In Miami?  Stop by Cafe Mystique this Thursday evening, December 1st, and attend the inaugural meeting of the "Night of the Ocean Realm".  Hosted by Ken English of Ocean Realm Online, this organizational meeting will feature a presentation by the Atlantis Reef Project, along with updates on the first conference on Underwater ART and Miami-Dade's Artificial Reef Program. Come learn more about current and future plans for Miami's artificial reef program, and find out how you can get involved. 

Meet Gary Levine and Kim Brandell of the Atlantis Reef Project, a recreational dive site, memorial garden, and environmentally-oriented research area that will be built in less than 50 feet of water in the Key Biscayne Special Management Zone.

Hear from Miami-Dade County's Department of Environment Resources Management (DERM) regarding current and future plans of underwater Miami, including an update on the mooring buoys.

Ken English will outline the first Conference on Underwater ART, planned for May 5th, 2006 on the 6th Anniversary of the Jose Cuervo Artificial Reef.

The meeting will begin at 6:30 PM.  Cafe Mystique is located at 7250 NW 11 Street, adjacent to the Days Inn hotel. Exit 836 at 72nd Avenue.  Stop by and show your support.

Post a review for any dive spot listed on DiveSpots.com, or submit a qualifying photo for any dive spot listed on DiveSpots.com, anytime between Thanksgiving and December 31st 2005, and you'll be automatically entered into our end-of-year raffle! You could win an Apple iPod, a two-tank dive with a local dive shop, a DiveSpots.com T-shirt, and more.

To submit a review for a dive spot, simply click the "Reviews" tab on the main spot page.  Click the "Reviw This Spot" that appears on that page.  

To submit a photo for a dive spot, simply click the "Photos" tab on the main spot page.  Click the "Submit Your Photo" button that appears on the page. 

To submit a review or post a photo, you must be a registered member of the site.  Of course, membership is free! 

The Fine Print: All submissions will be reviewed for content and substance.  DiveSpots.com reserves the right to edit and/or delete submissions.  Winners will be notified by e-mail using the address listed in their DiveSpots.com profile.   DiveSpots.com reserves the right to alter or discontinue this contest at any time.

DiveSpots.com will be an exhibitor at this year's Florida Dive Show at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, December 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. Don't miss this opportunity to see live demonstrations of our free GPS/GPX download feature, the online Dive Trip planner, advanced searching, newest dive spots, and more. We'll be offering "HOW TO" sessions on many of the great free features found on DiveSpots.com.

Stop by booth 113 and say hello, and register for a free giveaway!

Tickets are $ 15.00 per day, or $ 25.00 for the weekend.  The show will feature equipment demonstration, travel seminars, tech conferences and more. We are helping to raise money for the "Marine Life Center of Juno Beach".  To learn more about the Marine Life Center visit www.marinelife.org

Yes, I have a GPS on the boat, but many times I've found myself on a friend's boat over a beautiful dive spot and I've got nothing to mark the spot. So, I've been looking for an affordable, rugged, handheld GPS that I can use for both my dive trips and my road trips.

Garmin's Handheld GPSMAP 60CS is an all-purpose unit that fits the bill perfectly.  It's lightweight, durable, and waterproof.  It has a 256-color highly reflective display that provides easy viewing in almost any lighting condition. Yea, yea, all cool features, but what I realy like about this unit is that it has an easy-to-use USB connector cable that allows me to download Garmin's BlueChart maps, City Guides, and  -- of course -- GPS waypoints directly from DiveSpots.com!

The PC/USB interface cable comes standard with the unit, as does Garmin's Trip and Waypoint manager software.  The software itself is pretty basic and does NOT include any detailed maps. It's designed to simply manage waypoints that you create.  Garmin sells a variety of nautical charts and city maps which you can purchase seperately.

Overall, I've been really happy with this device. You can find cheaper handheld GPS units (this one will set you back approximately $400), but few offer the same features and great color display.

Except for the occasional -- but becoming far too regular -- hurricane threat, living in South Florida is pretty close to living in paradise.  We've got warm tropical weather, we've got the most extensive living coral reef system in North American waters and the third largest system in the world, and we've got the beautiful Florida Keys as our backyard playground. 

A road trip from Miami to Key Largo is a short one hour jaunt across either the scenic Card Sound Bridge or the beautiful watery wilderness of the "twenty-mile" stretch.  The view out the car window along either of these two routes is spectacular, but it pales in comparison to the vista when making the same trip by boat!   I made the trip this past weekend.

We loaded up the boat early Friday morning and departed from the Matheson Hammock Marina in Miami.  The trip to upper Key Largo is approximately 30 nautical miles, depending on which route you decide to take.  You essentially have two choices: 1) the ocean route, or 2) the Intercoastal route. 

When the seas are calm, the ocean route is definitely the preferred way to go if you are interested in getting in a few dives along the way.  Along this route are some of the most awesome shallow-water dive spots in South Florida.  You'll find wrecks, beautiful coral reefs, and an abundance of marine life.  Exit Matheson and head due east out the Biscayne channel (check out historic Stiltsville as you pass through the channel) towards Fowey Rocks.  As you make your way south along the east side of Elliott Key, you'll come across the Mandalay wreck in just 10 feet of water and Long Reef.  A little further south you'll find the deeper Doc DeMilly, a 287-foot freighter in about 100 feet of water.  Another 7 miles south you'll find the Thiorva wreck and Turtle Reef, two excellent shallow-water snorkel spots.  Don't look now but you're in Key Largo!  The Carysfort lighthouse is just 4 miles due south, followed by some of the word's greatest dive spots. 

When the seas are rough, the Intercoastal route is still a great alternative, offering beautiful views of Biscayne Bay, Card Sound, and Barnes Sound. As you exit the Matheson channel, head due south towards the Featherbeds.  You'll then be on the west side of Elliott Key.  Proceed south staying closer to Elliott than to the mainland.  Look for the distinctive Card Sound Bridge to the south -- it's hard to miss.  Check your charts and make your way through the channel markers along the trip.  As you pass under the Card Sound Bridge, the waters open up into Barnes Sound. From here, the trip takes you across the sound, through channels cut through the wild mangoves, under Jewfish Bridge, and into Florida Bay.  The Key Largo Marriott is a great place to stay if you are interested in staying on the Bay side. Or, cut across the Marvin Adams Waterway if you'd prefer to get back to the oceanside (which is where all the great dive spots can be found).  But large boats beware -- the Adams Waterway has two low fixed bridges that have a clearance of about 14 feet.

On this particular trip, we had a chance to visit French Reef, Snapper Ledge, and Pickles Reef.  If you make the trip, be sure to visit French Reef -- it's absolutely beautiful!  And while you're there, make it a point to enjoy the other incredible dive spots in Key Largo.

Special thanks to Kevin Rinker, Dockmaster at the Molasses Reef Marina, for providing us a slip for the boat.  Give him a call at 305-451-9411 if you decide to make the trip.