Diving in the Florida Keys: from Intro to Pro
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Keys TravelerDive Edition Wrecks Get Better with Age Coral Reefs of the Keys Divers Give Back Diving: Intro to Pro fla-keys.com/diving Underwater Fun Divers explore the Spiegel Grove off Key Largo. Stephen Frink Andy Newman The Spiegel Grove begins to fully sink June 10, 2002. Tim Grollimund fla-keys.com/diving/wrecktrek A variety of corals have grown on the Grove. Florida Keys Shipwrecks Improve with Age hipwrecks, as well as vessels intentionally sunk to create Since its 1986 intentional sinking, the Thunderbolt has been artificial reefs, serve as refuges for fish, delicate corals considered the queen of the Marathon wreck fleet. At 189 feet Sand invertebrates, and are undersea playgrounds for long in 120 feet of water, “T-bolt” features a cable-handling advanced and wreck-certified divers. reel centered on the forecastle and an observation deck. As wrecks age, life and growth add to the habitat. Divers have explored the 210-foot freighter Adolphus Busch It has been some 15 years since Spiegel Grove became the Senior, about 5 miles southwest of Big Pine Key, since 1998. third-largest vessel in the world intentionally sunk to create an The most recent addition to the Florida Keys Wreck Trek is artificial reef. Positioned about six miles off Key Largo, the the 524-foot General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, a decommissioned Grove carried cargo and craft for amphibious landings. It was U.S. Air Force missile-tracking ship sunk 7 miles off Key West retired by the U.S. Navy in 1989. in May 2009. Among unique attributes for divers to see are After an elaborate cleansing and subsequent tow to its iconic radar dishes used for defense monitoring and to track scuttle site, the ship suddenly rolled over a few hours ahead early U.S. space exploration launches from Cape Canaveral. of its scheduled sinking May 17, 2002. Instead of landing on the ocean’s bottom, its upside-down bow protruded above the surface. Three weeks later, a salvage team fully sunk the facebook.com/ Keys Traveler vessel, coming to rest on its starboard side 130 feet below. Dive Edition floridakeysandkeywest The premature sinking and wrong orientation of the vessel Editor: Andy Newman; Managing attracted worldwide attention to the project. Editors: Julie Botteri and Laura Myers; So much, that Key Largo’s Fish House Restaurant created @thefloridakeys Copy Editor: Buck Banks. “Keys a Spiegel Grove cocktail still served today. The namesake Traveler” is published by the Monroe concoction’s recipe has three types of rum and a blue liqueur. County Tourist Development Council, In July 2005, Hurricane Dennis brushed the Florida Keys and the official visitor marketing agency for to the world’s surprise, storm currents pushed the vessel into youtube.com/ FloridaKeysTV the Florida Keys & Key West. Director: the upright position originally planned. Harold Wheeler; Sales Director: Stacey Insta The Spiegel Grove remains one of the Keys’ most popular Mitchell; Dive Market Sales Manager: wrecks. Mooring buoys provide convenient tie-offs and the top @thefloridakeys Yves Vrielynck; Keys Dive Umbrella: deck is reachable at about 60 feet. Avid divers compare the CeCe Roycraft, chair; Pam Meyer, Kim ship to a large museum and multilevel dives requiring several Roney, Amy Slate and Mary Threlkeld. trips are required to fully appreciate its massive size. Since 1987, twin 327-foot U.S. Coast Guard cutters, Duane keysvoices.com ©2017 and Bibb, have rested at 110 feet off Key Largo, cloaked in For the free “Keys Traveler” newsletter, subscribe at sponges and corals, and patrolled by squadrons of fish. fla-keys.com/keystraveler Off Islamorada, the 287-foot Eagle has for over 30 years rested on its side at 110 feet, nestled in a colorful patina of Cover photo of the Duane, one of two U.S. Coast Guard cutters sunk off Key Largo some 30 years ago, by Tim Grollimund. sponges and corals, and populated by huge schools of fish. 2 fla-keys.com/diving Keys Traveler Diving in the Florida Keys: From Intro to Pro he Florida Keys, a 125-mile island ages learn how to Stephen Frink chain located parallel to the teach others the excit- Tcontinental United States’ only ing sport and make living coral reef, offer perfect teaching money at something grounds to learn new skills or enhance they love to do. abilities as a scuba diver, providing a Instructor training in lifetime of fun, adventure and memories. the Florida Keys means Learning options range from introduc- learning in a dive tory one-day resort courses through destination unparal- full certification and a wealth of dive leled anywhere in the specialties including navigation, night United States — one diving, wreck diving, digital photography of the few places in the and coral reef conservation. Programs country to provide such Successful completion of pool-based classes leads to open-water also are offered for those