the shoreline to the reef rarely Twarm waters to suit virtually every diver. divers and snorkelers educated in reef responsibility, every- physics and physiology, ocean waves, training? Some of the first businesses reach 20 feet. The reef lives in waters As well as their accessibility, the Keys’ diversity sets them one involved benefits, and the coral reef can remain the Keys’ marine life, monitoring dive time and offering recreational dive training in as shallow as five feet and as deep apart as one of the world’s most popular dive destinations. greatest environmental treasure for generations to come. depth, followed by pool and open-water America were opened in the Keys. as 50 feet, but most reef divers log a Harboring the only living coral reef in the continental United dives at the reef. You’ll also learn about Dozens of dive shops, staffed with maximum depth of 20 to 30 feet. Keys States, these small islands are largely devoted to maintaining navigation around natural formations. working professionals, actively teach shallow diving offers two immediate the region’s offshore environment — a focus of conservation Upon passing a knowledge test and train each day, not just intermittently benefits: longer time safely spent on the The Florida Keys Keys Traveler Dive Edition and completing the required number or seasonally. bottom exploring and brighter and more efforts for more than a generation. & Editor: Andy Newman; Managing of dives, students become certified When are classes offered? A primary Keys conservation efforts began in 1960 when widespread Editors: Julie Botteri and Carol vibrant colors because more natural public support laid the foundation for John Pennekamp Coral Shaughnessy; Copy Editor: Buck Banks sunlight reaches shallow depths. Reef State Park at Key Largo, named for a newspaper twitter.com/ “Keys Traveler” is published and ©2013 Keys Famous for Quirky Underwater Fun thefloridakeys Keys Feature Blue Star editor who championed local environmental preservation. by the Monroe Tourist Development he Florida Keys are the Underwater Easter Council, the official visitor marketing agency Bob Care The undersea park’s waters are adjacent to the Florida Keys noted for offbeat Egg Hunt and diver Program for Operators for the Florida Keys & Key West. Director: National Marine Sanctuary, established in 1990 as a marine celebrations and propulsion vehicle racing youtube.com/user Harold Wheeler; Sales Director: Stacey T lue Star–recognized dive preserve. Today the sanctuary comprises 2,900 square nauti- /FloridaKeysTV Mitchell; Dive Market Sales Manager: quirky marine activities at the annual Vandenberg charterers are dedicated to coral cal miles of coastal waters along the island chain from north- Yves Vrielynck; Keys Dive Umbrella: CeCe that also carry messages Underwater Grand Prix. reef education and conservation. Roycraft, Kim Roney, Tom Timmerman, Amy B ernmost Key Largo south to the . of reef preservation and On a more serious Slate and MaryAnne Rockett The voluntary recognition program Marine conservation efforts include the establishment of keysvoices.com diver awareness. note, the continental established by the Florida Keys National Sanctuary Preservation Areas, no-take zones that have allowed For the free monthly What’s This? The Lower Keys United States’ only living “Keys Traveler” Marine Sanctuary promotes responsible fish and crustacean populations to grow and thrive. electronic newsletter, You’ll find this QR code Underwater Music Festival coral barrier reef offers tourism, teaching divers Iconic blue-striped grunts are typically seen in large numbers subscribe at accompanying several is held each July at Looe wedding parties and fla-keys.com/ stories in this issue of “Keys and snorkelers in-water around protective elkhorn and high-profile coral heads, as well keystraveler Traveler.” The QR codes can Key reef, in the Florida guests an opportunity etiquette such as practicing as other Keys critters such as glass minnows, goatfish, gray Printed in the U.S.A. be scanned by most smart Keys National Marine to tie the knot with good , careful By Original Impressions phones. Activate the app, aim your smart phone snappers, Atlantic spadefish, horse eye jacks, Bermuda chubs Sanctuary six miles south exotic sea creatures in hand and fin placement, and avoiding and sergeant majors. French and small-mouth grunts are at the bar code and you’ll be automatically taken to a website or video for more information. of Big Pine Key. attendance, notably near contact