BLU DIVER
February 22nd, 2010, 10:36 PM
Just got back from a long weekend in southwest Florida (Naples). Saturday morning I shot over to Tavernier and made a couple of dives with Conch Republic Divers. We dove the "Duane" followed by a shallow reef dive known as "Snapper Ledge."
I was impressed with Conch Republic Divers. After so many great reviews and recommendations. I thought it would be too good to be true! It was just the opposite, they run a very professional and outstanding operation. The staff were very attentive, informative, educational and communicated cleary. They are saftey conscious, placing saftey first on all breifings and dive sites. The made a point of doing this from the moment you walk through the front door to the moment you leave. They were personable and made a point to spend a few minutes with each diver and getting to know them. They (entire crew) referred to you by name from the start. The crew including the capt. had a great sense of humor. It was nice to be treated as a person and well taken care of rather than hearded on to a "cattle boat" like some operators.
The "Duane" was a very enjoyable dive. The current was mild, between the surface and 60' you had to pull yourself down the mooring line. Once you got on the ship it was fine. The Duane is encrusted with various corals and home to a Goliath Grouper and a Green Moray. There were plenty of fish of all types and sizes. The Duane has some cool swim throughs as well. The deck was at 105' and the mooring we hooked on to was attached to the smoke stack at 60'. There usually is a Bull Shark that frequents the wreck, I didn't see him. I enjoyed the Duane more than the Speigel.
"Snapper Ledge" was an alright dive site. It's not a huge reef, however the Snapper are so thick that you almost have to literally fan them out of your way (hence the name). The reef is on a 4' ledge that is home to dozens of Trumpet fish and nurse sharks. There is a giantic, perfectly round Brain Coral. It's probably 10' tall and 10' wide. That's most likely the largest Brain coral I have ever seen.
The water temp was 71* and the capt. was telling me that the water temp. has been so chilly that several sharks (nurse & white tips) along with other fish have been found dead (floating). They think it's due to the temperature of the water. I didn't think that 71* was too bad. Then again that was the high and the lows have been into the 60's.
Good dives and would not change a thing!
I was impressed with Conch Republic Divers. After so many great reviews and recommendations. I thought it would be too good to be true! It was just the opposite, they run a very professional and outstanding operation. The staff were very attentive, informative, educational and communicated cleary. They are saftey conscious, placing saftey first on all breifings and dive sites. The made a point of doing this from the moment you walk through the front door to the moment you leave. They were personable and made a point to spend a few minutes with each diver and getting to know them. They (entire crew) referred to you by name from the start. The crew including the capt. had a great sense of humor. It was nice to be treated as a person and well taken care of rather than hearded on to a "cattle boat" like some operators.
The "Duane" was a very enjoyable dive. The current was mild, between the surface and 60' you had to pull yourself down the mooring line. Once you got on the ship it was fine. The Duane is encrusted with various corals and home to a Goliath Grouper and a Green Moray. There were plenty of fish of all types and sizes. The Duane has some cool swim throughs as well. The deck was at 105' and the mooring we hooked on to was attached to the smoke stack at 60'. There usually is a Bull Shark that frequents the wreck, I didn't see him. I enjoyed the Duane more than the Speigel.
"Snapper Ledge" was an alright dive site. It's not a huge reef, however the Snapper are so thick that you almost have to literally fan them out of your way (hence the name). The reef is on a 4' ledge that is home to dozens of Trumpet fish and nurse sharks. There is a giantic, perfectly round Brain Coral. It's probably 10' tall and 10' wide. That's most likely the largest Brain coral I have ever seen.
The water temp was 71* and the capt. was telling me that the water temp. has been so chilly that several sharks (nurse & white tips) along with other fish have been found dead (floating). They think it's due to the temperature of the water. I didn't think that 71* was too bad. Then again that was the high and the lows have been into the 60's.
Good dives and would not change a thing!