What’s Down There Anyway?

Key West, FL -

The desire to breathe under water has probably always existed…first to hunt for food and then as an observer. Ancient drawings actually offer depictions of divers…Greeks hunted for sponges and engaged in military exploits under water as early as 500 B.C.… but only for short and often frantic periods of time. For Centuries now, men and women have practiced breath-holding diving to understand more of our world…deep below.

There’s no doubt that man has always been fascinated with water and the many creatures in it. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the Underwater World of Jacques Cousteau, and countless Underwater ghouls portrayed in countless B-Horror movies are living testament to man’s curiosity about those who can and those who cannot breathe in a mysterious world far beneath the surface of the water. Man’s ability to breathe under water was once limited to a short reed at best, but continued interest…and even necessity would ultimately “force” the issue! Man was determined to find a way to swim and breathe under water…hundreds of feet below the surface…but how?

It didn’t take long to discover that long reeds wouldn’t work. Quite simply, water pressure limits the length of the reed or snorkel, as it is known today. Air-filled bags were tried but breathing the carbon dioxide over and over again made them virtually useless for any length of time. Finally, in 16th Century England and France, full diving suits made of leather were successful to depths of 60 feet. Manual pumps would send air from the surface but water pressure once again made it impossible to go any deeper until metal helmets were made. By the 1830’s, the surface- supplied air helmet was perfected well enough for extensive salvage work but men were still unable to stay below for extended periods of time.

Underwater exploration was further accelerated when safe limits were defined for compressed air diving and studies on the effects of water pressure on the body were completed. At the same time, improved technology resulted in better air pumps, carbon dioxide scrubbers and regulators; finally, it was possible to stay under water for long periods of time. Today, scuba diving is one of the most popular sports around the world with natural and man-made dive sites on every coast.

When it comes to diving and snorkeling, the Florida Keys and Key West are quite simply, paradise, both under water and on land. The reef is the longest living reef in the western hemisphere with more than 500 wrecks to explore and the world's first underwater hotel. Have you slept underwater lately? Jules’ Undersea Lodge is located at the bottom of Emerald Lagoon in Key Largo Undersea Park…and sleeps six! There are also more dive shops in the Keys per square mile than anywhere else in the world. With crystal clear waters and visibility of up to 120 feet -- it's no wonder that divers from all over the world come to dive and enjoy the Florida Keys.

Whether snorkeling or diving the reef off the Keys, it’s an unforgettable experience and a kaleidoscope of color that no painter could ever duplicate. Corals such as stag and elkhorn, brain, tree and sea fans create wildly exotic shapes while more than 600 varieties of fish produce an electric display of color that’s not only bizarre and mysterious but totally out of this world! It lives, breathes and undulates a dance of its own...one that has been going on since the beginning of time and long before man was ever able to witness it. In the daytime, sunlight glimmers down through the azure water illuminating the coral formations, brightly colored fish and other vivid sea creatures. At night, a diver's vision is limited to the circle of his underwater lighting, but this pool of artificial light amidst the surrounding blackness lends a surrealistic quality to the reef. The inability to see everywhere gives the divers a heightened sense of awareness and the feeling that this is in fact a “great adventure!”

In recent years, wreck-diving has become increasingly popular -- and for good reason. Artificial reefs provide excellent night dive sites and give the natural reef a much-needed rest. Though many of the Keys wrecks are historically significant (Spanish galleons and any number of Civil War ships), other unnatural wrecks have been created by citizens concerned about the survival of the natural reef. Preserving the reef is a top priority. It’s one of the most versatile marine destinations in the world…with shallow reefs for snorkelers, coral-encrusted shipwrecks and intricate natural coral formations as well as a range of deeper reefs for experienced divers.

To go wreck or reef diving, you can take your own boat, rent a boat (be sure to have a nautical chart in hand), or have a pro from a local dive shop take you out. Most sites are only a short boat ride away and maps which locate dive sites, nautical charts and any equipment you may need can be rented or purchased almost anywhere in the Keys. Reef Relief, a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to protecting the reef is responsible for the convenient mooring buoys you’ll find once at the site. The buoys save the reef from anchors and make it very easy for boaters to tie off…use them!

Commercial dive operators will require scuba certification cards and logbook to verify experience levels for the diver's safety. Scuba instruction at all levels from open water through instruction certification is also available at many dive operations, including Underwater photography skills for both still and video cameras. It’s nice to get home with your own personal video (or stills) of your own personal “deep down” adventure! Of course you can buy or rent this equipment, too-there isn’t much that hasn’t been thought of at this point. Considering all the annoying security checks on every airline, it’s a good idea to travel light and rent everything you need on location. Everything you need (and then some) is at your fingertips!

Finally, water temps vary considerably between the Winter and Summer months so plan your trip accordingly. In Winter (October to March), expect temps in mid-70s F.-- you will need a wetsuit! In Summer (April to September), water temps are in the mid to upper 80s F. A light wetsuit or skins are recommended to avoid abrasions or sea lice (jellyfish), but the temperature is delightful...ideal or how do you say, perfect? The sea conditions also vary with each season. The seas are much rougher in the winter, generally 3 to 6 feet, but during the summer, it isn’t unusual for the sea to be nearly flat and never more than 1 to 3 feet…once again, perfect!

Use your head!
Know as much as possible about the area where you will be diving and snorkeling. Know the types of animals and plants you are likely to encounter. It’s a delicately balanced world which can be easily damaged, or preserved, by your behavior.

