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 Florida Keys
"Wrecks & Reefs"
April 14-18, 2012
The Florida Keys are known for fantastic wrecks and beautiful reefs. Each of the dives of our adventure will be a visit to a designated wreck with the second dive made on either a shallow wreck or one of the many beautiful reefs the Florida Keys has to offer. Enjoy summer in Florida while it is winter in St. Louis--don’t delay… Get a winter dive getaway on your calendar!
SPECIAL Earn the Spiegel Grove & Vandenberg Specialty Certifications on this trip for $250 (normally $300) We will offer many other certifications on this trip, just talk to Mick or Mike.
Tentative Schedule:
 April 13, 2012 - Friday
Travel day to Florida. Airfare is running between $350 and $400. Figure about $175 (plus gas) for a rental car which can be split by the number of people sharing the ride with you.
Accommodations: Ocean Point Condos in Tavernier
April 14 – Saturday
Diving with Conch Republic Divers
Two-tank morning dives: Molasses Reef & USS Spiegel Grove
Two-tank afternoon dives: Duane & French Reef
Accommodations: Ocean Point Condos in Tavernier
 April 15 – Sunday
Diving with Conch Republic Divers:
Two-tank morning dives USS Spiegel Grove & Molasses Reef
Afternoon travel to Key West
Accommodations: Fairfield Inn & Suites
April 16 – Monday
Diving with Southpoint Divers
Two-tank morning dives: USS Vandenberg & reef dive (TBD)
Two-tank afternoon dives: Cayman Salvage Master & reef dive (TBD)
Accommodations: Fairfield Inn & Suites
April 17 – Tuesday
Two-tank morning dives: USS Vandenberg & reef dive (TBD)
Relax rest of the day in beautiful Key West, Florida. Check out the Hog's Breath Saloon Hog Cam!
April 18 – Wednesday
Travel back up the Keys for afternoon flights back to St. Louis
 Trip Includes:
• 5 nights accommodations in Key Largo (Fri. & Sat. nights) & Key West (Sun.-Tues nights) -- double occupancy
• 12 scheduled boat dives
• Tanks and weights
• Trip T-shirt
 Not included:
• Transportation to the Keys (airfare & car rental)
• Meals and beverages
• Gratuities
• Nitrox
Cost:
$725 per non-diver (double occupancy)
$1,250 per diver (double occupancy)
>>>>Download the Flier<<<
The fine print:
Deposit of $200 per person is required at sign-up. Deposits and payments are non-refundable unless we can fill your space prior to departure. We urge you to carry travel and dive insurance to cover the unexpected. Final payment will be due no later than March 23, 2012.
The
Florida Keys offer a wide array of diving experiences from
numerous wrecks to fishy coral reefs. Below is a sampling
of the sites waiting to be explored:
Florida
Keys National Marine
Sanctuary Shipwreck Trail
 Spiegel
Grove (photo to right)
The USS Spiegel Grove is a Landing Ship Dock (LSD 32), which has been sunk to create an artificial reef in Key Largo. The vessel is 510 feet in length and 84 feet wide making it is one of the largest diveable ship wrecks in
the world. She resides at a depth of 134 feet near Dixie Shoals in Key Largo. The depth at the highest point of the ship is 60-65 ft., dpending on the tide level. Since her sinking in 2002, the Spiegel Grove had been lying on her starboard side. Due to the waves/currents/surge from Hurricane Dennis, the Spiegel Grove now sits upright as shown here. To defray the costs of cleanup, preparation, and towing, the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce Artifical Reef Committee sells medallions which will be required for divers wishing to visit the artificial reefs off the Upper Keys. You can purchase one of two medallions: a lifetime version for $250 or an annual medallion for $10. More information HERE.
The
Duane (photo on top of page)
The US Coast Guard cutter Duane lies upright on a sandy bottom
in 120 feet of water near Molasses Reef. It is 327 feet long,
with the main deck at a depth of 100 feet. Examine the empty
wheelhouse and note the smokestack, dented and crumbled from
the implosive force of the water as she sank. A look over
the bow reveals the massive anchor chain. Find out more HERE.
Benwood
Built in 1910, the Benwood was a 360 ft. freighter. In 1942,
she sunk as a result of a collision, while operating during
blackout conditions during World War II. The Benwood lies
on the bottom of a low profile reef at a depth of 25 to 45
feet and is known as one of the fishiest wrecks in the Keys.
Find out more HERE.
City
of Washington
Built as a two-masted sailing vessel in 1887, the City of
Washington served as a passenger/cargo transport vessel. In
1917, a tugboat towing the City of Washington and another
vessel ran aground. The City of Washington sunk in 25 feet
of water. Find out more HERE.
Molasses Reef
Molasses Reef is one of the most visited and photographed coral reefs on earth. At depths ranging from 10-40 feet, Molasses Reef features high profile spur and groove coral formations. At 40-60 feet down, seaward sand chutes separate a gently sloping hard flat bottom adorned by hard and soft corals, along with a variety of sponges. The "drop-off" begins in the 50-60 foot range, and extends downward at various angles to the 70-100 foot range. The fore reef makes for excellent drift diving! Visibility is typically above average.
 USNS Vandenberg
The USS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg (photo to the left) is Key West’s newest artificial reef having been sunk on May 27, 2009. She lies in 140 feet of water approximately 6 miles SSE of Key West in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS). She was originally commissioned as the General Harry Taylor in May 1944 and served as a troop transport in World War II. She was re-commissioned in 1963 as the USAFS Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg and began service for the Atlantic Missile Range as a missile tracking ship. In 1983, she was mothballed and transferred to MARAD at the James River fleet in Virginia. Universal Studios used her in 1996 in California for the filming of the motion picture Virus starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Sutherland before returned to the James River fleet.
Cayman Salvage Master
The Cayman Salvage Master was built in 1937. She is 187-feet long, with a beam of 37 feet. She was originally a mine layer, then later served as a personal yacht for a local commander. She was originally christened the "F. V. Hunt", later becoming the "Lt. Col. Ellery W. Niles." She transported Cuban refugees during the Mariel boatlift in 1979, resulting in her seizure by the US government. While awaiting her fate at dock in Key West, she sank. After raising her, she was designated for sinking in 300 feet of water as a sport fisherman attraction. In August, 1985, she was being towed enroute to her designated resting spot when she sank prematurely, landing in 90 feet of water on her port side. Later in 1985, Hurricane Kate kindly righted her.
The
Florida Keys & Key Largo
We
strongly recommend travel
insurance.
Contact Mick Hancox at 314-469-8722. |
