Dive Report

DIVE REPORT: LOW VIZ DOESN’T STOP US FROM PROTECTING THE OCEAN

July 15, 2021

Crab — When visibility is low, you can still look for tiny critters that walk along the reef. ERIC BILLIPS/Contributed

This Week’s Dive Report

Usually, the warmer months bring flat seas (when there aren’t hurricanes) and endless visibility. This is actually what Florida Keys diving is famous for.

Instead, this summer has been an interesting one in the Keys. We continue to have wind blusters and small storms. Tropical Storm Elsa didn’t hit close to home, thank goddess, but did stir up our infamous visibility. Instead of that crystal clear turquoise water we love to see, it was more of a milky blue, with unsettled sediment in the water column. This made diving conditions “average.”

Not to worry, the ocean always mends herself. Our “Keys” viz will be back before you know it.

Despite this, we hosted another successful “Shark Awareness” trip. When the sharks are just inches away, who needs great visibility?

Next Week’s Dive Report

Next week, the wind is going to blow a little at the beginning of the week, but should blow clean onto the water and then lay down. This should bring us back to some ideal conditions.

In the Keys, nurse sharks are a common site on dives. They patrol the reef bottoms and often hide beneath ledges. ERIC BILLIPS/Contributed

Conservation Update

Every Friday, our Shark Awareness Dives take you out of the classroom and onto the water to learn about the importance of these apex predators. Many people grow up fearing them because of the media and movies. However, the truth is far from what we see. Sharks are the top of the ocean’s food chain, and they are 100% endangered. Everything from demand for shark fin soup to unsustainable fishing is harming these beautiful creatures. You will learn about these threats in our course. We also cover what you can do to help protect these animals.

Aside from our Shark Awareness Dive, we also enjoyed another weekend of planting corals out by Alligator Reef. This is Islamorada’s most famous reef, and it is a privilege to help restore its corals.

Sharks and corals are both critical parts of a healthy ocean. We are proud to bring awareness and help protect both these iconic Keys species.

Conservation Tip

If you’re out on your boat or the shoreline after a storm, keep an eye out for marine debris and pick up anything you see. Lots of trash can blow off land and boats during high winds. Getting to it before it harms wildlife or corals is key.