Article Author:

Captain D.J.
Master Instructor

Hi gang,

Just wanted to share our day with those of you who follow our blog..

We had to tow the Tropical Voyager to Marathon today(she blew up her motor last week), and as the title says, it was not only to Marathon (Mile Marker 45) but it was a marathon trip! Our crew was me (driving the Tropical Dream as the tow boat) Chris, Alaina and Rob. Everything started well as we pulled off the dock, and shortly after the fun began. It was pretty tough�controlling a 29,000 pound vessel in our canal with the Tropical Dream, which probably weights about 5,000 pounds. Needless to say we had to fend off quite a few times ,� I used a few colorful metaphors several times to describe my feelings on how it was all going, but the�problems really started when the Dream stalled out�a few times. Each time it did, we basically lost control and�Alaina, Chris and Rob ran around like nuts trying to keep us from crashing. At one point the Dream quit and I couldn’t get her started for about 20 minutes while we hung on to the�boat lifts along the side of Key Largo Harbor. Then she quit one final time right�next to the jetty (worst possible place), so�the wind took the Voyager into the rocks. All in all, just one scratch, not too bad.

It was clear at that point we needed to call in reinforcements as the Dream was just outmatched. We got the Tropical Explorer out in the channel�to take over. Once we did that, it was merely 12 more hours down to�Marathon (can you detect the sarcasm?), we already had 3 hours into since we started at 6am, and�didn’t get the Explorer hooked up until 9am and pointed�south. We�loaded all of us�on the Explorer for the ride down, but not before Alaina had to get wet so she could untangle the tow line from the shaft.

The next 12 hours�Rob and I�discussed everything from�music, geo politcal�solutions,�Chris Angel’s magic tricks, through and to cultural nuances between the states and the brits. Chris and I learned lots of new British slang courtesy of Rob. Alaina took 5 naps. Chris was out for a while. We all took turns driving. We cruised at a steady 4.6 knots.��We finally got to boot key in Marathon as the sun was setting. We were headed down the channel�and then�the draw bridge decided not to answer. Rob and Chris scrambled to the top of the Voyager to take the antennas down. SPLASH! He slipped from top deck and went in! Rob apparently decided that this trip was going to hell and he abandoned ship! The official count was now up to 2 wet, 2 dry. Then when we finally got under the bridge, we missed the marina entrance and had to make a big loop in a tight spot with sailboats parked all over. Amazingly enough we managed to not hit anything and finally drove it down the tight canal and parked both boats on the sea wall.

Whewh.. We made it.. Left at 6am, arrived at 9pm. Drove home 1 hour.� It is now after 10pm. Alaina, Chris and Rob did an awesome job for sure. I’m not sure about any of them, but I still feel like I’m rocking on a boat.. Anyway, some pictures of what the motor looks like coming out of the boat..��

Article Author:

Captain D.J.
Master Instructor

Hello everyone! Welcome to another report direct from the reef!

We’ve had great July, and this weekend was no exception. Team Divers was down as they are every weekend, and we also had Sea Ventures for the monthly trip. Congratulations to Claude from Sea Ventures for finally becoming an OWSI! We would also like to say hello to an old friend, Kirk Bullock who is visiting us again. He was one of my first students way back when..

Today was also a day we had some friends who were trying diving for the first time. My friend Robin from Miami came down with her boyfriend Jamyl to try diving! Jamyl is from Peru and he’s been diving a bunch, but never ended up certified. I’ve probably invited Robin 100 times and she could never make it. Most of the time, not making it probably had more to do with the fact that she didn’t think she could do it! Brad had her in the pool and got her comfortable, but she was still one of those that wasn’t so sure they’d pull it off once we got to the reef. Well, we never had a doubt and Robin did great, and we have video to prove it! She’s a teacher, so hopefully she can have show and tell with the “This is what I did on my summer vacation” type thing!

We went to Snapper Ledge and Pickles Reef. Most of the footage was from Snapper Ledge, and you’ll be able to see why it’s one of our favorite spots. Normally, we can’t even judge the visibility because you can’t see through the fish! Lots of French Grunts, Yellow Tail, and Striped Grunts all over!�We also saw an huge green moray, a juvenile Queen Angel, a black tip shark and a baby nurse shark. Visibility was probably 50 feet and there was zero current and almost calm seas.

Click here to see the Snapper Ledge VIDEO! (requires Flash)

Article Author:

Captain D.J.
Master Instructor

Hi Gang,

�As you know, at Rainbow Reef, we often try and drop our divers off in shark infested waters! Of course, we are not always successful, and even when we are, we’ve noticed most sharks that are not nurse sharks, are quite camera shy. They usually leave the scene once the camera starts rolling, or at least that is how it seems to me.. Who knows, maybe I smell bad and they just split! We see them quite often, but never for long..

�Today was the exception.. Ken (our Course Director) and I had a rare day off and we decided to drive down the Keys a bit and dive at the Adolphus Bush wreck. It’s a nice wreck, something different for us, but it seemed sort of like a row boat compared to the Spiegel, Duane and Eagle.. No sharks on the wreck. After the wreck we went over to Looe Key and as I was adjusting my camera, I was coming around a big coral head while swimming to the end of a sand channel and a reef shark swam right into me! I think we surprised each other! Well, I was surprised anyway. So I hit record and expected him to swim away promptly. He didn’t, he started circling me and checking me out.�It was lots of fun, and you get to see it all on video!

Special thanks to the Crew at Looe Key Dive Resort, they took us out, they run a nice shop, and the crew was friendly. You can see the head instructor with his DSD student right at the opening of the video..

Click here to the Shark Video (requires Flash)