Captain Hook’s Photo Album

We boarded the Reef Hopper for a morning trip to the Thunderbolt with 6 divers prepared to double dip on this deep dive. As we approached the Thunderbolt another dive boat was already setting up on the bow mooring so we changed our plans and moored to the stern. As I was diving to hook up to the mooring I noticed the Thunderbolt was visible from 20 feet and that meant we were going to have a good day. On the first dive we dropped into the Engineering compartment where a large Crab had made a home in a Horse Conch shell. We continued toward the bow by penetrating the lower compartments and exiting the large hatch on the bow. After taking a look at the cable wheel we turned back toward the superstructure. We entered the wheelhouse for a look out over the bow of the Thunderbolt. During our safety-stop I could clearly see the bow mooring from the stern mooring. They are 180 feet apart. Now that is a clear day. After a one-hour surface interval everyone was excited to gear up and go again. The Goliath Grouper were everywhere when we reached the deck. Inside the wreck I saw two 40 to 50 pounders, on the starboard side one 250 pounder, and off the port were three ranging from 200 pounds to 350. Barracuda were present in large numbers also. During this dive I took pictures while Dr. Matt Finn filmed video. With such great visibility these two dives rank along with the best I have ever done.

9 files, last one added on Jul 11, 2008

The Reef Hopper was carrying 8 divers and 2 snorkelers as she left the marina this morning. We selected Pillar Patch for our first site and anchored with the Pillar Patch just off our starboard. The site was covered with Spiney Lobsters today; some tucked into the reef and more out for a walk. We found a juvenile Nurse Shark nestled in a small coral head that made me wonder how he got in there. A large school of Blue Tang created a dark wall of blue as we passed. For our second site we joined several sailboats at the Stake Reef. Moored on the western end, we started our dive toward the smaller ledges on the north. No sooner than we made our descent than a Southern Stingray swam by us. As I followed it turned around and made another pass of us. On the north side everyone enjoys the swim through at the lighthouse rubble. On the south ledge we came upon an Anemone and a Spotted Moray Eel.

For the afternoon a family of 7 joined us for what turned out to be a private charter for them. We ran further southeast to deeper water at Shark Harbor for the first stop. We began our dive touring the east end of the site weaving our way through the various coral heads that form the horseshoe shape of Shark Harbor. The best ledges are on the north leg of the site and we finished our dive admiring those patches. We then moved further east to Critter Ridge. As we swam west we found a Nassau Grouper that was friendlier than any I have ever come across. He allowed us to approach him within 2 feet without any sign of fear. A little further down the reef a Nurse Shark came out from under a ledge and moved west to a ledge where he seemed very interested in finding a meal.

11 files, last one added on Jul 09, 2008

As we departed the marina we were carrying 9 divers with diverse interest. The Reef Hopper pointed her bow to the southeast and headed to Critter Ridge. Critter Ridge is a very long ledge running east to west. The ledges are from 3 feet to 12 feet tall and attract a vast array of marine life. Today Chris Reynolds and I headed west toward the taller ledges. Along our tour we found a small Nurse Shark hiding in the coral and he moved further into the crevice until we could no longer find him. There were also Sea Urchins and Flamingo Tongues. We climbed aboard the Reef Hopper and cruised northwest to Elbow Reef for our second dive. Anchoring on the east end we started our dive along the south ledge swimming to the west. For a long while a Black Grouper who was comfortable joined us staying about 8 feet ahead of us. After we turned to the north on the west end of the site the Grouper moved on off to the northwest. I was looking for and found my friend Jaron the Porkfish with a bite out of his back. This site is full of soft Seafan corals and a beauty to behold.

In the afternoon we took 4 divers from Poland and 2 from the local area to the reef. We delay our departure as we watched the radar, which was cluttered with storm cells. After the cells over us past it appeared the next group was 4 to 5 hours off the coast. It turned out we were right and the sky’s cleared as did the seas. Our first stop was at Samantha’s Reef, one of the most requested sites in Marathon. Linda, Susan and I started out toward the west along the north ledges. While on our tour we came across a Nurse Shark resting under a ledge and continent to have us take pictures. Among the many other creatures we saw a Giant Green Moray watched us stop to admire him. For our second dive we moved to the Horseshoe Reef. We immediately went to the Northwest ledges that grow from 3 to 10 feet. When we reached the area where the ledge turns to a hillside we crossed over the reef to the south to swim along the inside ledge. Along our journey we watched a Queen Conch peering out at us, a pair of Drums dancing under a ledge, and Yellowhead Jawfish protecting their burrows.

