A 4:30am start is always tough, but the wreck of the Jack-up Rig Key Biscayne is usually worth the effort. Our team's 'good weather fairy' Justin delivered again and provided us with great conditions despite being called off the dive at the eleventh hour due to work commitments.
That said, and despite the good weather, the trip out to the wreck had everyone on board dropping their breakfast over the side before we got to the wreck and there were some distinctly yellow faces as people geared up and dropped in.
The Dive
We motored down the shot line and then took a wide swing around the perimeter of the wreck enjoying the good (15m) vis to get a rare overview of the wreck site. We then hung around the central section of the wreck which is littered with meters of scattered drill rods and other oil rig paraphernalia exploring the crevices of the up-turned superstructure. Unsurprisingly the Crays were out in force, knowing as they do that this was the last day before the season begins. Its a given that by tomorrow they will all have vanished.
As we got into the latter half of our 30min bottom time we headed off down one of the three triangular legs now laying splayed out on the sand in 40m water. These legs are massive, 10m high and at least 200m long and make for a great scooter ride.
Once back at the main superstructure we took our time ascending to the shot line and into a slightly nauseous deco; the seasickness having not totally worn off on the dive.
Date: 14/11/2009
Max: 40m
Avg: 21m
BT: 30mins
RT: 60mins
BG: 21/35
Deco: EAN50
Ratio: 3,2,2,2,2,8,5
Heres some video and photos from the dive.
Colourful life on the upturned deck
A diver ascends the shot line
Scattered winch at the end of a leg
Part of a crane
Into the distance
Crushed Superstructure
An encrusted motor
