Diving Sombrero Reef with Murray Camp

[aquavista99]

Just returned from another amazing trip to the Florida Keys. Unlike most trips, the weather was not cooperative and most of my scheduled snorkel/dive trips were cancelled due to bad weather (ie, 5 to 7 feet waves at the reefs with lots of rain). It turns out the reef keeping community is a small world after all. On my first trip out to Sombrero Reef, which is located 6 miles offshore from the Islands of Marathon, I ran into fellow aquarist, speaker and author, Murray Camp of Dallas, Texas. Murray has presented at numerous reef conferences and events around the country, including MACNA XXIII and his articles have appeared in publications such as CORAL Magazine. His most recent articles can be found here:

Probiotics Demystified: http://www.coralmagazine-us.com/content/probiotics-demystified

Solid Polymers for Nutrient Control: (The article starts on p. 76 - p. 78 of the online edition) http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/digital_launch.aspx?eid=01987090-d3b9-40ca-9c62-559b8278318f

To make a long story short, Murray and I had a great time on Sombrero Reef and we plan to get together again to visit more reefs in the future. Murray is also interested in coming up to Ohio and give one or more presentations, if the club is interested.  His speaking presentations include the follow topics: 1) BIOPELLETS AND OTHER ADVANCES IN PROBIOTIC METHODOLOGIES; 2) GORGONIANS: SELECTION AND HUSBANDRY; 3)  OFFBEAT CORALS; and 4) YOU WANT ME TO PUT WHAT IN MY TANK? - AN OVERVIEW OF PROBIOTIC AND CARBON DOSING METHODOLOGIES.

Here are a few pictures from our 6/2012 trip to Sombrero Reef.  I didn't get a chance to take a lot of underwater photographs on this trip due to the harsh elements, but the reef was amazing as usual. Murray commented about the undertow of current on this trip as well....it was a very windy day with high wave action. Enjoy the pictures and happy reefing to all!!!

[lazylivin]

Thanks for sharing the pictures Tim

[HUNGER]

looked like fun

[Twizted1]

That would be awsome. I'm to chicken to fly, so pics are the only way I'll ever see this kind of stuff. Thanks for sharing.

[micki]

Very cool Tim!  Thanks for sharing!

[saltyshell]

Nice pics.
 Twizted1 - Drive there. the keys are beautiful. You will appreciate your tank more once you snorkel or dive a reef

[Viggen]

I also drive..... been in the keys for 10 days now with today being the first day we woke up to the sun shinning!  Like stated 5-7ft + waves...... we are suppose to head north to flagler beach (camping area 20 miles north of daytona) but the tropical storm has forced us to stay here a few more days.  Hopefully it will calm down so we can hit looe key.

Never thought I would teach the kids to body surf at smather beach and Bahia honda

[The WuSue]

Been really interested in taking up diving, but honestly don't know where to start. Any recommendations on where to get certified?  (Thinking this might be a fun activity to center the Honeymoon around.)

[Boonjob]

Been really interested in taking up diving, but honestly don't know where to start. Any recommendations on where to get certified?  (Thinking this might be a fun activity to center the Honeymoon around.)

I can thing of better things to do on that honeymoon 

Get it in while you still can, that wedding cake has a wierd side effect of taking it away... BAHAHAHAHAHA   

[The WuSue]

Trust me, scuba won't be what the trip is centered around. But it does seem like a great way to cool off after.

[Boonjob]

True lol

[Viggen]

Not sure what scuba options there are up.your way.  There is a good shop close to Wilmington and 675...... you could do all of your pool stuff there then save your open water dive for wherever you take your trip.

I just snorkel and since for the first time in 11 days the winds are under 15mph so hopefully I can take the wife and kids snorkeling.  With some luck I will have some good underwater pics to post up.  They won't be as nice as Tim's but I will sill post them when we get home

[Amstar]

SODA souther ohio dive academy.  also I took a class at sinclair and we dove in their large heated pool, and becoming certified was part of the course descrption/price

[aquavista99]

been in the keys for 10 days now with today being the first day we woke up to the sun shinning!  Like stated 5-7ft + waves...... we are suppose to head north to flagler beach (camping area 20 miles north of daytona) but the tropical storm has forced us to stay here a few more days.  Hopefully it will calm down so we can hit looe key.

Unfortunately,most of my scheduled reef trips were cancelled due to the weather  as well (ie, wanted to go out to Looe Key Reef again) but the resort we were staying at made up for it ;-)

[aquavista99]

Here is an aerial picture of Sombrero reef. The reef gets very shallow near the lighthouse but that portion of the reef is off limits to divers and snorkelers.

[Viggen]

This is the resort we stayed at.....rrr... ummm...... in

[aquavista99]

This is my very first attempt at creating a video while visiting Sombrero Reef on June 18, 2012. Beneath the surface lies one of the most magnificent coral reefs in the Middle Keys, home to some of the best spur and groove reef formations in all the Keys. Enjoy the view from above....mother nature's very own wave action reef pool