SCUBA Diving in the Florida Keys

On August 9, 2000, I went SCUBA Diving with the UT SCUBA Club.  We did 9 dives in 4 days.  we did all of our dives on boats chartered from Captain Slate's Atlantis Dive Center   Check them out for a phatTly recommended good time.  Also of note, our diving was contained in the coral reefs of John Kennekamp State Park in Key Largo, Florida.  This is A SIMPLY AMAZING AREA and should not be missed by any divers!

Phatty loving life at 95 feet
 This shot was taken on the upper deck of the SS Duane, a Coast Guard cutter that sank and landed upright at around 135 feet.  I dove to a maximum depth of 107 feet and I never touched the main deck, which was below at around 115 feet.  Photo by Ralph Harvey, my dive buddy on this deeper training dive.  This along with my night dive and other skills practiced on the trip helped me get my NAUI Advanced Open Water Diver Certification.

 

Click on any picture below for a much larger image with greater resolution

Gives you chills to see.

"Christ Of the Abyss"
Depth:  17 feet

Photo by Ralph Harvey

Phatty is no phlounder...
Phatty is truly in SCHOOL!
Bentwood Wreck

Depth:  40 feet

Photo by Christian

OUCH!! That stuff burns if you touch it!

Phatty squeezes thru the fire coral
Depth: 35 feet

Photo by RH

Night diving on the shipwreck

Looking through a window
City of Washington Wreck
Night dive
Photo by Christian

 

NAUI rules state no alcohol within 24 hours of diving.

UT SCUBA CLUB
Night Divers

The waves are visible on the surface because of 100 foot visibility.

Ever wondered what the surface looked like from 95 feet underwater?  Ever think you could see the surface looking up from 95 feet?  Taken from right above the SS Duane's deck. 100+ feet visibilty, no current and Phatty to show ya!  It doesn't get too much better than that dive.

Photo by Phatty

 

Ralph exploring the depths

Ralph above the deck

Depth:  85 feet

Photo by Phatty

Just passing thru...

Inside the hallway of the
SS Duane

Depth:  75 feet

Photo by RH

 

Ralph showing good neutral buoyancy

Ralph over Mike's Wreck

Depth:  40 feet

Photo by Phatty

Lucky fish...

Ahh the wonders of nature
Beautiful and colorful coral

Depth:  28-30 feet

Photo by Phatty

 

 

Smiling at me with those silver teeth!

Barry the Barracuda

Depth:  35

Photo by Phatty

More wonders of nature!
I saw so many different kinds of fishes down there:  Triggerfish, Sargent fish, snappers, yellowtails, trumpet fish, eels, turtles, nurse sharks,  name it and I saw it.

Photo by Phatty

 

Amanda and I float over the Five Fingers Coral Area

The place I saw was far beneath
The surface of the sea
My sight was poor
But I was sure
   The sirens sang their songs for me

They dance above me as I sink
I see them through a crystal haze
And hear their sweet sound bouncing 'round
the never ending coral maze

from Bouncin' Around the Room
lyrics by Trey Anastasio

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