Article Author:

Owen
Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Congratulations to Michelle Holder and Cannon Herchel on the first ocean dive since receiving their PADI Open Water certifications.  This couple from South Carolina were determined to get into the ocean despite the five to six foot waves.  Michelle and Cannon performed their dive well and were rewarded with the sightings of marine life that Key Largo is famous for.  The headliners were a large Green Moray Eel and several large Barricuda.  Also diving were Matt Dionne and Don Heukels.  Our fine Jedi Knight Dive warriors were lead by PADI Open Water Instructor Adriana Antelo.

Article Author:

Owen
Master Scuba Diver Trainer

OK.   It has been a little choppy the last couple of days diving in the Keys. The surface conditions have been a little rough.  Atypical for the Keys.  However, the diving conditions continue to accomodate the hearty souls the brave the surface conditions these last few days.  75 degree water temperature, little current, and descent visibility.  Not to mention the abundance of marine life to see.   Father/daughter dive buddies Jim and Dianna, braved the conditions at Pickles and Fire Coral Cave (Molasses Reef) and were rewarded for the efforts.  Several Nurse Sharks, Scorpion Fish, and some large Groupers were on the hit parade.  Jim and Diana have been diving with Rainbow Reef Dive Center during the last several days of their vacation.  On this date, Jim and Dianna were guided by PADI Open Water Instructor Joe Flowers.  Dianna was so happy she did a little “showboating” on her safety stop (photo attached).  So you can either continue to incessantly whine about the conditions (which only motivates your friends to make fun of you behind your back anyway) or you can get your buttocks down here and get in the water and see some cool stuff!  If you do come, and you whine on the boat, we will find a skirt to fit you, and the crew WILL DEFINITELY talk about you behind your back.  Or we will take the high road and ridicule you to your face until you are a mere shell of the person you use to be.  It will be worth the trip either way!

Article Author:

Captain D.J.
Master Instructor

Hi gang,

After a pretty awful week of wind, waves and low visibility, the weather has finally taken a turn for the better. The wind is still with us a bit, but it wasn’t bad, but the important thing is that the visibility has returned!! It was a small trip on the Tropical Explorer. We had Walter and Michael Blake, Jerry Haun and Cunshan Compron along for the ride as well as Kevin (RRDC Instructor) and Tom (RRDC Divemaster) in the rew. We visited the Wreck of the Duane this morning and made a stop at a new dive site that is called TripleXXX. We’ve had it in the GPS for a while, but just never managed to get there. It’s situated south of Snapper Ledge out in deeper water. The divers gave it high marks. It seems to be a low level spur and patch system that make a great drift dive. It starts in about 40 feet of water and slopes down to about 70. Lots of juvenile fish and very healthy corals are scattered along the bottom. The divers loved the Duane today, about 80 feet of visibility, and no current. Enjoy the pictures (courtesy of Tom), and we’ll see you soon!

Article Author:

Owen
Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Gary Kleintop thought he and his scouts would do something adventurous to earn merit badges.  So Gary enrolled his Pennsyvania Boy Scouts into Rainbow Reef’s PADI Discover Scuba Diving course.  Congrats to Gary, Ryan, Jared, David, Richard, Albert, Justin, and Rich.  All successfully completed their PADI DSD course yesterday, Sunday, December 17th.  Gary and his gang of hard-charging, fire-eating, buckaroos quickly mastered their required confined-water skills at Rainbow Reef Dive Center at Chesapeake Resort and then it was off to the open water for their two dives.  At “The Maze” the lads were treated to the sight of a large Sea Turtle and a 5 foot Nurse Shark.  Next it was off to “Rocky Top” where they got a close up of a large 6 foot Barricuda and a couple of Spotted Moray Eels who were more than happy to “pose” for the lads.  By successfully completing the dives each boy earned a merit badge with the Troop.  The course was administered by yours truly, Captain/MSDT Bill, and new PADI Open Water Dive Instructors ”Brownie” and Adriana.  Well done folks.     

Article Author:

Owen
Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Congratulations to ADRIANA ANTELO, IAIN BROWN, BRITTANY BRUCE, NICK GODDARD, TOM MARTIN, CORY MONK, GALEN “Cole” ABBOTT, AND JOSH WOOLBRIDGE for their successful participation in the PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor Exam conducted December 10th and 11th in Key Largo, Florida.  The Exam consisted of confined and open water skills, oral presentations ranging over a broad area of Scuba Diving knowledge reviews, academic testing in areas such as Physics, Dive Theory, Physiology, and Dive Training Standards, and the demonstration of a Rescue Dive involving an unresponsive diver at the surface.  The open water conditions were a wee bit chilly, making the testing more challenging.  However, our folks aced their exams.  Now our fine, young, JEDI knights pursue their Master Scuba Diver Trainer rating.  Our folks were prepared for the exam by Rainbow Reef’s PADI Course Director Extradoinaire’ TOM WITMER, who was assisted by PADI Staff Instructor, the lovely and talented JILL THUDIUM.  Look out dive world, there are some new sheriff’s in town…..er…uh, I mean in the ocean, and they are the newest additions to Witmer’s Dive Instructor Warriors!!!!  Or was that Rainbow Reef Dive Rebels….I can’t remember which.  Well done gang.  

Article Author:

Owen
Master Scuba Diver Trainer

December 7th and the weather continues to impress.  Visibility was good for Rainbow Reef Divers visiting the Christ Statue and the Banana Patch.  Sun Rays symbolically illuminated the statue as divers enjoyed the good visibility and lack of current.  Banana Patch had an abundance of Barracuda and one, very large Lobster.  The warmth of the sun allowed our December divers to enjoy the ride back to port without need for heavy clothing.  Were it not for the slightly cooler seasonal water temperatures, the day mirrored a dive day in July. 

Article Author:

Owen
Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Hi folks,     Well the cold spell is over and divers felt the warmth of the sun during Rainbow Reef’s morning dive to the Benwood and Molasses Reef.  The air temperature exceeded 80 degrees farenheit, the Visibility was excellent, and there was little to no current.  We were joined by Juan Madina, Kyle and Dave Lott, and three members of the Morrisson family.  The Benwood provided sights such as a large sea turtle (upon entry), several large Nassau Grouper having some sort of seafood buffet at the bow of the sunken vessel, and large schools of Snapper and Goatfish lounging above the deck.  There was also a small gathering of Barricuda hanging of the port side of the ship.  Molasses provided a large Green Moray Eel fully exposed hanging under a reef ledge, a couple of large French Angelfish, a five foot Barricuda stalking some unsuspecting grunts, another turtle, and one very fiesty Damselfish who opened up a can of marine whoop-ass on a much larger parrot fish.  The parrotfish is now aptly-named, “Sissy”.   The warmth of the sun was a welcome change during the ride back to the Marina.  So break the sunscreen out again, grab your gear and come on down to Key Largo, the Florida Sunshine is back.