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  • Nº157 # Date: 2021-04-22 - 10:58
  • # Max Depth: 11.1m Duration: 49mins
Diver's Notes

Jen and my first dive after being certified was the Benwood followed by Hardbottom Cave. Fast-forward several years and 151 dives, and we repeated those two dives. I remember this dive for the tight swim-through for which it is named, and the colorful French Reef of which it is part. One of my profile pictures for my online dive log is a picture of a bright yellow-orange brain coral from this dive. I was excited to be back, but upon entering the water, we saw a grave site before us. The brain coral was no more, apparently struck by a disease a couple of years ago, most of the brain coral in this region was completely wiped out, and the once-colorful reef was carpeted in olive-drab algae. The remains of staghorn coral were strewn about the floor, once covered by sandy patches that were stripped clean from Hurricane Irma. Fish were present, but nowhere near as prevalent as before. This dive brought home the impact that man and nature can have on a delicate reef system. I suspect the effects of both will have a lasting impression on all of the reefs along the keys for many, many years.

I returned to the boat in a bit of a sober mood, wondering if we would see the same destruction further north at Elbow Reef in the afternoon.

We returned to the dock for lunch and a long surface interval.

Dive Profile
Dive Location

  • Temp: Surf 31°C Bottom 25°C
  • Dive type : Recreational, Reef
  • Visibility: Average Water: Salt
Specific gear used
  • Weights: 2.7 kg
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Dive Shop & Buddies
  • Dive buddies: Jennifer McDonald, Vince Knick, Bryan Kearney, Jenny Kearney, Gary Miller
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Dive Profile

  • 1. Nitrox 31
  • 10L Aluminium     220 → 13 bar
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  • Average depth: 8.8m
Data provided by EOL.org

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