USCG Duane - So nice we did it twice!

Duane Double-Dip with Conch Republic Divers

Dive 1 &2: Duane. Seas 0-1 feet, depth 125 feet, vis 60 feet, water 84 degrees, strong current.  Thanks to a last-minute change the day prior, we found ourselves steaming out toward one of the Florida Keys' most elusive and revered wrecks: the USCG Duane.

Sitting proud and upright at 125 feet beneath the surface, the Duane has been resting there since 1987, transformed from a battle-hardened Coast Guard cutter into a fortress of coral and sea life. More often than not, trips to the Duane are scrubbed due to ripping currents and temperamental seas. But not today. We were blessed with postcard-perfect conditions—sun overhead, calm seas, and visibility that stretched into the blue like a dream. Though the current flexed its strength, it was no match for good navigation and a bit of creative diving. Hugging the superstructure or zipping with a mini-DPV made the current manageable with less fighting and more flying.

For the four divers onboard, what unfolded below was nothing short of epic. At the crow’s nest, sleek barracuda hovered like silver sentinels, staring us down with that eternal, toothy grin. Down on the sand, bull sharks glided with purpose, commanding awe and respect as they patrolled the shadowed perimeter. Above the deck, schooling permit shimmered like living confetti, weaving in synchrony with the current. And above it all, Old Glory snapped proudly from the mast—its stars and stripes rippling in the fast-moving water like a beacon from another world.

The Duane delivered a dive that was wild, majestic, and unforgettable— a true treasure of the deep.

^{Photo by Jean Gruss}

^{Photo by Leah Bamford}

^{Leah Bamford, Joseph Payne navigating the deck of the Duane  
Photo by Rudy Lopez}

^{Enjoying the warm sun, turquoise blue water and flat seas. From Left: Jean Gruss, Joseph Payne, Rudy Lopez, and Leah Bamford}