Even Cloudy Days Shine Underwater

On Sunday, eight divers joined Rainbow Reef in Key Largo as it seemed to be the only location in South Florida with suitable conditions for diving. How suitable were the conditions? 3-4 foot swells, slight current with a constant back-and-forth surge with and visibility limited due to overcast weather and silt in the water column. The group made the most of it and enjoyed the shallow reef dives out at a couple of spots on Molasses Reef.

^{Photo by Rudy Lopez}

Dive 1: Hole in the Wall (Molasses Reef)
Seas 3–4 feet, depth 35–40 feet, vis 40 feet, water 80 degrees, light to moderate current.

Gray skies and rolling seas set the stage for our first dive of the day at Hole in the Wall, one of Molasses Reef’s classic sites. The boat rocked gently in the 3–4 foot swells as we geared up, the horizon blurred by a soft, steady overcast. Visibility wasn’t stellar, but there was just enough clarity to make out the reef’s distinctive contours as we descended into the muted blue. Even under the clouds, the reef pulsed with life. Schools of yellowtail snapper and grunts drifted in and out of view, their silver sides catching the faint sunlight that filtered down. Coral heads and swim-throughs could be found throughout the site filled with sheltering fish. A large school of midnight parrotfish marched their way across the reef picking at parts of the coral as they made their way. It wasn’t the calmest dive, but it carried that quiet satisfaction of exploring a site that reveals its beauty even when the weather isn't ideal.

^{Photo by Rudy Lopez}

Dive 2: The Aquarium (Molasses Reef)
Seas 3–4 feet, depth 25–30 feet, vis 40 feet, water 80 degrees, light surge. 

After a bumpy surface interval, we motored over to The Aquarium, hoping for calmer conditions. We descended into a world still a bit stirred up but full of color and movement. True to its name, The Aquarium teemed with life from the moment we hit the bottom. Clouds of sergeant majors and chromis darted over the coral heads, while parrotfish grazed methodically below. Swaying along with the motion of the surge, angelfish, trumpetfish, and others swayed along with us just above the coral. Though the skies stayed gray and the water a little murky, The Aquarium lived up to its reputation—a reminder that even on the less-than-perfect days, Molasses Reef delivers the kind of dive that keeps you coming back for more.

^{Photo by Rudy Lopez}