Trip Reports + -

DIVING THE "NEW" SPIEGEL GROVE
By Rachel Malakoff

When I got the e-mail about the Spiegel Grove flipping herself upright during Hurricane Dennis, I thought for sure it was a big joke. After all, Captain Donna Barton of the Sea Angel and Sea Farer Resort was known for sending e-mail urban (or should I say, marine) legends. So, I forwarded it onto another scuba boat captain and asked her as well. She too said it was not a hoax and it actually happened.

A short history of the Spiegel Grove for those who may not be familiar with her story. She was a LSD (Landing Ship Dock), which was sunk in May 2002 as an artificial reef in Key Largo. Originally meant to be sunk upright, she started taking on water a few hours before the official sinking and ended up upside down with her bow sticking out of the water. It took another three weeks and a lot more money to try to get her upright, which never happened. She eventually settled on her starboard side.

Hurricane Dennis, with 20-foot waves and extremely treacherous currents, did what no man (nor woman) could do. Since the Spiegel Grove was designed for carrying huge military equipment such as tanks, trucks, and helicopters, the back of the ship is like a huge bowl. The "top of the bowl" was facing into the current during the storm. The battering currents eventually forced the ship into an upright position. The ship did not "move" from its location, it just uprighted itself. Can you imagine the force of the currents as the ship is 510 feet long and just under 7,000 tons!

The story continues on after Hurricane Dennis when a few local divers went out to check the moorings lines on the wreck. Noticing that only three of the original nine mooring lines were above the water, it was assumed that the mooring lines had simply broken off and were at the bottom. The first diver to descend to the wreck thought he was "narced" and spent quite some time checking and re-checking his bubbles to make sure that he was still upright and he himself wasn't disoriented. Then, as the other divers descended down the line, they knew it was true. The Spiegel Grove was sitting straight up in all her glory! The locals have since taken to calling her "the Duane on Steroids".

I have been on the wreck twice since it has been up-righted. The first dive was about two weeks after Hurricane Dennis. Amidst smooth seas and only a sight current, we were able to tie up the stern of the dive boat to a mooring ball so there was no need for a granny line. We descended down the line to the bow of the wreck and immediately decided to venture into the swim-throughs. My buddy, a local keys diver of 30+ years, had already dived the wreck twice since it was uprighted so she was becoming familiar with it. Even so, the swim-throughs can be quite daunting in that some go across the ship and are short, and you can see light on the other side. Other swim-throughs follow the length of the ship and are not as well "lit", although there are quite a number of big thick guide ropes. What is very unnerving is that there are so many cubicles and little rooms off the main swim-throughs that are open and enticing to divers, as well as stairwells and holes between the decks. The Keys dive operators are instructing divers not to penetrate except where you can see light on the other side but I watched many divers exploring those dark little rooms. Even my buddy and I ended up going down a staircase, which was a definite no-no, but at the time, it just seemed so open. My hoses did get caught but not to the extent that I would panic. But, truth be told, I fear that with so many swim-throughs and tiny rooms, some diver, experienced or not, is going to get lost and hurt on the wreck very soon.

The second dive was a few weeks later and for me, it was just so much better. It was again calm at the surface although this time there was a very strong surface current. We tied up into the current and used a granny line to get to the mooring ball. From there it was a hand-over-hand trip down the line and we descended on the stern of the wreck. This is an awesome sight as you can go into the area where the equipment was driven aboard and just not feel like you are deep inside the wreck, as the top is still open. The stern platform was already covered with growth and we saw a big fat sea cucumber, spread out like he was sunning himself. Next to him were two bristle worms and an arrow crab with big daddy-long-legs-spidery appendages! We swam under the bridge that crosses over between the starboard and port side some yards up from the stern and then back up over the bridge to the mooring ball. Looking over the starboard side, there is very little growth on that side of the wreck, as it has been lying in the sand for the past three years. You could actually see a clear line of demarcation where the old growth and new growth is on the wreck. We ascended quite slowly and hung like flags in the wind on the line at 15 feet. Ascending further up to the mooring ball, we grabbed the granny line and hung on for a quick ride back to the tag line and up on the deck.

It is a completely different dive than when it was on laying on its starboard side. I can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed it and I am usually a 60-minute-shallow-reef-diver- girl. But, conditions permitting, I would dive this again and again and again. Hope you all get to dive it soon! Happy and safe diving!

