Keys Dive Trip

[seafansar]

I went to the Keys last weekend with my dad and lucked out! The weather was perfect for going out in the boat. We stayed on Big Pine Key (near where we used to live when I was little) and dove, fished, snorkeled, and found some lobster. We saw a ton of reef fish and the bottom was beautiful. I took a bunch of pictures during the dives and some came out really good. I used an Olympus Stylus 1030 sw camera. Here are some of the pictures. Hope you enjoy!

Can you believe we were out on the ocean side?! It was glassy for two days.

The water was very clear too. This picture was taken from the boat and he's 23 feet down.

I was so excited when I found pearly jawfish! They were almost always in pairs with holes about 2ft apart. Found them at two dive sites.

Pretty damsel

There were butterflyfish everywhere! I think there were four different kinds.

Blue reef chromis

Baby blue tang

Only found this one staghorn, but it looked like it was doing good. Don't worry, I didn't frag it! It looked like someone broke it when they were lobstering.

 

[seafansar]

More pics!

Cute couple.

Fire coral. They definitely let you know if you've touched them! It burns!

 

[seafansar]

This sponge was beautiful! Bright purple. Looked so much better in person.

Grey angel

Rock beauty

Queen angel

 

[seafansar]

These guys were creepy! Very pale and they were all sitting sideways on the bottom.

That's the end of day one.

 

[Phin]

I am soooo jealous! Last time I got to go diving was in West Palm Beach back in January. :cry:

 

[Ian]

Great pix! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Reeferdood]

Very nice, where in the Keys did you go??

 

[Reeferdood]

Nevermind, duh.... Nice pics!!

 

[Azurel]

Great pics thanks for sharing....

 

[seafansar]

I am soooo jealous! Last time I got to go diving was in West Palm Beach back in January. :cry:

LOL. It was a pretty fun trip! We really lucked out with the weather. When we went last time, the water was too rough and we had to stay close to the islands and didn't do much diving at all.

 

[seafansar]

Great pix! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks! I was surprised with how well they came out.

Nevermind, duh.... Nice pics!!

LOL. Thanks! I think we were between Looe Key and the American Shoals.

Great pics thanks for sharing....

Thanks!


I have more pictures from day 2 and 3 and a neat little video of two jawfish. I'll post those soon.

 

[BlazinNano]

That is what I love about the keys. I have friends that live down there. I dont go down there that much because people forget how long Florida is. From downtown Orlando it still takes me 6 1/2 hours at almost 80 the whole way. It is great down there though. You can sit in the boat and see stuff. We always go to the Marathon Lighthouse. There is Tuna everywhere. But it is a safe zone so not fishing.

 

[fsu1dolfan]

Great pics....i love going down to the Keys for some snorkeling. I have been to the Marquesas Islands a couple of times and both times saw lots of nice stuff...i had a crappy disposable camera but i am thinking about the olympus underwater cameras...which kind did you use?? Your pics came out great!!

EDIT i went back and re-read it LOL DUH

 

[Neon Reef]

Beautiful pictures. thank you so much for sharing them with us. As spectacular as they look in pictures, I can only imagine what an incredible experience it must be to see everything in person. wow

 

[seafansar]

That is what I love about the keys. I have friends that live down there. I dont go down there that much because people forget how long Florida is. From downtown Orlando it still takes me 6 1/2 hours at almost 80 the whole way. It is great down there though. You can sit in the boat and see stuff. We always go to the Marathon Lighthouse. There is Tuna everywhere. But it is a safe zone so not fishing.

We're a little north of Orlando, so it took us about 7+ hours. Very long drive, but worth doing every so often.

Great pics....i love going down to the Keys for some snorkeling. I have been to the Marquesas Islands a couple of times and both times saw lots of nice stuff...i had a crappy disposable camera but i am thinking about the olympus underwater cameras...which kind did you use?? Your pics came out great!!

EDIT i went back and re-read it LOL DUH

LOL. I really like the camera. Takes good pics out of the water, in a tank, or in the ocean!

Beautiful pictures. thank you so much for sharing them with us. As spectacular as they look in pictures, I can only imagine what an incredible experience it must be to see everything in person. wow

Thanks! It was awesome!

 

[aquafrags]

awesome conditions and great pics

 

[EliteReefs]

really cool. looks like it was a great trip.

i always find it funny that i live so close yet i have never been to the keys. we even have a shuttle bout that takes you there for cheap in four hours. i guess i should get off my butt and check it out

 

[Viva'sReef]

Amazing pics....and wow what beautiful water. I need to go someday

 

[nayrgaijin]

WOW that looks so awesome ! I bet you enjoyed every second.... Something I need to do very soon !

 

[seafansar]

Okay, pics from day two. We went on the Gulf side to find some lobster (got our limit in 3ft of water!). We saw about 5 sea turtles where we dove. It was weird, I don't know why there were so many there. And we saw a dolphin and tons on jellyfish (they hate me!). I'm still itching from the jellyfish.

The weather was still great!

My dad getting a lobster.

Barnacle blenny (I think). Found three of them. They were tiny.

This guy was huge! Like 5 ft long! You can sort of see it in the picture. It wouldn't let me get that close. Goliath groupers are really common out there.

Can you find the fish?