A couple of weeks ago we had one of the most positive and exciting eco-adventure to date. The charter with Boy Scout troop 119 out of Virgina City, Iowa turned out to be a benchmark for a ultimate Boy  Scout High Adventure.

So in our tradition of chronicling great events, it is only fitting to include this ultimate reef eco adventure.

Day One
We began our adventure at the dock in the historical seaport of Key West, Florida. After a quick briefing on Coast Guard required safety equipment, emergency procedures, and last but not least, operation of the ship’s bathroom we untied and set sail for the reef.

Soon we began the crew selection and gave out the deck assignments.  In no time at all our crew quietly mastered the skills necessary for sailing a 53-foot sailboat safely through the often-challenging waters of the Florida Keys.

On the way out Captain Trish broke out the reef creature’s book and with five scouts hanging on every word told the story of our incredible coral reef ecology.  She explained the delicate balance between plants and animals that allow the reef to be one of the most diverse and abundant eco-systems in all of nature.  She pointed out the creatures they would surely see and explained what to do if we were lucking enough to encounter large predators.  We were all left with a sense of wonder and anticipation and ready for our reef encounter.

Looe Key

Looe Key is approximately 21 miles east-southeast of Key West.  What makes this reef so special are the pristine and thriving colonies of staghorn corals.  These branching corals can stretch out up to 8 feet and latterly glow with beautiful green/gold hue of coralline alga.  Talk about plants and animals working together.

 

 

 

Troop 119 proved to be willing and capable eco-scouts.  It was not long before Michael got an up close and personal encounter with a rather large reef shark.  Remembering his training he swan strong and  healthy acting more like a fellow predator rather than potential prey.  His picture sums up the encounter rather nicely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Later Trish had a really close encounter with a rather toothy Moray Eel at Munson Rocks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Behind a nice northeasterly breeze with willing captain and  competent crew, we plotted a course back to Key West.  In what seemed like a long sunset we were safely anchored up in  Man-O-War harbor enjoying a sunset diving contest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

StingRay City and Sharks at Sand
Key

 

Morning broke and we mustered up the crew for breakfast and  prepared for what turned out to be an incredible eco-discovery day.  A 7-mile voyage out to the wreck of the  U.S.S. Amesbury, a WWII U.S. Navy destroyer, proved a bit more challenge then  we were prepared for.  Low water  visibility and a reputation for large sharks proved to be A good enough deter even the most ardent eco-traveler.  The only time I saw Trish swim faster was  when she was being tailed by a 10-foot hammerhead off Duck Key in 1997.

 

 

Not willing to give up we motored to Cottrell Key where we  encountered that largest gathering of stingrays we have ever seen.  Matthew counted 32 in all with at least one  good size Nurse Shark.  Among a chorus of  oh and ahh sounds we rounded up troop 119 and set out for Sand Key.

Sand Key proved to be a yet another extraordinary reef creature  encounter.  While snorkeling on the  southeast side of the old light tower I suddenly looked up to see a 6-foot reef  shark swimming straight at me.  Trish was  right there and between my attempts to yell “shark” through my  snorkel and her quickness with the camera we got this guy his own posting on  Facebook.  We literally followed this guy  for what seemed forever and managed to chronicle the whole event in video. You can check out the video on Facebook.

 

Not to be satisfied with just a shark encounter Trish found a  Hawksbill turtle and with the same eagerness to record eco-encounters she again chronicled the event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upon our return to  the boat, we witnessed what will always stand as the definitive “Ultimate Boy Scout High Adventure” moment, for there to greet us were five of the most excited and happy eco-adventures I have ever seen.  I promise they looked like twirling dolphins  spiraling through the clear blue waters of the Florida  Keys.