Rachel Malakoff
 

HEAVY METAL TOUR
By Rachel Malakoff

Last month I was invited on a “Heavy Metal Tour” of the wrecks of the Upper Keys. This special dive trip is run by Aqua-Nuts/Kelly's On the Bay (MM 104) every so often and consists of visiting the dive sites of The Duane, The Eagle, and The Spiegel Grove in a three tank boat trip.

The day was close to perfect, hotter than Hades, the ocean like a mirror, sparkly and oh-so flat. I was glad for the calm seas as I knew the day would consist of the three deep dives, each to about 100 feet for 20-30 minutes, with two-hour surface intervals in between. I chose to use Nitrox on all three tanks and since I am still using an air computer, I felt that being extra conservative on the dives could only be an added plus.

Upon boarding the Aqua-Nut Diver, I realized that I was diving with the “big dogs”. The boat was full of instructors and divemasters, some from Aqua-Nuts, some local, and some from as far as Jensen Beach. Excluding myself, there was only one other couple who were AOW. I knew this was going to be a tough day of diving, but fun and safe as well.

First dive location was the Duane. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Duane lies upright on a sandy bottom in 120 feet of water one mile south of Molasses Reef, off Key Largo. After being decommissioned on August l, 1985 as the oldest active U.S. military vessel, the Duane was donated to the Keys Association of Dive Operators for use as an artificial reef. On November 27, 1987 she was towed to Molasses and sunk. The Duane is the only wreck in the Florida Keys which sits upright. It is 327 feet long, with a crow's nest that reaches up to about 60 feet. The superstructure deck is at 90 feet and the main deck is at 100 feet.

The current was light on the dive and we tied up our stern to the middle mooring ball. The visibility on the wreck was over 100 feet and some divers saw the resident green moray who resides in the pilot house. I saw an enormous sea cucumber, big and wide, hot purple in color. As a testament to the visibility, coming up the line at around 70 feet, I looked up and could read the name of another local dive boat, painted on their bow, not underneath the vessel, clear as day.

From the Duane in Key Largo, we headed to The Eagle in Islamorada. The trip took about an hour so we spent the next 45 minutes snorkeling and playing above Arnold's Reef. Captain Donna was very diligent in instructing us not to free dive as we needed to release all the nitrogen we could.

The Eagle was an old merchant ship, once named the Aron K, and was used for hauling scrap paper between Miami and South America. In 1985 a group of dive operators in the Keys got together and decided to use it as the first artificial reef in the Upper Keys. It cost $50,000 to prepare and sink, a far cry from the $2 million plus the Spiegel Grove cost. The Eagle Tire Company, making a hefty donation towards the $50,000, was rewarded by having the freighter named for them. In December 1985 she was sunk in one piece and lay on her starboard side until Hurricane George in 1998 split her in two.

Visibility on the Eagle was about 40 feet with absolutely no current. Many of the instructors and divemasters free descended to the wreck. Swarms of minnows spilled out from one of her cargo holds, similar to the Minnow Caves in Key Largo. Although I dove the Eagle many times last summer, this was the first time I had seen the minnows. When caught in the middle of the swarm, it was a little disorienting but a really awesome sight!

I brought my buddy and the boat's divemaster (husband and wife team) a lunch of BBQ chicken, pasta salad and decompression cookies (ok…so they are really caramel chocolate chip cookies) which we devoured quickly on the way back to Key Largo, heading towards our last dive of the day.

The mooring balls at the Spiegel Grove were busy but we grabbed the last ball at the stern of the huge wreck. The USS Spiegel Grove was a Navy landing ship dock and is currently the largest vessel ever intentionally sunk as an artificial reef. The wreck is 510 feet in length and 84 feet wide, residing at a depth of 130 ft near the Dixie Shoals in Key Largo. A good portion of the wreck is in 50 to 85 feet of water. Almost all divers in South Florida know the story about her sinking, originally planned for May 2002 as an upright wreck, finally sinking in June 2002 settling on her starboard side. The currents on this wreck can be wicked and vertical upwellings have also been experienced.