with coral. nearly as plentiful, and yellowtail snapper, a favorite of local Divers pretend to play For iPhones and iPads, QR readers can be Subsea challenges “musical instruments” at the the welcoming arms of Blue Star–rated operators display a anglers, cruise the reef in astonishing numbers. downloaded for free at the Apple App Store. include Key Largo’s Underwater Music Festival. the 9-foot-high “Christ of flag or decal with the Blue Star logo on It is not unusual for divers and snorkelers to spot sea Cover photo of the Duane, now a 26-year-old Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest, the Abyss” statue near Key Largo’s John their charter vessel. shipwreck off Key Largo, by Stephen Frink turtles, stingrays, goliath groupers, nurse sharks or bright- “egg-sploring” for hidden eggs during Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. floridakeys.noaa.gov/onthewater

2 www.fla-keys.com/dive Keys Traveler Keys Traveler www.fla-keys.com/dive 3 trewn along the length of the Florida Keys island chain in By Julie Botteri • Photograph by Tim Grollimund ocean depths ranging from 20 to 130 feet are several Snotable historic shipwreck and sites, some centuries old. From a maritime heritage perspective these ships are considered some of the Keys’ most valuable underwater assets. Some vessels date back to early 1700s Spanish explorers, while others are modern cargo and U.S. military ships intentionally sunk to create artificial reefs. Bookend shipwrecks off Key Largo and Key West support this unique collection. Most notable is the Spiegel Grove, a 510-foot Navy landing ship dock and the third-largest ship ever intentionally sunk to create an artificial reef. It has rested in 130 feet of water about six miles off Key Largo since it was sunk in 2002. Also off Key Largo are the remains of the City of Washington, a two-masted sailing vessel used for passenger transport and cargo trade between New York, and Mexico. It sank in 1892 in waters 25 feet deep. In 25 to 45 feet of water is the Benwood, a merchant marine freighter that sunk in 1942 after a collision with another vessel. Twin “Treasury Class” 327-foot U.S. Coast Guard cutters, dubbed the Duane and Bibb and scuttled in 1987, rest in nearly 130 feet of water one mile south of , off Key Largo. Become a Keys Wreck Trekker With separated front and rear sections, the Eagle is a 287-foot- The “Wreck Trek Passport Program” rewards long cargo transporter sunk off Islamorada in 1985. The certified divers who complete a series of wreck artificial reef lies in 110 feet of water. dives. Divers who are advanced or wreck certified The three-masted bark Adelaide Baker lies south of Duck can join more than 30 participating dive Key in 20 feet of water and a wreck believed to be the North operators and vessels to dive any America lies in 14 feet of water on Delta Shoals east of or all of nine of the island chain’s most iconic wreck sites listed in the Official Florida Keys Sombrero Light. Wreck Trek logbook: Spiegel Grove, Duane, Off Marathon, the easily navigable 188-foot Thunderbolt, Benwood, Eagle, Thunderbolt, Adolphus Busch donated by Florida Power and Light to the Florida Keys Senior, Cayman Salvager, Joe’s Tug and Gen. Artificial Reef Association, was originally named Randolph. Hoyt S. Vandenberg. Divers who complete at least five dives receive The cable layer was used in researching electrical energy and a personalized print of Florida Keys shipwrecks. lightning strikes. Considered the queen of the Middle Keys Dives can be accomplished in one or several wreck fleet, “T-Bolt” was scuttled in 1986 and lies in 120 feet visits to the warm Florida Keys waters. of water. In the Lower Keys lies the 210-foot freighter Adolphus fla-keys.com/diving/wrecktrek Busch Senior. Since late 1998, divers have been exploring this artificial reef five miles southwest of Big Pine Key. Joe’s Tug was actually once a hard-working shrimp boat. The 75-footer is one of Key West’s most popular dive spots, and was scuttled in 1986 in 65 feet of water. Among marine life on the wreck is a resident goliath grouper named Elvis. The 524-foot Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg, a former Air ship that once tracked Florida space launches and Russian satellites, was sunk in 140 feet of water off Key West in 2009. The second-largest ship in the world ever scuttled to become an artificial reef was used as a set in the 1999 movie “Virus.” Trek Florida Keys Shipwrecks A diver inspects the 510-foot-long Spiegel Grove off Key Largo.

