Beautiful Day Beautiful Dive

Little Conch and Scrappies Reef with Conch Republic Divers

Dive 1: Little Conch Reef. Seas 1-2 feet, depth 25-30 feet, vis 50 feet, water 79 degrees, slight current. On what had to be the most beautiful afternoon in Tavernier, five divers set sail for a wonderful day of diving with Conch Republic Divers. Our first stop was the Little Conch Reef which is frequently compared to an aquarium due to the abundance of marine life present. Sightings included large schools of yellow tail and grunts, angel fish, lobster trumpet fish, a large perfectly disguised scorpion fish, and the regular cast of reef fish. 

Dive 2: Scrappies Reef/Shark Island. Seas 1-2 feet, depth 25-30 feet, vis 50 feet, water 79 degrees, slight current. As the boat dropped anchor and we prepared for our next descent, an unexpected welcoming committee was already in place — a patrol of nurse sharks gliding beneath the ladders. With one giant stride, we plunged into their world and began our dive with a relaxed cruise across the site, currents mild and visibility still holding strong. We made our way toward Shark Island. Along the journey, sharp-eyed divers spotted curious jawfish popping in and out of their sandy burrows, like shy guardians of the seafloor. As we looped back toward the boat and Scrappies Reef, the same nurse sharks that had greeted us at the surface returned to escort us once again — this time, weaving lazily between coral heads and divers alike. One particularly massive nurse shark had claimed a resting spot beneath a broad ledge, completely unbothered by our presence. Nearby, a duo of smaller sharks made slow, sweeping passes, as if they were keeping an eye on the neighborhood. Other reef residents made cameo appearances: a hefty grouper lurking in the shadows, lobsters creeping out from crevices, a solitary barracuda suspended in still water like a silver missile, and a small pufferfish bobbing between the coral.