On this third deep dive of the day, we were going to get to experience one of these ‘ripping' currents. Due to the experience and the relative small size of the group, Captain Donna agreed to a drift dive. We descended the stern ball and were told to stay on the deck side of the wreck, out of the current. Just getting off the line and over the wreck to the deck side took a lot of effort and an outstretched hand from my buddy. Once on the deck side and out of mainstream of the current, the dive was awesome. Visibility was good at about 80 feet, and the current moved us right along. A huge goliath grouper was hanging out when we first jumped off the descent line and two huge arrow crabs welcomed us about halfway through the drift. At the end, we came up the bowline, drifted at the surface around Capt Slate's boat and boarded the Aqua-Nut Diver, which was tied up behind Slate's boat.  

We all had a great time and hooted and hollered all the way back into the dock. It was a shame the dives and the day had to end. Another Heavy Metal Tour is planned for sometime this autumn. Contact me at Strasirena@aol.com for more information. For more information on the wrecks and diving in the Florida Keys, log onto http://www.fknms.nos.noaa.gov/

Rachel Malakoff

TRIP REPORT: AUGUST 27-29, 2004  SINGER ISLAND DIVE TRIP & TURTLE WALKS
By Suzanne Shutters

Coming up from the dive, we surfaced to a perfectly flat sea…more like a lake than an ocean.  Sunshine, warm water and calm seas for two beautiful reef drift dives...it doesn't get much better than this.  Add to that a fabulous boat and crew, homemade chocolate brownies (thanks, Jill!), a nice beachfront resort with a refreshing pool and great dinners just next door, and you can see why our 5th Singer Island trip was once again a sold-out fun weekend away.

Our rooms at the Rutledge were all first floor (easy for hauling dive gear!) and just steps from the pool and beach.  We love these smaller resorts, but our history shows that we stay at one, plan to return and learn that it's been sold for million dollar condos. We want to go back to the Rutledge again next year, but heard that it's just been sold for eight million!   Who knows?

Seventeen of us dove Saturday morning on the Narcosis out of Riviera Beach Marina.  Captain Ray Davis, Jolene, and divemaster/guide Susan gave us excellent service. The Narcosis is one of our favorite boats for good reason.  It's big, fast, kept in perfect condition, and never over-crowded.   Captain Ray gives us one hour dive times, which is longer than the norm in West Palm.  He also gives us the choice of forming our own groups or following the dive guide, again, not always the norm.  The one hour surface interval also gave our air divers a long second dive.   A full size head, hot shower with shampoo, drinks and snacks are some of the nice touches.  Captain Ray goes the extra distance to some of the better reefs, in this case, Paul's Reef followed by Bath and Tennis Reef.  The current was minimal.   Several of our lobster ladies excelled with 14 bugs caught, and our photographers were thrilled with the reef structures and life.  

For lunch we did our 2nd annual “Brass Rail” visit, reputed to have the best burgers in the area, then returned to the Rutledge for pool, beach and nap time.

Fridays and Saturdays found us poolside for cocktail hour.  Susan Schulz always tries to get us to eat bit a healthier, and her seaweed crackers became edible when topped with jalapeno cheese, receiving better reviews than her goat cheese of past years.   To most of us, Jeanne's chips and salsa, the chocolate chip cookies and trail mix seemed just as healthy.  We then walked next door for dinner at the Hilton's outdoor restaurant, where the food and service were excellent.  

On Sunday morning some divers headed back to the Narcosis and reported another great day of diving, this time heading north to the Juno ledges.  Some ladies went kayaking; others spent time on the beach or read by the pool, while others went for the Sunday brunch at the Hilton.  

We all enjoyed a short trip home.  One of the joys of the Singer Island trip is that it feels like an “away vacation”, yet it's just a short hour or so drive from home.  We'll keep heading back there each summer, as long as we can find places to stay.   In the meantime, it's close enough for a day trip…call Captain Ray at 866-627-2674.

Suzanne Shutters

REVIEW OF VENICE TRIP
By Karen Gagliano

I delayed going on a Venice trip for hunting sharks teeth for several years. I remember telling Diane Randolph that I thought I would be bored by 4+ hours a day of looking for the teeth for two days. She told me you get hooked by the "treasure hunting" aspect of it. Well, I guess she was right. 12 of us spent more than 8 hours underwater on the weekend of July 10 and no one got bored. In fact, everyone raved about what a fun trip it was. Florida West Scuba School owner and captain Steve is a geologist very knowledgeable about the teeth and fossils we brought up. His new dive boat was roomy and very comfortable. His crew on the boat and in the shop were terrific. Service was timely and included storing our stuff in the shop overnight and returning it to the boat the next morning.

As for the hunt, the seas were flat calm and a very warm 88 degrees. Just about everyone found Megalodon sharks teeth from millions of years ago. Elaine Malfas found the two largest teeth (over 4 inches long). Kim Baumgardner found a very rare tooth from an extinct Atlantic Great White shark. I got about 40 smaller teeth from various species of sharks. For some, the 4 hours on the dive boat on Saturday were not enough. They rented tanks and did a beach dive too! I see what Diane meant about getting addicted to the hunt for this treasure.

This summer we upgraded and stayed at the Holiday Inn. It was definitely worth the few dollars extra over the Motel 6. After diving we ate a late lunch at the Marker 4 waterfront restaurant right at the dive boat dock. On Saturday evening we grabbed our beach chairs and coolers and headed to the drum circle on Casey Key. This is a sunset celebration where people of all ages and walks of life meet on the beach about 2 hours before sunset. Many bring drums and other rhythm instruments and create a beat for others to follow. Belly dancers and other "entertainers" enter the circle and perform. It’s a relaxing end to a perfect summer day. If you haven’t been to Venice for this trip you need to consider adding this to your diving experience. It’s easy diving and lots of fun.

Karen Gagliano

LOBSTERING 101 (or What Not to Do the First Time Around!)
By Rachel Malakoff

As the summer and lobster season approaches, I highly recommend that club members who have never “lobstered” before attend the annual club meeting where Karen Gagliano and others provide some lobstering tips. But, don’t be like me and just attend the meeting; you need to pay attention as well! Darn it, I clearly remember going to the meeting at Karen’s house in August 2002. I also remember seeing good friends and eating good food. Now, only if I had paid more attention to the topic!

Fast forward to summer of 2003. I started diving a lot more than in previous summers and decided it was the summer I was going to learn to lobster! Picked up the whole kit (net, bag, gloves, stick and gauge) at a discount shop in Key Largo and headed down to Tavernier to dive with the Upper Keys Dive Center. My friend and instructor Darrel was my buddy and when asked if I knew how to lobster, I responded “Of course!” After all, how hard could it be?

It was one of those perfect days when you can see clear down to the sandy bottom, 30 feet below, flat calm, water like a bathtub. After a giant stride off the boat, I reach back and take my lobstering gear from the mate. Immediately right under the boat there it is! The Granddaddy of all lobsters! Well, at least to me, my first, he was huge! (Aren’t they always?) I grab my net and stick and with the net directly in front of him, start to coax him into the net. WHAT? HUH? He starts to sidestep so I do too. Two steps to the left, three to the right, two more back to the left. Here I am tangoing with him for a few minutes but he is no closer to waltzing into my net. Darrel, who by the way is laughing so hard his mask is starting to flood with water, writes on his slate; “Not going to commit suicide. Can see the net!” Ok…just a minor setback, nothing that can’t be rectified.

After a quick tour of the reef, I am back again under the boat. Yep, Grandpa Lobster is hanging out again, probably laughing at me as well. This time I position the net sort of behind him and off to the side. Coaxing him out slowly with my tickle stick and then BAMM! I scare him backward into the net! I GOT HIM! I GOT HIM! Unfortunately, I didn’t pay attention in Karen’s class when she showed how to flip the net into the sand and trap him. Being so very very excited, I bring the net close to my face to look at my prize and the damm bug comes flying out at me. Do you know that you can curse under water? I do now! So, a little unnerved as this lobster comes lunging at me, I drop everything. A glance at Darrel shows him still laughing.

2nd boat dive and this time I know I am going to get one! Drop into the water and again, almost right into a family of lobsters! Get one into the net, get the net into the sand, grab the bug with my new lobster gloves, almost lose the bug with my new lobster gloves (the bugs are “spinier” than they look), make a mental note to myself get better gloves, and get it into the bag! One more lobster later in the goody bag and I am feeling like the Queen of the lobster world!