8 files, last one added on Jul 09, 2008

Nine divers boarded the Reef Hopper for our morning trip. Five of the divers were diving their last dive with us after spending the week here and wanted to dive "something a little deeper". After reviewing their options they chose Edge of Night, our 60-foot reef. After anchoring in the sand the wind placed the dive platform over the edge of the reef. As we descended on the reef we turned west to begin our dive. While touring the reef we saw a Giant Green Moray, Balloonfish hiding in a Barrel Sponge, and a small cleaner Shrimp. After switching everyone’s equipment we moved northeast to Herman’s Hole. As we dropped onto the reef we swam to the north ledge and headed east. Just before the ledge turns into a hillside a Nurse Shark was resting under a ledge. As he came out to leave he was surprised to find so many divers and made a couple of turns before swimming across the reef. On top of the reef I found a tiny cleaner Shrimp and was able to hold it in my hands. Several Spinney Lobsters were along the north ledge as well.

6 files, last one added on Jul 09, 2008

Our Independence Day trip included 5 divers and 2 snorkelers. The Ohio group had been east and west, so we headed out to the middle reefs. We picked Samantha’s for our first site and anchored in the east sand hole. With our dive platform over the small patch corals between the two main ledges we began our dive to the west. The reef was teaming with marine life today. Around the first finger of coral a Nurse Shark was resting under a ledge until we provide too much disturbance. As we made our way along the reef there were Drums, Sharpnose Puffers, Nassau Grouper, Spinney Lobsters, and a Giant Green Moray. We climbed back aboard the Reef Hopper and after switching everyone’s gear headed east to Horseshoe Reef. There the Reef Hopper lay along the north leg just off the inside ledge. We dropped down and moved around the northwest end to turn east along the largest ledges. We found pairs of Spinney Lobsters in several holes. Once we came to where the ledge turned to a hill we crossed to the south and descended on the inside ledge turning east again. I always look for Yellowhead Jawfish in this area and today I was not disappointed. There must have been 20 sticking their heads out of the sand. I stayed patient until I saw one come out with a mouthful of sand, cleaning out its burrow. Inside a small coral hole we saw 2 large Coral Banded Shrimp. Their colors are always so bright and beautiful.

9 files, last one added on Jul 05, 2008

This "Big Guy" came to visit us at Christmas.

8 files, last one added on Feb 11, 2008

Shawn and Barbara from PA boarded the Reef Hopper for our afternoon adventure. They were recently certified and this was their first ocean dive. With the wind blowing 15 knots we kept close by going to Samantha’s Reef and Horseshoe Reef. At Samantha’s the wind placed our stern right over the reef. We made our descent and headed west along the north ledge. Running a figure eight pattern we circled to the southside of the reef as we headed east and back to the north ledge as we swam past the Reef Hopper to the east. Today we found a myriad of large ParrotFish. On the east end we were passed by a Nurse Shark quickly moving to the west and close to the Reef Hopper we found a Porcupine Puffer who was not sure if he wanted to greet us or swim away. After boarding the Reef Hopper we headed east to Horseshoe Reef anchoring in the middle sand strip. No sooner than we made our descent than we found a Yellow Stingray buried in the sand. After swimming around the north leg of the Horseshoe we crossed the reef to the south to tour the ledges at the head of the horseshoe. Out in the flats we spotted a Yellowhead JawFish coming up out of his hole spitting sand as he cleaned his burrow. Along the inside ledge as we swam west we came upon a Hawksbill Turtle trying to find protection under a ledge too small for him to hide. He allowed us to take pictures and get in close for as long as we liked. What a great experience!

13 files, last one added on Jun 28, 2008

Bruce & Brandon, who have been diving with us throughout the week decided to take a break from diving and do some fishing with Capt. Jeff Rella. They left the dock at 8:00AM and were back in to enjoy the day by 10:30AM and probably some good eating with all of the dolphin (fish) they caught. The fishing crew consisted of Brandon, Darren, Charles, Bruce, William and Dale.

