Double Dive on Spiegel Grove - July 4

[pickens_46929]

Already have 3 people for a morning trip to the Spiegel Grove on Monday, July 4. Thought I'd throw it open to everyone on the board.

We're scheduled for 2 dives :D on "the Grove" and the boat can accomodate up to 10 people.

We'll be using Island Ventures and the cost is $65 tanks and weights provided. Nitrox is available for an additional charge.

Contact Island Ventures directly to reserve your spot -- have them add you to the "Dave Pickens" group.

[pickens_46929]

Already have 3 people for a morning trip to the Spiegel Grove on Monday, July 4. Thought I'd throw it open to everyone on the board.

We're scheduled for 2 dives :D on "the Grove" and the boat can accomodate up to 10 people.

We'll be using Island Ventures and the cost is $65 tanks and weights provided. Nitrox is available for an additional charge.

Contact Island Ventures directly to reserve your spot -- have them add you to the "Dave Pickens" group.

http://www.islandventure.com/
Phone: 305-451-4957
Toll Free: 1-866-293-5006

[HarleyDiver]

http://www.islandventure.com/
Phone: 305-451-4957
Toll Free: 1-866-293-5006

I guess you'll be one of the first people to dive with the new owners.
Let us know how they are.
I met one of them last week, when he was working with Brian, but I havn't met the other two yet.

I believe brian is going to help them out for a couple of weeks, he isn't leaving till the middle of July.

[pickens_46929]

I guess you'll be one of the first people to dive with the new owners.
Let us know how they are.
I met one of them last week, when he was working with Brian, but I havn't met the other two yet.

I believe brian is going to help them out for a couple of weeks, he isn't leaving till the middle of July.

Just talked with Brian the other day too.

I'll post a follow-up after the trip and let everyone know.

We're expanding our choices for dive operators in Key Largo. We normally dive with Silent World which has been great but we decided to try another operator or two during the last couple of dives on this trip.

Any other dive operators we should really look at?

Dave :11:

[HarleyDiver]

Just talked with Brian the other day too.

I'll post a follow-up after the trip and let everyone know.

We're expanding our choices for dive operators in Key Largo. We normally dive with Silent World which has been great but we decided to try another operator or two during the last couple of dives on this trip.

Any other dive operators we should really look at?

Dave :11:

Well I always liked Brian, and he feels the new guys are OK, so hopefully they will be good. My understanding is the two I haven't met are currently working as Captains at other operators in Key Largo, & were keeping their names quiet till the deal was done, and they had given notice.

My favorite operator in Key Largo is Blue Water Divers down at MM 100, between the Holiday Inn & Ramada. There boat is about the same length as Brians, & they take a Max of 10 (or 6 if Tech or 3-tank dive).

Glen is the Capt, & Brent the Insturctor/mate. Great guys, very flexible. First person to book a trip gets to name the locations. Brent is KeyLargoBrent on this board.
http://www.bluewaterdiver.net/

[pickens_46929]

Well the new owners of Island Ventures, Bruce Samulin, Darrel and Ann Stadler, are nice and operate a decent boat. Darrel and Ann took us out on Monday the 4th.

The boat is well organized, the provide water and juice to drink plus orange wedges at the end of the dive. They have an excellent dock with good close parking. The trip from the bayside of Key Largo didn't add that many minutes and the trip through the mangroves was a pleasant change.

Unfortunately we didn't get to do 2 dives on the Spiegel Grove since the current was ripping and there were 4 to 5 ft. swells. Everyone was doing their best superman immitation on the downline during our safety stop. Such is diving and life.

Our second dive was Woody's Ledge at French Reef. Nice dive but viz was getting pretty bad at the end of the dive.

Ann and Darrel took good care of us and overall I'd dive with Island Ventures again.

Dave

[mike_s]

Unfortunately we didn't get to do 2 dives on the Spiegel Grove since the current was ripping and there were 4 to 5 ft. swells. Everyone was doing their best superman immitation on the downline during our safety stop. Such is diving and life.




Hey there. We were at the Spiegal Grove on the 4th also. We didn't dive
it though as the current was pretty bad. The other boats there were
blowing it off also. We tried the Duane first and the currents were
even worse there.

We did get in a dive on Saturday though on the Grove. Currents were bad
but Vis was good. You had to hang on like superman on this dive also.
Currents were bad enough that you had to "cinch" down your mask strap
to keep it from being torn off and hold on tight to your regulator with your
teeth for the same reason.

We ended up diving French Reef and the Benwood.

-Mike

[meekal]

Well the new owners of Island Ventures, Bruce Samulin, Darrel and Ann Stadler, are nice and operate a decent boat. Darrel and Ann took us out on Monday the 4th.

Ann and Darrel took good care of us and overall I'd dive with Island Ventures again.

Dave
ahhh man... i am SOOO bummed to hear brian is leaving Island Ventures. They were the boat i ALWAYS tried to dive with when i went to the keys. (most times he was full - and for good reason!!) sounds like the new 'folks' are keeping up the tradition though.... that's good.