4 fla-keys.com • fla-keys.co.uk • fla-keys.de • fla-keys.ie • fla-keys.fr • fla-keys.nl • fla-keys.be Keys Traveler Keys Traveler fla-keys.com • fla-keys.co.uk • fla-keys.de • fla-keys.ie • fla-keys.fr • fla-keys.nl • fla-keys.be 5 : Easy to Explore Subsea World Tim Grollimund

eaturing vivid coral reefs teeming shrine stands on a Stephen Frink (2) with exotic sea creatures, the concrete base in FFlorida Keys offer a vacation approximately 25 paradise that attracts almost a million feet of water and and scuba aficionados each year is one of the most who can’t wait to get into the water and photographed explore — even as first-timers. underwater sites in Snorkeling primarily requires a the world. mask, snorkel, fins for propulsion and and inflatable snorkeling vest to enjoy a day Davis Reef, also of underwater sightseeing. Professional off Key Largo, are snorkel charters rent equipment and easily navigable provide instruction. Add a T-shirt or along the top of sunblock and you’re set to go. the reef and sandy Spectacular coral reefs are a short ledges. Grouper boat ride from the islands, located in and moray eels Keys Divers Volunteer shallow water that’s often just 10 to 15 cruise among the feet deep. cliffs and canyons, To Restore Coral Reefs Some favorite marine sites include gullies and Alexa Frink explores a shallow water wreck off northern Key Largo. Divers assist staff members with cultivation of young at the Coral Restoration Foundation’s coral nursery off the Upper Keys. the nation’s first undersea park, Key archways at depths from 15 to 40 feet. Key Reef is one of the most spectacular Largo’s John Pennekamp Coral Reef Off Islamorada, Alligator Reef boasts shallow-water undersea environs. Its reef ivers can help keep Florida is a grass-roots way of giving people Divers also can contribute through State Park, and nearby, the 9-foot-tall huge populations of yellowtail snapper, fish annually play host to an unusual, Keys reefs healthy through ownership.” everyday conservation actions to leave 4,000-pound bronze statue known as grunts, goatfish and damselfish and a event for snorkelers and divers: the D“voluntourism” vacations, Capturing lionfish helps prevent an area cleaner than they found it. “.” The underwater mini-wall where lobsters hide in crevices Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival. doing things to protect the reef while the invasive Indo-Pacific species from Cutting and removing monofilament Among Marathon’s notable Key West’s largest protected coral volunteering for the greater good, up voraciously preying on invertebrates and fishing line eliminates a potential patch reefs and spur– reef is Western Sambos. The popular close and purposefully. juvenile fish such as grunts and hamlets, entanglement for other divers. Picking and–groove formations is snorkeling site is part of an ecological Recreational sport divers can and stealing resources from domestic up other lost fishing tackle, such as Sombrero Reef, marked by reserve created in 1997. Several other join ongoing coral restoration and species like grouper and snapper. hooks and sinkers, as well as removing a large lighted tower. You extensive shallow reefs off Key West propagation efforts with marine The popular aquarium fish, probably cans, bottles, plastic and refuse makes might see a pair of spotfin including Eastern , scientists from Key Largo’s Coral introduced to Florida waters in the a huge difference over time. butterflyfish circle in their and are abundant in corals, Restoration Foundation. They learn 1980s, has no natural reef predators coralrestoration.org courting dance, French gorgonians and fish, and range from 5 about environmental impacts on Florida’s except humans. reef.org fla-keys.com/volunteer angelfish nip and peck at to 45 feet in depth. reefs through education and participate The Keys’ Reef Environmental reef plants, a huge school of Snorkeling is the perfect family activity in hands-on dives to restore endangered Education Foundation, whose mission David Gross grunts slide back and forth for visitors to the Keys for close, calm staghorn and elkhorn corals. The two is to conserve marine ecosystems, in a gentle tidal surge or a observation of the inhabitants of one of are among the reef-building species partnered with the Florida Keys stingray scour the sandy the world’s most diverse, complex and with the best chance to propagate and National Marine Sanctuary and the dive bottom for a snack. beautiful ecosystems. create new habitats. community to educate divers on how to Snorkelers explore coral formations in the clear shallow waters off the Florida Keys. The Lower Keys’ Looe fla-keys.com/diving Volunteers go on working dives to capture and remove lionfish from Keys coral nurseries to clean and prepare waters. corals for planting. An orientation dive Lionfish need to be removed regularly Museum Showcases Man’s Quest to Dive at a restoration site shows firsthand the in order to fish down the species and he Florida Keys History of Diving Museum is filled with Museum visitors can come within inches of the earliest evolution of corals over time. reduce its Atlantic population. unique artifacts, antiques and photographs relative to diving machines, including a full-scale replica of an all-wood “This is something the average person Recreational lionfish roundups provide Tdiving and its heritage. , and view the Parade of Nations, an unparalleled can get their hands on and do,” said divers a chance to earn prizes, sample Since 2005 the museum’s 3,000 square feet have collection of historic hard-hat dive helmets from 25 foundation director the edible, tasty fish and help preserve featured the world’s largest and most comprehensive countries around the world. Ken Nedimyer. reef ecosystems. collection of diving artifacts representing more than Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., as well as “Volunteers can REEF also enlists divers for volunteer 30 countries, in addition to the Bauer Diving History during free monthly evening lectures, the museum is take the experience reef survey and annual fish count

Research Library, a world-class facility containing rare located at mile marker 83 bayside in Islamorada. back to their home projects to help collect and report data Diver Patti Gross shows her success in cap- historical materials. divingmuseum.org communities — it on marine fish populations. turing several invasive lionfish off the Keys.

