Have you ever wanted to learn more about coral? Did you know you can actually plant it? What about visiting some of the most beautiful wrecks in the U.S. in warm, 80-degree water? Have you ever seen the ocean at night and all of the creatures who sleep during the day?

We’re headed to the Keys this Labor Day weekend for an experience most people won’t get to see in a lifetime! We also have a technical diver/wreck penetration option. Please reach out for more information info@adventuretampa.com or 813-832-6669.

The cost of the ENTIRE trip including hotel (we blocked off some rooms) but not including the night dive is $830.00. To add on the night dive, it’s an extra $95. Tanks are included in the cost and on Sunday, you can use Nitrox or Air (your choice – must be Nitrox certified).

This trip includes: A Coral Restoration course, TWO coral planting dives, SIX wreck dives (we are double-dipping at the Spiegel Grove, The Eagle and Duane, ALL tanks provided and THREE night stay. We also have an optional coral reef night dive for Saturday night.

Friday:

We will arrive Friday evening at our hotel Sunset Inn in Islamorada, FL. We have blocked off some rooms and should all be together.

Saturday:

We will arrive at the Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF), where we will all participate in a course that will teach you how to prune, plant and prepare the reef for Coral Planting! We will then head out with Island Adventures Charters in the afternoon where we will visit the CRF nursery and hopefully, participate in some out-planting on the reef! This is an amazing experience if you have never done it. Very fun and rewarding!

The Coral Restoration Foundation is the largest coral reef restoration organization in the world. CRF has found a way to “farm” coral by hanging staghorn and elkhorn coral, both unique branching coral, from trees. Once hung, the coral can grow, ready to be planted in six to nine months! Pair this experience with a Project AWARE Coral Special course to learn more about our coral reefs, why they’re dying and what we can do to help save them!

Optional Saturday Evening:

We are headed out for a NIGHT DIVE! This dive is the only optional dive but well worth it! We are thinking Molasses Reef for this one!

Molasses Reef is a coral reef located just east of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. It is located within a protected reef sanctuary, with roughly 40 permanent mooring buoys surrounding the reef. Near the edge of the reef, lies a drop-off area, giving home to not only beautiful corals, vibrant fish and colorful parrotfish and eels but also to pelagic fish, sharks including nurse sharks, Goliath grouper, sea turtles and eagle rays! At night, there is plentiful marine wildlife in this area.

Sunday:

Sunday fun day, is reserved for some fun dives! We will head out for some wreck diving with ! The USS Spiegel Grove first followed by The Duane.

Sunk in 2002, the USS Spiegel Grove is a sunken dock landing ship. The ship was commissioned in June of 1956 and decommissioned in October of 1989. The vessel was named after the 19th President of the United States, Rutherford B. Hayes’ home and estate, named Spiegel Grove in Fremont, Ohio. The ship lies in 45 to 130-foot water, perfect for either recreational or technical diving. The ship is 510 feet by 84 feet and the deck is located 60 feet below the surface. The vessel’s hull is as much as 135 feet under water and technical divers can discover the labyrinth that is inside. Due to its size, others say that no matter how many times you dive this wreck, you never see the same thing.

The U.S.C.G.C. Duane was a cutter in the U.S. Coastguard, named after William J. Duane, Secretary of the Treasury under President Andrew Jackson. When the vessel first launched, it served as a search and rescue ship. In 1939 the Duane was operated jointly with the U.S. Navy as part of a destroyer squadron assisting with shipping in the North Atlantic. The ship lies in 70 to 120 feet of water with the main deck lying at 100 feet. This wreck has been considered the jewel of Islamorada diving!

Monday:

Two-tank dive to  to the Eagle!

The 287-foot freighter, The Eagle was built in 1962, starting off with Danish ship owners. The ship was bought and sold a few times and eventually bought by the Eagle tire company. on 19 December 1985 the ship was bought by the Florida Keys Artificial Reef Association and renamed Eagle. This wreck lies at at a maximum depth of 110 feet adorned with a photogenic crow’s-nest and forward cargo boom, perfect for snapping a photo or two! Keep an eye out for schooled blue runners, greater barracuda, Goliath grouper, sawfish, sharks and more!

Class Pairings:

Pair this trip with a Technical diving course, a Wreck course, your Nitrox certification, an Advanced course or a Project AWARE Coral class! Discounts are available for those who pair this trip with a course.

Cancellation policy: We understand that your family and your health come first. If you must cancel your trip, please call Adventure Outfitters at 813-832-6669 or email us at info@adventuretampa to let us know as soon as possible.

Adventure Outfitters enforces a the right to charge full price unless the customer cancels at least 2 weeks prior to this trip. Customer will receive a 50% refund if canceling at least 2 weeks in advance.

*Refunds do not include 3% Credit Card processing fees