Coming back into Tavernier, rounding the corner into the canal, just a ¼ mile from the dock, Darrel says to me, “You did measure them and check for eggs, right?” Oh crap! Lucky for me, no eggs and of adequate size! Phew!

Won’t go into detail but I also learned to kill them. Sufficient to say, I call my other half in Broward and invite him down for dinner. He makes the 82 miles trip in about 68 minutes flat when he hears the menu is fresh caught lobster!

So, plan on attending the lobster refresher course and pay attention! Definitely worth it! Can’t wait to go lobstering again this summer!

Rachel Malakoff

EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK…..TRIP RESEARCH PROJECT
By Suzanne Shutters

Our Club trips all start with someone visiting a new place and gathering information about accommodations, pricing, activities, etc. Travel buddy Karen and I did a Friday though Monday trip over Easter that we thought we’d share with you. Let us know what you think!

Where? Flamingo Lodge on Florida Bay. Why? Lots of wildlife, biking, canoeing, kayaking, and hiking. Why not? Look on a map…it’s in the middle of nowhere. Mosquitoes. 50 miles to the nearest town. Nothing to do if the weather is bad. Nowhere to eat if the restaurant is bad. And Karen a bit panicked about having to relax for too long.

After the traditional rest stop at Divers Outlet in Florida City, we headed south 12 miles to the Park entrance. First stop was the Visitors Center with terrific displays, Rangers to answer questions, and a great little gift shop. (Allow an hour here to see all the exhibits.)

Next stop is Flamingo Lodge, down the road 38 miles. It’s a pretty drive through the Everglades. Quiet. No traffic. Then, directly overhead, flew a real live flamingo. The bird flamingo. Like the kind we see at Disney World or Lion Country standing on one leg…but this one was flying! We were stunned. It was the beginning of a weekend of wildlife viewing that included dozens of breeds of birds, crocodiles, alligators, and topped off with bunny rabbits by the pathway to dinner each night.

There’s a nice rustic campground, so you may be surprised that we opted for one of the air conditioned motel rooms with 2 beds, full bath with hot water, and a TV with 5 English speaking stations, a screened in pool, shaded lounge area, all just a short walk from the two restaurants. (Did I mention the campground had only cold water showers?)

The next 3 days were about as perfect as they could be. With great weather, we rode our bikes for miles and miles, including a beautiful dirt trail through the woods. We rented a double kayak to head 12 miles to Shark Bight to see nesting flamingoes and roseate spoonbills, but turned back due to shallow waters and went instead, with cameras, to an occupied osprey nest on top of a small mangrove in the middle of the Bay. We took a ride on a 3 masted sailing ship into Florida Bay. We had a perfectly clear night for star gazing.

Lunches and dinners were at the 2nd floor restaurant, overlooking the bay, with a friendly staff and very good food, including fresh fish every night. Good shopping was found at the lodge gift shop as well as at the well-stocked Marina store.

On Monday, we experienced one of our best hikes ever at the Anhinga Trail. It’s a ½ mile boardwalk that you could probably walk in 15 minutes. We spent 2 hours. We stopped counting alligators at 40, saw birds and more birds, and even found nests of anhinga chicks being fed by their parents.

Driving home, we were both surprised at what a great time we’d had. Although the facilities were pretty basic, the staff was warm and welcoming, and the wildlife was more than we’d seen anywhere in Florida. We were also very thankful that we’d had great weather, good food, and nice strong 40% deet bug spray. So, maybe we’ll think about a Club trip there next winter or spring….if not, it’s worth visiting on your own. Summer is too buggy, so the best time to go is November through March. Check it out at www.flamingolodge.com.

Suzanne Shutters
 

A REAL WHALE STORY!
By Mary Bromm

I recently returned from a Humpback Whale trip to the Silver Banks in the Caribbean, a protected sanctuary between Turks & Caicos and the Dominican Republic. Each year in February and March about 5,000 Humpback whales migrate from the Northeast coast of the U.S. to this area which becomes a breeding ground and nursery for these 40 foot barnacle crusted gentle giants. From Miami I flew to Puerto Plata , Dominican Republic and boarded the Aggressor whale charter boat with 17 other passengers. It was then another 10 hour overnight crossing from the port to the Silver Banks.

