DIVE REPORT: WEATHERING THE STORM WITH A METEOROLOGIST

An I.CARE participant celebrates after successfully planting endangered staghorn corals back onto the reef. TONY TIMPANO/Tony Timpano Ocean Imaging

This Week’s Dive Report

Conditions this past week were fantastic! There was amazing visibility with a slight breeze, making the dive experience above and below the surface extremely pleasant. 

We had our eyes on Elsa, but didn’t think she’d be much of a threat here in the Upper Keys. So far, it seems as if we’ve been spared.

Speaking of Elsa, this past weekend we certified Allison Banks, the meteorologist for NBC 2 in Fort Myers. It was pretty neat to have an expert to give us predictions on the storm. Congrats to Ali on her certification, and thanks for the info!

Next Week’s Dive Report

This week’s weather is still undetermined. We kept a close eye on Elsa to see what she would do after going over Cuba. You never know with these big storms coming in from the open ocean. We all watch the spaghetti models, and know that the cone can shift and move in a matter of hours. Accordingly, all boats were tied up, just in case.

For any potential large storms, always prepare your vessel. “Batten down the hatches,” as they used to say. For us, this means: tie up your vessel correctly, make sure there is enough protection (i.e. bumpers) between the boat and the dock, remove everything loose off the boat or stow it in a locked compartment, and remove Bimini tops, isinglass and electronics. A little preparation will help ensure your boat weathers the storm and will be ready for you to enjoy, as soon as the skies clear.

Conservation Update

On Saturday, we had another amazing day of planting corals. It always feels good to put in a day’s work for the reef. Conservation and ocean optimism never get old. 

As an added bonus, our shop’s photographer was out there to get some amazing shots of participants doing their part to restore the reef.

Conservation Tip

Properly preparing your vessel for any storms ensures minimal damage to your boat and the surrounding environment. 

I.CARE Tip

This Saturday, Key Dives will host the coral planting trip.

Eric Billips
Eric Billips is is the owner, captain and instructor at Islamorada Dive Center and Floridia Keys Dive Center. He specializes in scuba, rebreather, spearfishing and captaining in the Florida Keys