Saturday February 28: Trip Day 3

It was a nice sunset Monday night at Newfound Harbor - waters were very calm.

We were surprised to get up and find ourselves in a fog bank! This is very unusual for the Keys - probably that darn northern weather again :-)

So we enjoyed the morning and waited for the fog to lift.

The plan was to leave the harbor, head due south and spend the morning at Looe Key reef. We had been to this reef only one time many years ago and even though we heard it was really nice, the experience diving there was not great.

The water was very cloudy and it didn't seem like there was much to see. We were definitely looking for a better experience this time around!

I Think I Can .... with a very shallow draft of 2 feet led us over the shallow area leading back to the ocean. Nice as it saved us a mile or so of backtracking through the channel route we took in.

Once out in the deeper water, it didn't take long for Steve to get the trolling rods out and into the water. Surely he would catch something today??

But no. Empty hooked again. In fact the only strike he had the whole time out was day 1. Something huge was pulling out the line like crazy - sadly whatever it was came off before Steve could get it near the boat. Probably a barracuda but it would have been nice to see for sure.

Plus they fight like crazy!

It wasn't long and we were on the reef. The water was so incredibly blue, calm and clear.What a perfect day to snorkel!!

Jenna Star and I Think I Can ... picked up a mooring buoy and into the water everyone went.

Yes - even I went in :-) (Granted, I didn't go in at first but was convinced that it was a not to be missed day.) Tons of fish around and the water so incredibly clear.

Cindy and Randy's underwater camera gave George an opportunity to take some great pictures at the reef!

Two really great sightings: first was the turtle that Steve and George tried to herd toward the boat where Nancy and I were.

We were able to see it in the water but the picture George got of the turtle and Steve was great!

The other really fun thing? The Goliath Grouper that was hanging out underneath our boat!

Steve heard there was one that lives on this reef and is fed by the snorkel boats (not sure that is true) so he headed off - swimming around the

reef in search of the giant grouper. I had tired of swimming and headed back to the boat.

Imagine my surprise when I looked under the boat and there was the grouper! George took a number of pictures but it's really hard to get a perspective on the size of the crazy thing.

I outlined our prop in red in the picture right to give some idea of the size of this giant fish. Estimated at 3 1/2 to 4 feet long and 300 pounds?? Just not sure.

Fortunately it hung around until Steve finally returned to the boat :-)

Time to head to our previously selected anchorage near Big Pine Key. Jenna Star and I Think I Can ... took the direct route - we followed the reef line about 5 miles offshore. Longer route for sure - we'll catch up at the anchorage.


It actually turned out ok though as there were already some boats anchored where we were going to go. Change of plans and we ended up just west of Little Pine Key. Very nice!


Because of the change, we were actually anchored before the others arrived. Talk about flat water ....

It was getting late so no dingy exploring but everyone joined us in a combined dinner on the flybridge.

Great evening, great company .....

And another great sunset!! (well this is actually from the night before but was such a great picture :-) )

Thanks again to Jenna Star and I Think I Can ... for sharing photos - especially the underwater pics!