After dive buddy Derek suffered a messy breakup, it was up to me to get him through the dreaded Valentine’s Day weekend. Both of us were able to take a week off, so Friday after work we hopped on a cheapie flight to Florida for some much-needed diving in the Keys, most of which we spent with Amy Slate’s Amoray Dive Resort – they have trips to the Spiegel Grove and a lot of other top dive spots. First stop Saturday morning was John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Saw Christ of the Deep off Dry Rocks Reef near Key Largo.
Next up was a day of diving the Vandenberg. Derek and I were there back in 2010, a year after its sinking, and the difference in coral growth between then and now is striking. There are lots of cool critters to see while poking around the decks and checking out the old balloon hangar. Barracudas, sharks, and a couple of big groupers were there, plus quite a few smaller fish.
Much smaller, but just as fascinating in its own way is the wreck of the Thunderbolt, which is off Marathon. This is a classic Florida Keys wreck, with loads of sponges, a lot corals, and quite a few hydroids everywhere. Crossing the bow, we came face to face with a massive grouper that had to be in the 400-500 pound range.
Wednesday, we dived the Eagle wreck. This one lies sideways on the ocean floor, and it was easy to check out the whole thing staying at depths of about 65-100 feet. We saw nurse sharks, quite a few amberjack, and loads of silversides. Quite a bit of current at this site, so I was grateful for the anchor lines.
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday we spent on the Spiegel Grove. It’s a combination of underwater zoo and navy ship, 510 feet long, with several mooring buoys. If you want to see this wreck, my advice is to plan for at least two days of diving. It takes a few dives just to get oriented. I’ve been here on five separate trips and I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of coming back.