who want to training year-round. training and certification for scuba divers. take diving from a hobby to a career as Newly “graduated” instructors can covering concepts such as basic phys- a dive instructor. Here are some guide- work full time in the Keys or find exotic ics and physiology, ocean waves, marine lines. jobs onboard cruise ships or live-aboard life and the importance of monitoring Who can learn to dive? Scuba diving dive vessels throughout the world, time and depth during a dive, followed is a sport, an investment in adventure teaching their own students the mechan- by open-water dives at the reef. Stu- that any healthy and active individual as ics, safety and other aspects of recre- dents also learn about navigation around young as age 10 can learn and enjoy. ational scuba diving. natural formations. Diving is an exciting and rewarding sport What classes are available? The Refresher courses review diving for recreational enthusiasts and can Florida Keys have it all. Entry-level open- knowledge and water skills for infrequent serve as a career-changing opportunity. water certification involves three to five divers, and for those seeking advanced Dive instructor students of varying days of training and classroom work skills and scope of experience to gain confidence with specific open-water dives. Dozens of specialty courses, dive master and professional career develop- Only in the Florida Keys ment take training to the highest level. Where do students receive dive train- lue Star-recognized charters are Florida’s only museum of its kind, the ing? Some of the first businesses offer- dedicated to coral reef education facility was founded by Women Divers ing recreational dive training in America Band conservation. Hall of Fame member Dr. Sally Bauer were established in the Florida Keys. The voluntary recognition program and her late husband Dr. Joseph Bauer. Dozens of dive operators are staffed was established by the Florida Keys Museum visitors come within inches of with working professionals who actively National Marine Sanctuary to promote the earliest diving machines, including teach and train each day — not intermit- responsible dive tourism. Dive operators a full-scale replica of an all-wood diving tently or seasonally. in the program teach divers and snorkel- bell; the Parade of Nations, an unparal- When are classes offered? A primary ers in-water etiquette such as practicing leled collection of 25 historic hard-hat advantage of the Keys over any other good buoyancy, careful hand and fin dive helmets from around the world; and U.S. destination is year-round subtropi- placement, and avoiding contact with exhibits illustrating the significant contri- cal weather and clear, warm seas to coral. butions made by men and women in the practice skin diving and scuba skills Blue Star-rated operators display progression of modern-day scuba virtually any day of the year. Training a flag or decal with the program’s diving and underwater explora- conditions are nice and easy, with light logo on their charter vessel. tion. currents and great underwater visibility. While Blue Star is focused The museum is open daily Why dive the Keys? Ocean depths on in-water activities, divers 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Regular from the shoreline to the reef rarely can learn about the fascinating admission is $12 per adult, reach 20 feet. The reef lives in waters history of their sport at the $6 for children age 6-11 as shallow as 5 feet and as deep as Florida Keys History of Diving and free for kids 5 and under 50 feet, but most reef divers log a Museum. as well as active-duty U.S. maximum depth of 20 to 30 feet. Keys The Islamorada-based military personnel. Special rates shallow diving offers two immediate facility collects, preserves for seniors, groups and retired U.S. benefits: longer time safely spent on the and displays relics and arti- military also apply. bottom exploring and colors that are facts that trace man’s quest to divingmuseum.org brighter and more vibrant because more explore the underwater world. floridakeys.noaa.gov/onthewater natural sunlight reaches shallow depths. Keys Traveler fla-keys.com/diving 3 arboring the only living coral barrier reef in By Julie BotteriBy Julie • Photograph Botteri • Photograph by Tim Grollimund by Tim Grollimund the continental United States, the Florida HKeys are largely devoted to maintaining the region’s offshore environment. Conservation efforts began in 1960 with the dedication of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the nation’s first undersea park, off Key Largo. Park waters lie within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, established in 1990. Today, the venerable sanctuary comprises 2,900 square nautical miles of coastal waters from northernmost Key Largo south to the Dry Tortugas. Sanctuary Preservation Areas established as protected no-take zones enable fish and crustacean populations to thrive and grow.