Use your eyes!
Take the time to observe the site upon entering the water. Notice not only what creatures are there, but also how they interact with each other. For instance, will your actions cause unnecessary stress to a damselfish guarding its nest, and so on? Please take notice of the currents so you’re not carried into a coral head.

Use your body!
Always be aware of your body position while in the water. There is a proper dive posture, with your feet remaining slightly elevated above the head. Maintain proper buoyancy control and use a minimal amount of weights. Make sure that all equipment is carried or secured in a way that will prevent contact with the coral, especially gauges, camera equipment and underwater lights. Snorkelers should partially inflate their vests to keep from drifting down on top of coral.

Use your hands!
Use your hands for swimming only and follow the golden rule of responsible diving: “Look, but don’t touch!” Arms should be kept at the sides of the body. If you don’t wear gloves, you are less likely to touch strange objects with your bare hands and if you are in a Sanctuary Preservation Area or an Ecological Reserve, be sure to remember the "no take" regulations. Even if you’re attempting to catch lobster or fish in a permitted area, it’s vital to remember the importance of not touching any coral or live rocks in your search.

Use your feet! (properly)
Careless contact from swim fins is among the leading causes of injury to corals at popular dive sites. Finned feet are considerably longer in length than the normal foot, and no one should never stand on the coral or rocks at the reef, even if they do not appear to be alive. Snorkelers should learn how to float in a seated position at the surface if they need to adjust their masks and all divers and snorkelers should return to the boat if they need to stand and adjust their equipment. Through proper use and management, the Florida Keys and its reef can be preserved for future generations to enjoy. Virtually all of the coral reef systems around the world are at risk…the reefs of the Florida Keys are no exception!

Coral reefs are generally classified into three types: barrier reefs, fringing reefs, and atolls. Barrier reefs and atolls are both characterized by a lagoon that is protected on the seaward side by the reef. Barrier reefs occur in association with continental land masses, whereas atolls are coral reefs that form atop submarine volcanoes. Fringing reefs are considered immature because they have not yet formed a lagoon in the backreef. Under less than ideal conditions, coral also exists in small communities or patch reefs.

Reef-building corals grow in size by increasing the amount of carbonate calcium in their skeleton and adding new living tissue to cover the larger skeleton. Under ideal conditions, some species of coral form boulders taller than an adult human. This process takes decades as boulder-type corals grow less than one centimeter per year. Thinner, branching corals grow as quickly as ten centimeters per year, but are easily broken in strong storms or as a result of human impact. The age of corals can be determined by examining coral growth rings, similar to counting rings in the trunk of a tree, or through the use of radioisotopes.

Coral can reproduce asexually or sexually. Asexual reproduction occurs when a portion of living tissue buds off or when part of the colony is broken away from the parent colony, neither of these instances allows for genetic recombination. Sexual reproduction is the combination of egg and sperm to form larvae. These larvae are planktonic and exist in the water column until they settle onto an appropriate substrate and metamorphosize into a single coral polyp. The single polyp will then grow into a colony. Coral spawning is a spectacular event and one means of sexual reproduction that occurs in the Florida Keys on an annual basis. Corals have been observed releasing their gametes into the water column five to eight days after the August full moon over the past four years. This type of broadcast spawning has been known to occur on Pacific reefs, but it was not observed in the north Atlantic until 1990.

Spawning is one of the reefs most interesting and spectacular events and once witnessed, you’ll want to return again and again…however, if you’re determined to catch this once a year “sex on the reef” you’ll need a little luck or a flexible schedule…or both! Scuba diving is the best way to go and since 1990, all spawnings have occurred in August, shortly after the full moon. At that time many of the corals will release both sperm and ovum completing their bi-sexual reproductive process. It is clear that the trigger for this event is the August full moon, regardless of when that happens each year. The timing also varies from species to species, but usually for a given species, the spawning occurs at a certain time after sunset.

Scientists have found that the branching corals such as finger, staghorn and elkhorn corals in the Florida Keys spawn three to five days after the full moon and about two hours after sunset. The boulder star corals, particularly the Montastraea, spawn six to eight days after the August full moon, about three hours after sunset. Dive shops and diving services from Key Largo to Key West will be offering coral spawning trips and reservations fill quickly, so act now.

Also of interest to scuba divers, The Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival in July. Strange as it may sound, it’s more than a chance to experience how water distorts Jimmy Buffett tunes and more importantly, it’s one more way to help preserve the fragile coral reefs. From time to time, the music is interrupted by diver-awareness announcements from the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary officials offering tips on how to enjoy the reef without destroying it. But that's as solemn as it gets. After the music ends, everyone heads back to shore for a conch chowder cook-off and a beer or two…or three or four?

Listening to music underwater would seem even more strange to those who helped develop the sport to this point…but it’s just one more example of how far we’ve come since that first short reed allowed man to breath underwater for that first brief moment. Now we’re swimming with the fish and all our friends beneath the sea…and listening to Mozart…Beethoven and the Beatles…and not a single person needs a “yellow submarine!” We’ve come a long way but there are those who still yearn to know more about the deepest parts of our oceans. If we manage to care for the reefs we know, our next generation and generations to come will have every opportunity to enjoy stranger things indeed, than a concert under water!

Key West & The FL Keys

What’s Down There Anyway?