6 www.fla-keys.com/dive Keys Traveler Keys Traveler www.fla-keys.com/dive 7 9336

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The 120-mile-long Florida Keys island chain in Florida City. Follow U.S. 1 south into the hottest it’s ever been in Key West is 97° F is linked to mainland Florida by U.S. Highway Florida Keys. (36° C), and that was in 1880. At the 1, the . Visitors can fly From Florida’s west coast, take I-75 peak of summer, the average high air into Miami International Airport (MIA) or Fort (Alligator Alley) south and to the Florida is about 89° F (32° C). The Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Turnpike Extension. Keys are devoid of superhighways or urban (FLL) and from there can reach the Keys by Driving Data to Keys/Key Largo sprawl to absorb and radiate the sun’s heat. airport shuttle bus or rental car. Travelers FROM MILES KM HOURS Sea breezes cool the subtropical islands. can reach Key Largo, the gateway to the Miami 50 80 1 In the winter the Keys are typically the Keys, in about an hour from Miami or an hour Fort Myers 200 320 4 warmest region in the continental U.S. and 45 minutes from Fort Lauderdale. Tampa 300 480 6 There has never been a frost in Key West, Orlando 280 450 5.25 Commercial Airlines Serving according to the U.S. Weather Service. Key West International Airport Distance from Miami Below are average monthly water REGION MILES KM MILE MARKER , according to the Key West American Airlines aa.com Key Largo 50 80 107-90 weather office. Temperatures in blue shades Cape Air capeair.com Islamorada 76 122 89-66 are Fahrenheit and in light red are Celsius. Delta delta.com Marathon 111 178 65-45 Southwest southwest.com Lower Keys 128 205 45--4 United Express united.com Key West 159 254 4-0 USAirways usairways.com Via Bus Driving Directions Bus/shuttle connections from MIA and FLL to the Florida Keys allow traveling to the From Miami International Airport (MIA), Florida Keys without renting a car. take LeJeune Road south to 836 West. Take the Florida Turnpike south toward Key West. Via Boat The Turnpike ends at U.S. 1 in Florida City. Ferry connections from Fort Myers or Marco Follow U.S. 1 south about 22 miles to Key Island to Key West are offered via the Key Help and More Information Largo and you are now in the Florida Keys. West Express. Voyages take approximately If you’re traveling in the Keys and need any From Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood Inter- 3.5 hours. help, call the toll-free Visitors’ Assistance national Airport (FLL), exit the airport and Extensive details on getting to the Florida line at 1-800-771-KEYS. It’s staffed 24 follow the signs for 595 West. Take 595 to Keys & Key West are available at: hours a day. To contact visitor offices in the Florida Turnpike and follow the signs for fla-keys.com/gettinghere.cfm the Keys, call 1-800-FLA-KEYS. The Florida the Florida Keys. Keys websites at fla-keys.com and fla-keys. From the north, take the Florida Turnpike Weather/Climate co.uk have a live chat feature with visitor south to just below Fort Lauderdale, Wherever you are right now, chances are information specialists during regular U.S. where Exit 4 joins the southern portion of the weather is better in the Florida Keys. weekday business hours to aid travelers in the Turnpike. The Turnpike ends at U.S. 1 That’s true even on a summer day. The vacation planning.