Page 1313 - Dive the Seas and More-2
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sponges. Occasionally divers are amazed as marlin, amberjacks, and groupers are
to see sailfish and marlin. common.
CANNABIS CRUISER (THE POT SAN IGNACIO DE URGUIJO
WRECK) to 110' A fishing trawler that Wreckage from the Spanish treasure fleet,
was hauling a load of marijuana, that was located 100 yards east of the old light
intentionally scuttled by its crew when the tower at Coffins Patch. Occasionally
Coast Guard was chasing them. divers find pieces of silver.
MATECUMBE DROP-OFF to 170' The THE FISH MARKET to 70' Int. This
drop-off is a big ditch located between the reef is more than a mile long, and has
towers of Alligator Reef and Tennessee excellent visibility. The name comes
Reef. Generally, visibility is not too great. from the large schools of fish that are
common here.
KEYS BRIDGES to 20' Int.-Adv.
Various Key Bridges are best dived at COFFINS PATCH to 25' Beg. Southern
mid-tide when the direction of the current stingrays, brain coral, fire coral, and pillar
is changing. Popular bridges are Snake coral are common here. Visibility is
Creek, Whale Harbor, the four bridges at sometimes good here, sometimes not so
Indian Key Fill, the two south of Lower good. A great place for snorkeling.
Metecumbe, and both Bahia Honda Caution: Surgy, fire coral.
bridges. Caution: Strong currents, fire
coral. THUNDERBOLT to 120' Adv. This
188-foot cable layer was intentionally
CALOOSA ROCKS to 20' Beg. This sunk in March, 1986. Barracuda,
shallow reef, is excellent for snorkeling. angelfish, sponges, parrotfish, rock
Brain, star, lettuce, and other corals are beauties, jacks, and grunts are common.
abundant. A goliath grouper named “Bubba” lives
here. Caution: Strong currents, fire coral.
CONTENT KEYS to 15' Beg. Located
on the Gulf side of the Keys, here you will THE GAP to 80' Adv. A gap in the shelf
find a different ecosystem from the dive starts at about 50 feet deep and slopes
sites on the Ocean side. Lobsters, stone downward 30 vertical feet. Bar jacks,
crabs, sheepshead, redfish, trout, red creole wrasses, schoolmasters, green
grouper, jewfish, and snapper are all barrel sponges, sea fans, sea plumes, and
common here. star corals are common. Occasionally
pelagic species cruise by. Caution: strong
THE PILLARS to 100' Named for pillar currents.
corals nearly 25 feet tall. Large fish such
