Florida Keys diving is waiting for you.  The summer rush is over and boats have plenty of room and we are waiting for you.  Our warm tropical ocean is still 85-87 degrees and no wet suits needed.  However if you insist you will need nothing more than a three mil, most of our divers are wearing skins just like all summer. I was in the water today with a 3/2 mil and was warmer than I needed to be. That is the beauty of our Keys, warm tropical coral reef diving year around, in fact the ‘coldest’ our waters get is 74-76 degrees in the winter, no where else in the USA can beat our weather.  We start to see the water ‘cool a bit around Thanksgiving, so we got two months left of warm water. Many stores like us are offering fall specials so visit our website at: www.captainslate.com for our specials.

In case you missed the annual coral spawn it was magnificent, I love seeing first time ‘spawn’ divers witness nature in its glory, you can also visit our site and see some of the photos of the reef in action those nights.

Don’t forget our wrecks, the keys are the wreck diving capitol of the world. Over the past 25 years we have sunk 7 artificial reefs, wrecks, starting here in Key Largo with the huge USN 510’ Spiegel Grove, USCG 327’ Cutters Duane and Bibb, Islamorada’s 287 Eagle Wreck, Marathon’s 188’ Thunderbolt, Big Pine Key’s 210 Adolphus Busch, and our newest the 522’ USAF Vandenberg.  See our web site for the special log and wreck club and dives you can win.

So come on down and have a fun time with us right here in the Fabulous Florida Keys, the Dive Capitol of the World.

Capt. Spencer Slate runs Capt. Slate’s Atlantis Dive Center out of Key Largo, Florida

Thank you Capt. Slate for sharing this with us!

Star Coral Spawning 2009 from Frazier Nivens on Vimeo.

If you’ve not witnessed one of the true wonders of the sea, the annual coral spawn, then this year is definitely the time to do so.  Each year the corals reproduce over a two night time table and this year we get two separate opportunities, known as The Split Spawn in August and again in September, to view this amazing event. That’s twice in a 30 day period which offers an exceptional opportunity for underwater photographers and nature lovers.  This wonder of the sea normally occurs only once a year and you should not miss it!
Dr. Alina Szmant of the Univ. of Miami, an expert in coral reproduction, has established through
her laboratory experiments, an exact time table for the corals spawn which takes place during two months this year: on the 11th & 12th of August and again on the 10th & 11th of September.

What happens, is the coral have evolved a method of reproduction called ‘Broadcast Spawning.” The coral polyps send their eggs and sperm into the water in massive quantities. When egg and sperm unite the resulting larval-stage “planula’ swims to the surface to drift in the current and grow.  Thus creating our future coral reefs.
This year’s “split spawn” allows you to experience 4 nights of diving or snorkeling to witness this extraordinary event on shallow reefs in as little as 15 feet of water…an amazing display of nature at its finest.

We expected two coral spawns this year, and were not disappointed when on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 11th  & 12th , using underwater lights, we observed the first of this year’s spawns.
With perfect conditions – flat calm seas, 60-100’ viz and minimal current – we dropped down a short distance to hover near the bottom & turned on our lights, illuminating the beauty of the night-time reef.   Nocturnal critters: crustaceans, invertebrates and large-eyed, light-shy reef fish emerged from their coral dens and cavorted before us while we waited for the big event.  Then, as if by magic, the planula burst forth from the coral heads and fingers in this miracle of nature preserving itself and beginning a new generation of Atlantic reef.  It was a perfect spawn…and we get to witness it again next month!!  For more info, or join me in next month’s spawn dives click on www.captainslate.com , email  captainslate@captainslate.com or phone:1-800-331-3483 or local FL Keys: 305-451-3020

Captain Slate’s offers a unique trip for those who are a little more, shall we say…..adventurous! The Creature Feature every Friday and Sunday morning at 8am. Captain Slate will take you out and introduce you to some of his pets for an experience you’ll never forget. Check out the movie trailer !