1 files, last one added on Jun 28, 2008

Special Bulletin- Thunderbolt Mooring Project is Completed

At 1:00 we finished our briefing and left the dock to put the bow mooring on the Thunderbolt. Mike O’Reilly was the project coordinator, Doug Morgan was captain, Ben Beverly, John Tomlinson, JR Jones, and Dan Underwood were crew. Upon reaching the site Dan Underwood was sent down the stern mooring to attach a line to the cable wheel for the crew to use as a descent line. JR Jones dove to take photographs, Ben Beverly handled the snatch block duties and Mike O’Reilly handled the lift bag assignment. The current was stronger than it appeared since the wind and current were opposing each other. The first attempt to take the cable and buoy to the bow was unsuccessful. For the second attempt the buoy was attached to the descent line to hold it in place while Doug Morgan joined the team to help move the cable to the bow. The crew was able to secure the cable to bow but unfortunately the current would require additional line to reach the snatch block. By now there was only enough air for one more attempt and everyone was pushing their bottom times. Mike, Ben and John entered the water for a final attempt at attaching the bow mooring. An additional 100 feet of line was attached to lift bag, now at 50 feet, run through the snatch block on the deck of the Thunderbolt and back up to the eye of line secured 5 feet above the end of cable. After cutting the original line holding the mooring air was added to the lift bag until the mooring was pulled below the surface. Ben attached the cable to the bow of the Thunderbolt and Mike release the air from the lift bag. So the project is completed and both new moorings are open for business. I would like to give special thanks to Captain Hook’s Dive Center and PADI Project Aware for their contributions to this project. I also want to thank Ridge Gardner for his help, as he was instrumental in accomplishing these tasks.

8 files, last one added on Jun 21, 2008

We had a family of three on board heading for Edge of Night per their request. The winds were calming to around 10 knots but the seas were still a bit choppy. When we dropped anchor the Reef Hopper pointed east laying us along the edge of the reef. Everyone had a good air consumption rate permitting us to spend 50 minutes at 60 feet for the majority of this dive. Edge of Night provided us with many juvenile species today including a beautiful juvenile Gray AngelFish. We moved the Reef Hopper northeast to Herman’s Hole for our next dive. Anchored in the sand hole, for which the site gets its name, the Reef Hopper laid over the reef near the north ledge on the west end. We started our dive along the north ledge following the hillside to the 10-foot ledges. Schools of Yellowtail Snappers, Yellow GoatFish, and various Grunts were everywhere. Once we reached the east end we swam across the reef to the sand hole in which we anchored. We found a very small Balloon Fish hiding along the inside ledge. After 52 minutes we ended our dive, boarding the Reef Hopper and prepared for the voyage back to Captain Hook’s.

5 files, last one added on Jun 27, 2008

As we left the dock for the afternoon trip the Reef Hopper was hosting Bruce, Brandon, Gavin and Monique. I joked with Bruce and Brandon about not having a private charter for all their dives. For summer time the seas were a little strong with 2 and 3-foot seas and the wind out of the east at 17 to 20 knots. We stopped at Doughnut Reef for our first site anchoring on the northeast to allow room to place a descent line in the sand. Phoebe took Bruce and Brandon on their tour so I could give Monique and Gavin plenty of time to make their first ocean decent. As we swam up on the reef to look at the inside ledges we began to find Spinney Lobsters and Flamingo Tongues. We moved a bit north to Elbow Reef for our second dive. We anchored on the southwest corner or the Elbow so we could begin our dive into the current. Within the first five minutes of our dive we found five arrow crabs. A TrumpetFish tried to hide from us by hanging upside and blending with a sea fan. Toward the end of our dive I saw a Porkfish who is a real survivor. He has a hole bitten out of his back that is completely healed. I have seen him multiple times at various reefs.

6 files, last one added on Jun 26, 2008

Bruce and Brandon had the Reef Hopper all to themselves again today. They selected to dive a deeper reef and then shallow. So we made way for Edge of Night Reef to begin our day. Once we had the anchor set we entered the water to find 70 feet of visibility. While heading east along the south ledge we watched a school of Blue ParrotFish swim through the sand fingers. Spending most of our time at 60 feet we consumed our air much faster than on the shallow reefs and move to 45 feet to finish our dive. A Giant Green Moray lay wrapped through a cleaning station patiently allowing several Neon Gobies perform their work. We moved Reef Hopper to Herman’s Hole for our second site. With a maximum depth of 25 feet the colors were brighter. We found 2 Nurse Sharks, a Spotted Moray, 2 Giant Green Morays and several Spinney Lobsters. For 55 minutes we wandered the reef finding surprises at every bend. It was a great dive to finish our morning.

8 files, last one added on Jun 24, 2008