Shark Diving the USS Spiegel Grove
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- In this video, descend with us into the challenging blue depths off Key Largo, FL, where history and adrenaline collide on the wreck of the legendary USS Spiegel Grove. This 510-foot behemoth, once a Cold War warrior, now rests as the third largest artificial reef ever created, teeming with marine life and aquatic adventure.
Join us as we navigate the labyrinthine corridors of the ship's command decks, imbued in blue-hued glow which pours through gaping holes, casting iridescent beams of light that leave you feeling like a wandering ghost. Towering bulkheads cast haunting shadows amid silent hallways, while the echo of your bubbles mingles with the legacy of a crew long gone. But the silence is often broken...
...by the menacing silhouettes of reef sharks patrolling the exterior of the ship. Watch as giant black groupers emerge from the countless overhangs, their watchful eyes gleaming with predatory curiosity. Schools of barracuda, like silver spears, hang ominously on the top deck , while amberjacks cast fleeting flashes of gold. The USS Spiegel Grove is a vibrant ecosystem brimming with dozens of smaller reef fish, a kaleidoscope of life thriving within the steel bones of the past.
Just at the edge of the sunlight's reach, around the edge of the hull just above the sea bottom, shadows take on a different meaning. Brace yourself for encounters with bull sharks, apex predators whose power and elegance command respect. Witness their effortless grace as they glide through the wreck, their presence both exhilarating and humbling.
This dive was a journey into history, a test of skill, and a celebration of the incredible resilience of life.
Here's a few important facts about The Spiegel Grove Wreck Dive:
1. How deep is the Spiegel Grove?
The wreck sits in roughly 130 feet of water, with the top deck in 70ft - offering depths suitable for both advanced and extremely experienced divers.
2. What type of ship is the USS Spiegel Grove?
The USS Spiegel Grove was a Thomaston-class dock landing ship, designed to transport landing craft and troops ashore.
3. When was the Spiegel Grove sunk?
In 2002, the Spiegel Grove was intentionally sunk to create the vibrant artificial reef you'll explore in this video.
If you're ready to dive the USS Spiegel Grove, be sure to get in touch with Quiescence Diving Services of Key Largo, FL. They are one of the top rated dive centers in the Florida Keys, providing private six passenger charters so you can dive at your leisure with a group of your preference! Ask for Capt. Steve!
keylargodiving....
Enjoyed the video. Always great to see the Spiegel and the Benwood.
Last summer the shark was dragging about a 100 feet of that line.
It is shorter now. Eventually it'll be gone I hope. He seems to be a resident.
Thanks for sharing this. Safe diving to all.
watching that shark with the hook in its mouth is somewhat of a bummer. However, the clear footage is awesome.
Taking my daughter here for her first wreck dive in a month! I love this wreck….was one of the first divers on the wreck after it get flipped right side up back in 2005 after hurricane Dennis. SO much fun!
That is epic! Hopefully you can catch calm conditions with excellent visibility and weak current. The sharks and groupers are still hanging out and doing their thing as of June 2024.
Great video! I dove the Spiegel 8 times last week and it was amazing. The sharks were definitely my favorite part.
holy mackerel - 8 dives in one week on the Spiegel! That must be some kind of record!
@@BonaFideWorldGuide 🙃 It wasn’t quite on purpose - we scheduled 2 deep dives for certification, then 4 deep for fun and 2 shallow. Then the shallow didn’t have enough divers so they cancelled and we opted for another deep, and they all were on the Spiegel. But every dive was awesome and different!
I Love diving in the Keys. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for watching! Stay tuned...more diving videos on the way.
@@BonaFideWorldGuide Awesome. I am waiting on warmer weather here in Myrtle Beach to get back in the ocean. Gonna be filming it all.
I love the Spiegel! My favorite dive site hands down. Looks like you got to see that huge grouper at Molasses. I saw it there in December!
There's been more life on the Spiegel Grove in the past year than i've seen in 15 years. Sharks, groupers, hogfish, jacks, permit...it's like an aquarium if you can catch it while the current isn't screaming.
Great video Charlie! Some beautiful sites. The clarity was unreal!
Thanks for sharing!!!
Thanks for watching! If only conditions on the spiegel grove were like that every time!
Excellent footage Charlie as always. I always look forward to your posts. Keep up the great work. 😊
Thank you so much! I really appreciate that.
Thanks Charlie for taking me along 😊
Anytime! :)
Great music in the dive segment 👍
Trying to keep it mellow. :)
Very cool dive. Great to see. A lot of life down there.
Definitely the most life i've seen on the Spiegel in 20 years of diving that wreck.
That makes me happy .Do you think that is because of the lionfish kills. How often do people go there and hunt lionfish. When I was young 84 85 there were so many fish you had to swat them away to see under a coral head. I went to the keys a couple years ago. It made me sad was like seeing the surface of the moon. The cornucopia of fish and colors were all gone. I was devastated.@@BonaFideWorldGuide
Good day for a new video it’s cold outside🤙🏻
Stay warm my dude! We're freezing down here in the keys - it's 71 degrees!
Beautiful
Thanks Marge! Sending good vibes from the Florida Keys!
@@BonaFideWorldGuide I’m in the keys now. Love it here looking for yellowtail every day we can get out
Great dive. What kind of shark was that? Poor guy had a long line in him 😔
Those are Caribbean Reef Sharks. Normally, they're very passive. But they love to eat fish that have been hooked - thus the jewelry in their mouths.
You got ad breaks!
is the shark at 8:45 a bull shark or a reef shark? it's got kind of a short snout?
I thought it was a bull - but apparently it's a very fat, stubby reef shark. The bulls typically don't come too close on the wrecks.
Was that a "stone fish" in the second dive?
That was a scorpion fish! Angry critter for sure!
how did you survive with only a 5mm suit?
I put a 2mm vest with a 3mm hood on - over the 5mm!
Many fish in Vicinity of those sharks. Plenty of food. Why attack humans.