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Hydro-Thunder of Key West
Island and Reef tour
The islands of the Florida Keys, most familiar
to visitors, lie in a line connected by US 1, the easternmost north-south
federal highway. However, beginning at the 1st island, Key Largo, the highway,
and keys, runs almost due west. Though most residents are aware of
the east-west orientation of the keys, because "lifeline" US 1 is a
N-S highway, many speak of travelling between the keys as "north and
south".
Now that we know the real geographical orientation of the
keys it is easier to understand why, in the afternoon, while driving
"south" toward Key West, the sun is in your face! It also helps
in understanding that the keys are bounded by the Gulf of Mexico to the north
and Atlantic Ocean on the south. (The Atlantic waters to the south are
actually the Florida Straights, 90 miles wide, separating the Keys from
Cuba. It is where the Gulf Stream begins its meandering 5000 mile journey
from the Gulf of Mexico to the Mediterreanean Sea and is the reason why London
and Paris, though 1000 miles more north than New York, has spring flowers
blooming a month earlier!)
Another common mis-conception is that the islands connected
by US 1 are the keys in entirety. Easy to think since they are the
populated islands of the keys. US 1 and the biggest of the keys, in fact,
follow a line midway between the open Gulf of Mexico 6 miles to the north and
the Atlantic 6 miles south. Those edges, north and south, are the real
edges of the Gulf and Atlantic abysses. The 12 miles separating the
abysses is shallow water over Florida's continental shelf populated by islands
and reefs.
Visitors who travel the keys on wheels, once west
(south?) of Islamorada, can easily observe Gulf edge islands 6
miles north and towers marking reef locations 6 miles south. The pictures
below are some of the most beautiful of each, easily reached and enjoyed in a
day of boating from Key West. The crew of Hydro-Thunder wants to see your
smiles of enjoyment upon your experience. We'll help you any way we
can. Enjoy the pictures now and the real thing soon.
The Islands
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The
islands, or keys, consist of two basic types of natural formation. The
most familiar, which are habitable, are on solid ground of limestone bedrock
and old coral. It is on these the human population resides. The
other, not readily apparent from a distance, consists of only Mangrove
vegetation growth above shallow wetlands. These are favorite habitats of
sea-dependent birds, fish and reptiles. A close look will reveal only
tangled masses of Mangrove root rising above a floor of water or mud. The
two different species of keys provide uniquely different means for human
recreational pleasures, though certain words describe common aspects:
isolated, quiet, pristine, serenity. Additionally the mangrove keys
provide a primitive jungle view and wildlife observation from their edges and
from winding channels through them navigable by small powerboat or human
propelled kayak, canoe or skiff. The islands pictured here, provide
ingredients of sun, sand and crystal clear water for mixing in any way that
pleasures the visitor.
Please Please, leave behind only footprints, bubbles, and the echoes of
your enjoyment.
Woman Key - On the Atlantic
side, 9 miles west of Key West.
Boca Grande - On the Atlantic, 2 miles beyond Woman Key.
Cottrell Key - Betweem
Atlantic and Gulf, 8 miles W of Key West.
Marvin
Key - On the Gulf side, 15 miles NE of Key
West.
Snipe Key - On the Gulf, 3 miles beyond Marvin Key.
The Reefs
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The reefs shown here are not entire reefs in themselves, but exposed sections of a reef line that extends over 300 miles from 100 miles north of Miami to Dry Tortugas, 70 miles beyond Key West. The reef system is formed on the edge of Florida's continental shelf averaging 6 miles.east of the Atlantic shoreline on mainland Florida and south of the keys along US 1 beyond Key Largo. Depths of the diveable reef areas vary from 100 feet to parts that are awash or even dry, as pictured here in Middle Sambo. A dozen 100 foot towers mark shallow sections of the reef that have been fatal to ships for centuries. Bearing names such as: Carysfort, Alligator, Tennessee, Sombrero, American Shoal and Sand Key (pictured below). They are visible to drivers along US 1 and represent some of the most romantic and adventurous marine history of the U.S. The reef areas so marked are also the favorite habitats of everything wild in the sea that loves sunshine as we humans do. If you've enjoyed exploring a modern acquarium with glass separating humans from sealife, you're in for a real treat when you step, dive, fall, or otherways, get into, the water with them on one of these reef locations. I, Capt. Jim, owner of Hydro-Thunder and writer of this stuff, personally guarantee your enjoyment of a school of thousands of small fish swarming about you. I'll also guarantee that most of the fish bigger than you which include barracudas, sharks, rays, dolphins, whales (yep, they come here too) and turtles (giant size). are, "just lookin' ".
Sand Key
Rock Key
Eastern Dry Rocks
Middle Sambo
Eastern Sambo