For the protection of the whales, scuba diving is not allowed in the well-monitored area. Being an avid diver I could not imagine only snorkeling for a week while on what would normally be a dive boat. The soft water encounters turned out to be greatly rewarding. Each day brought morning and afternoon runs in search of whales willing to receive our visits. We all had to learn the "no splash" entry into the water from the rubber dinghy to keep from spooking them. When a concerned passenger inquired about our safety during these close encounters, Captain Piers of the Aggressor Fleet was quick to point out he had not experienced an accident with the whales in over 10 years. He stated that due to the internal sonar system within the whales, they were aware of each person's presence in the water at all times. He had even seen a whale lift it's pectoral (side) fin up and out of the water to avoid hitting a snorkeler on the surface.

This trip was a photographer's dream, one of the very few allowing people in the water with the whales rather than just observing them from the surface. Many people shot four to five rolls a day both above and below the water's surface. We saw many mothers with calves and sometimes a male escort to accompany them. I had a curious calf swim close enough to touch; however , no contact is allowed. The mothers with a calf were the easiest to spot because the calf must surface every five minutes for a breath of air. In comparison, the adults must surface every 30 minutes. The protective mothers were never far away from their young, nuzzling them constantly. The males, or bulls, were a different story. They were there to show off and prove their aggression. We saw many aerial displays of breaching, tail slapping and heard vocal trumpeting that left my ears ringing. The rowdy males could also be found sleeping at times, usually in groups of two, sometimes standing on their heads!

We had unusually strong winds during the week making the sightings difficult. I would sight a whale spouting in the distance only to point it out and then get clobbered by a huge wave. Due to the high seas, some sightings would be lost under a cascade of waves. Even with a bit of discomfort and a lot of drenching, it was a marvelous adventure trip witnessing these giant mammals.

Mary Bromm

I am a travel agent at Key Biscayne Travel and Yoga instructor on the island.

[Need a travel agent? Member Mary Bromm can be reached at mary@kbtravel.com

MYAKKA STATE PARK CAMPING TRIP REVIEW
By A Happy Camper

Did you ever meet someone who comes so-o-o-o- close to breaking every rule? But always gets away with it? And always leaves the impression that it just couldn't be her? The innocent eyes…the "who, me?" look?

First, no matter what you've heard, SFWD HAS NOT BEEN BLACKLISTED from the Florida State Parks system.

Second, it was a GREAT weekend…and if you weren't there, you missed one of the best camping trips ever!

Highlights…food first…Dutch oven beef stew, homemade bread, and a yummy banana/cream dessert; New Orleans French toast with grilled bacon and fresh fruits; chicken and shrimp kebobs, monkey-bread and s'mores for dessert; and a Sunday breakfast of fresh fuits and pineapple with baked sausage and egg casserole. Definitely the best camp food we've ever had!

Friday night…Our first campfire, and we hadn't even reached the "singing campfire songs" part, when Park Host #1 came to tell us it was 11 pm, and "quiet time". Nice guy, and he understood that we're just "girls having fun". About 30 seconds after he left, Park Host #2 (a woman) arrived and showed us what can happen if we get old and crotchety and don't take our hormones. Off to bed we went. The next morning tent #5 reported a mystery man and heard coyotes howling through the night (???) (Research shows that there are no coyotes in south Florida.)

Saturday…we saw a beautiful Lipizzaner stallions show. Hiking, biking, and kayaking were the afternoon activities, followed by Happy Hour with bocce ball, a marshmallow gun war, football throwing, live music and snacks. The other campsites had to be wondering what was in store for the evening!

Our Sunday adventure to Solomon's Castle was pretty bizarre. Artist Howard Solomon built his castle in the middle of nowhere and filled the rooms with over 200 sculptures he created from re-cycled items. Most of his works are puns on life: metal and wood sculptures, 80 stained glass windows ….animal art, including a "mer-man" and an impressive Florida Penguin. He added a ship in the back yard that's a beautiful outdoor restaurant where we had lunch. The parking lot was full, including a Harley biker group from Ft. Myers overheard saying, "Didn't they see the sign that says 'Campers and RV's" park outside the gates? " (hint #1)

Travel-time….Although Myakka is quite a distance, there's much to see coming and going. Favorites? A stop at Gatorama to see Allen and Polly (who remember our group visit a while back); and a tour of Lake Placid, a pretty little town and home to 37 huge building murals painted by professional artists. Best of show, however…the live concert in the town park by an Elvis impersonator! See all you miss if you just drive straight through?

