Join Us On A Voyage To The Dry Tortugas :: August 31st – September 4th, 2012
Discover the amazing Dry Tortugas National Park. Known for its incredible wildlife, both above and below the water, you’ll experience it from the comfort of the M/V Spree, a 100-ft live aboard dive vessel. We will spend day and night diving the pristine reefs of the Dry Tortugas National Park, exploring the famous Fort Jefferson, and dive the Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg wreck.
Leaving out of Key West, Florida, we will travel 70 miles west to a cluster of seven islands originally discovered and named by Ponce De Leon in 1513 as Las Islas Tortugas (The Turtle Islands) for its abundance of sea turtles. The area is known for its famous bird and marine life, its legends of pirates and sunken gold, and its military past.
The 46 square mile Research Natural Area in the Dry Tortugas National Park protects this precious natural area from the pressures of fishing and anchoring. It is here that we will get to dive and see nature at its grandest. Most dive sites rise to 50 feet from the sand 80 feet below and are home to over 250 species of fish, thousands of invertebrates, sharks, rays and turtles.
But the adventure doesn’t stop there. We will spend part of a day exploring the famous Fort Jefferson on Garden Key. This engineering marvel of the 1800′s is nothing short of breathtaking. Consisting of over 16 millions bricks, the largest masonry structure in the western hemisphere, Fort Jefferson was originally built by the U.S. Corps of Engineers in 1846 and construction continued for over 30 years—although it was never finished. This fort, which covers 11 acres of the 16 acre Garden Key, was originally designed to control navigation to the Gulf of Mexico and protect Atlantic-bound Mississippi River trade.
During the Civil War, the fort was converted into a military prison for captured deserters. Among its prisoners were four men convicted of complicity in President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination in 1865, the most famous being Dr. Samuel Mudd.
Near Fort Jefferson, Bush Key is home to an amazing richness of migrating land birds and seabird colonies. Over 100,000 Sooty Terns call the Dry Tortugas home during the nesting season. Nearly 300 species of birds have been spotted here!  The history of this fort and its surrounding fauna will leave you breathless.
For those who just love diving wrecks then you’re in for a special treat as we do two dives on the Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg wreck. This 522 feet long wreck sits in 140 feet of water and comes up to 40-50 feet. Home to an astonishing 113 species of fish according to R.E.E.F. surveys, the Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg is a haven for marine life and divers alike.
Trip Itinerary:
August 31st: Board the Spree at 7:45PM in Key West, FL.
September 1st – 3rd: Enjoy 3 days of diving, exploring, and fun!
September 4th: Â Disembark at 9:00AM
Trip includes:
All food, beer, wine, weights, tanks & NITROX!
Not Nitrox certified? Get Nitrox certified with Allison for $75 (regular price $150). Includes book & certification card
Cost of the trip: $850 per person plus 6% tax & gratuity
Contact us for more information or book online via the M/V Spree web site.
Learn more about the M/V Spree live aboard.
Learn more about the Dry Tortugas National Park.
Swim With Manatees :: January 27-29th, 2012
The opportunity to swim with manatees is one of the many pleasures of exploring the aquatic world. These gentle giants will leave you with an everlasting smile and memories you will never forget. Our manatee adventures in Crystal River, Florida will give you the opportunity of swimming with manatees and much more.
Join us on our two day adventure as we visit some of the best places in Florida to have a wild manatee encounter. Best of all, no experience or scuba certification is required. Our years of experience and knowledge will help you have the best encounter.
But the manatee experience is only half the fun. Join us on a dive through the cavern at King’s Spring. If you are scuba certified you can enjoy a guided tour through this beautiful cavern down to 50 feet. King’s Spring has large schools of mangrove snappers, tarpon, and numerous other fish. There are manatees here, too! You can snorkel around King’s Spring if you prefer not to dive.
The fun is not over yet! Drift along the magnificent Rainbow River. The crystal-clear springs of Rainbow River are loaded with fish and aquatic plants. Search for turtles hiding in the sea grass. Come face to face with the odd-looking gar fish. You can choose to either dive or snorkel this part of the adventure.
To help you remember and cherish this special manatee trip we will include a free copy of your underwater adventures produced by TheLivingSea. Most importantly, TheLivingSea will be making a donation towards the conservation of manatees on behalf of this year’s manatee trip.
We have put together a complete package which includes two full days of activities. These include:
Day 1: Jan 28th
Snorkeling with manatees in Crystal River
Dive in King’s Spring
Dive or snorkel in Rainbow River
Day 2: Jan 29th
Snorkel with manatees
Optional trip to the wildlife preserve
This trip includes 2 nights accommodations at the Bella Oasis hotel. Free continental breakfast is included. Rates based on double person occupancy.
The price for this manatee adventure is just $250 plus tax per person.
Contact us if you have any questions or if you would like to book your spot.
Discover the wonderful world of the manatees in Crystal River, FL.
View more photos of our manatee trips
View last year’s manatee trip video:
