1. A PLACE TO START

A popular wreck dive, the Indra sits in the sand at around 65 feet. Scuttled in 1992, the 330-foot former Navy landing ship makes a great introduction to the Graveyard of the Atlantic.

2. SEE THE LIGHT

 For those willing to climb hundreds of steps to the top, a series of some of America’s tallest lighthouses offers eye-popping vistas of the barrier islands. 

For the first time in over one hundred and fifty years, it is possible to actually see the submarine Hunley. Until recently, it was completely covered by an encrusted layer of sand, sediment and shells that built up slowly over time. For the past four months, Clemson University conservators have been conducting the delicate task of chiseling away this concretion.

On the evening of February 17, 1864, the H. L. Hunley became the world’s first successful combat submarine by sinking the USS Housatonic. After signaling to shore that the mission had been accomplished, the submarine and her crew of eight mysteriously vanished. Lost at sea for over a century, the Hunley was located in 1995 by Clive Cussler’s National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA). 

SCUBA Board News 

Many of you who know me, know that I love to volunteer. I simply love to give of my time and it's even sweeter when I get to combine volunteerism with Scuba! So, when I was asked by Ashley to help out on a nursery dive for the Coral Restoration Foundation, I dove at the chance. Everyone was talking how cold the water was, so I brought my 3 mil shorty. After all, it's the Keys, so how chilly could it get? Sure we were bringing lunch and planning on three dives, so I brought a light vest too... you know, just in case. Luckily the water was 77^oF so I didn't need anything but a bathing suit. I love living in the Keys!

Do you know your wreck-diving basics? 
If not, read on (and remember that penetrating a wreck is a whole different ballgame, and requires advanced training).

1. Follow the mooring line. Start your dive by surface swimming or pulling yourself along a tag line to the mooring before making your descent. The mooring is your shortest, safest path between the dive boat and the wreck.

2. Remember where you started. On a large wreck with multiple moorings, it can be easy to finish your dive at the wrong boat. Once you descend, take note of your location. Are you at the bow or stern? Port or starboard? Are there unique features like a crane or a winch that you’ll notice on the way back?

3. Use the current. Start your dive against the flow. If possible, keep to the leeward side, where the superstructure of the ship will provide some protection. For the return swim, you can explore the exposed side of the wreck, drifting with the current for an easy ride back.

4. Plan your dive. Always start your wreck dive at the deepest part of your dive plan. Follow the rule of thirds: Use one-third of your air (or bottom time) swimming out, a third coming back, and keep a third in reserve.

5. Gear up. Wear a full-length wetsuit when wreck diving to protect against sharp or rusted metal and other objects. Standard gear should include a dive computer, a knife and an underwater flashlight.