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We went to Dry Tortugas on a nice and sunny November day, leaving the dock in Key
West at 9am sharp.
Our captain, a gentle mannered Aussie, took his boat straight to the west, flying at a
speed that had most people hide inside the cabin.
We passed south of Marquesas Key, the westernmost of the Florida Keys, maintaining
the same westerly direction, over the seas marked as far as eye can see with buoys
spaced in regular intervals.
West at 9am sharp.
Our captain, a gentle mannered Aussie, took his boat straight to the west, flying at a
speed that had most people hide inside the cabin.
We passed south of Marquesas Key, the westernmost of the Florida Keys, maintaining
the same westerly direction, over the seas marked as far as eye can see with buoys
spaced in regular intervals.
The Dry Tortugas are so low
and flat that if not for the Fort it
would be easy to miss them on
the shiny surface of the ocean.
After two hours, we landed on a
small but beautiful island.
There were already a couple of
other groups brought by sea
planes, which were "parked" on
the water.
and flat that if not for the Fort it
would be easy to miss them on
the shiny surface of the ocean.
After two hours, we landed on a
small but beautiful island.
There were already a couple of
other groups brought by sea
planes, which were "parked" on
the water.
I was almost shocked by the variety of tropical fish, clearly
visible in absolutely clear water.
It was my best snorkeling experience, better then rather
murky waters of the Keys or Hawaii.
Closer to the bottom, at about 10-12 feet, were hiding
bigger specimens of fish, while near the surface fish of
fantastic colors and patterns were minding their own
business, paying little attention to the intruder.
When I finally emerged from the water on the other side
of the fort I was tired but satisfied.
visible in absolutely clear water.
It was my best snorkeling experience, better then rather
murky waters of the Keys or Hawaii.
Closer to the bottom, at about 10-12 feet, were hiding
bigger specimens of fish, while near the surface fish of
fantastic colors and patterns were minding their own
business, paying little attention to the intruder.
When I finally emerged from the water on the other side
of the fort I was tired but satisfied.
After this snorkeling experience it was time for lunch, brought in and served by the crew of our boat. We
found an unoccupied place in a shade of a palm tree and over our lunch made plans for the next two hours
of our stay.
We noticed there was another island next to ours, separated only by a narrow channel of water. The only
problem was that the water in the channel was flowing. A strong current caused most likely by a tide was a
challenge to all people who tried to cross the narrows.
While we were standing in the water near the shore, we saw a group of string rays swimming through the
channel. They were about 2 feet wide and seemed flying effortlessly in the water.
Those who manage to cross the channel could take a long walk along the beach of the elongated
neighboring island, but our stay in this beautiful place was coming to an end. We boarded our boat and
headed east. Yes, it was one of those trips that you would like to make again.
found an unoccupied place in a shade of a palm tree and over our lunch made plans for the next two hours
of our stay.
We noticed there was another island next to ours, separated only by a narrow channel of water. The only
problem was that the water in the channel was flowing. A strong current caused most likely by a tide was a
challenge to all people who tried to cross the narrows.
While we were standing in the water near the shore, we saw a group of string rays swimming through the
channel. They were about 2 feet wide and seemed flying effortlessly in the water.
Those who manage to cross the channel could take a long walk along the beach of the elongated
neighboring island, but our stay in this beautiful place was coming to an end. We boarded our boat and
headed east. Yes, it was one of those trips that you would like to make again.
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Once on dry land, we were left pretty much to ourselves. Most people from our boat took a tour of the fort
first, which, as we learned, has never seen battle. Today the fort and island no longer belong to the military,
they are now part of the Dry Tortugas National Park.
There are just a few people who live there today, but other than that the island belongs to visitors. After
everybody had a chance to look around, most people ended up on one of the two beautiful beaches.
The one to the right had a nice swath of white sand and a relatively shallow water with some vegetation on
the bottom. The beach on the other side was smaller, but nicely shaded by coconut palms, and the water
was very deep and turquoise color.
On the ocean side of the fort was a wide wall build directly in the water. I decided to try my snorkeling skills
swimming along the wall, which as I soon found, was colonized by many underwater creatures, that turned
it into an artificial reef.
first, which, as we learned, has never seen battle. Today the fort and island no longer belong to the military,
they are now part of the Dry Tortugas National Park.
There are just a few people who live there today, but other than that the island belongs to visitors. After
everybody had a chance to look around, most people ended up on one of the two beautiful beaches.
The one to the right had a nice swath of white sand and a relatively shallow water with some vegetation on
the bottom. The beach on the other side was smaller, but nicely shaded by coconut palms, and the water
was very deep and turquoise color.
On the ocean side of the fort was a wide wall build directly in the water. I decided to try my snorkeling skills
swimming along the wall, which as I soon found, was colonized by many underwater creatures, that turned
it into an artificial reef.
Things To Do In
Florida
Florida
My Dry Tortugas Adventure
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