So what does all this have to do with paragraph number one? Ms. Innocent? Well…if you look back, you'll see that there's not a lot said about Saturday night. So here it is….We know that grouchy Host #2 will be at our campsite at 11 pm sharp. Our plan is to be rowdy until 10:58, then hush. But we've had a long, active day….a great meal….s'mores…..and we're winding down…probably won't even make it till ll pm. It's almost 10 pm and we're ready to head for our tents, when our WIC says…."Oh, I almost forgot….I have something for you…." And she passes out kazoos. 10 pm, we're on probation, and she gives us Kazoos.

Everyone knows that kazoos are best for marching music, so the circle around the campfire burst into John Phillip Sousa. We had great fun, but we really, really need practice. Band practice ended before 11, which is why we think we may be allowed back into another state park (but we may use a different name!).

So thank you, WIC Suzanne Wilbanks, for a wonderful weekend. Not only will you be forever known as SFWD Club Founder but now also the founder of the SFWD Kazoo Band! We'll make you proud! Band practice before meetings, anyone?

A Happy Camper

REVIEW OF AMORAY DIVE RESORT
By Robyn Churchill

When we checked into the resort, we were greeted by a friendly staff who gave us a description of the property and information about our dives for the next day. We were also given information about local restaurants and coupons for free drinks and discounts on meals.
The resort is fairly small, and finding your way around is not too difficult. We had an upstairs room which was neat and clean, and it had one queen-size bed, one trundle bed, a microwave and a refrigerator.

We got settled in quickly, then went out to explore the grounds. The resort overlooks Florida Bay on the Gulf side of Key Largo. The buildings at Amoray are reminiscent of those in Key West with their two-story wood-frame construction with wrap-around porches with white wicker furniture. The grounds had numerous shade trees and a nice variety of eye-pleasing tropical foliage. The pool looked sparkling clean and refreshing. There's plenty of lounge chairs for sun-worshippers, and a covered area for small parties or those who want to dodge the sun. Beyond the pool is a small beach area with several ocean kayaks for guest use. By the waterfront, there's a long deck area with more lounge chairs and a very inviting hammock. The view of the bay is a treat for the eyes, and the western exposure allows for perfect viewing of the sun as it sets over paradise.

We conveniently walked right next door to Hobo's for dinner that night. Hobo's is a very popular restaurant, and when we tasted the food we didn't have to wonder why. There's nothing fancy about the decor, and the restaurant is crowded and noisy, but the food and friendly service make it all worthwhile.

We awoke the next morning and found decent diving conditions. We enjoyed a complimentary continental breakfast served under a chickee hut near the water, then we loaded our gear onto the dive boat.

There are two dive boats at Amoray, a 26' six-pack, and a larger 45' vessel. We were loaded on the larger of the two. Each boat has a catamaran-style hull for stability. Tanks are pre-loaded onto the boat, and Nitrox is available upon request. There's an adjacent gear storage room near the dock for convenience. We were welcomed on board by Captain Bob and Divemaster Pete. Captain Bob gave us a very thorough safety briefing and conducted a roll call before getting underway. Bob and Pete were very friendly and helped out wherever and whenever needed.

Our first dive was at a famous Key Largo wreck called 'The Duane.' Pete gave us a thorough site briefing and a little history about the wreck. Our second dive of the day was at an area of Molasses Reef called 'North Star'. Capt. Bob told us that this is one of his favorite sites, and I can understand why. There's a great abundance of color and life at North Star. We saw a nice variety of corals, including Star, Elkhorn, and Staghorn to name a few. There were huge lacy Sea Fans and tall Gorgonians. After each dive there was a roll call, and fresh oranges were served.

After diving we enjoyed lunch at a small restaurant called 'Tugboats' which was recommended to us by the folks at Amoray. We ate outdoors in the garden and satisfied our hungry appetites with delicious food. After our late lunch there was just enough time for a nap and a little reading before heading over to the water's edge to watch another glorious sunset.

I look forward to returning to Amoray Dive Resort in June with our dive club, and I feel confident that my fellow club members will have the same enjoyable experience that we did.

Robyn Churchill