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The Florida Keys
When I'm not underwater, I'm often on my Harley. Like many divers who are also bikers (and there seem to be a lot of us), I've often regretted the fact that my pastimes seem to be mutually incompatible. So late last spring, just to say I'd done it, I shipped my BC, reg, wetsuit, mask and fins to a friend with a dive shop in the Keys, jumped on the Harley and rode to Key West. For many, that's the novelty of the Keys they're subtropical islands you can drive to. And what a drive it is over bridges (one seven miles long) and across islands that are fishing colonies, retreats for heat-seeking northerners and an endless stream of Margaritavilleloving tourists not a few of whom happen to be divers. The Keys are guarded by reefs with names that have become part of America's diving lexicon like Sombrero and Molasses. Over time, these sites have collected enough wrecks to create a historical trail running the length of the islands. Recently, that collection has been joined by other items deliberately sunk such as the Christ of the Deep statue at Key Largo Dry Rocks and the Navy landing ship dock Spiegel Grove. This year, that collection will also include an Air Force ship, the Hoyt S. Vandenberg, which will be sunk near Key West. That'll be one more reason to dive the Keys and one more reason to gas up the Harley. DESTINATION PRIMER AVERAGE WATER TEMP: High 60s in winter; high 80s in summer WHAT TO WEAR: dive skin to 7 mm fullsuit, depending on season AVERAGE VIZ: 80 feet WHEN TO GO: Year-round; December-May is the dry season. MUST DO Go for the Gold Visit Key West's Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum. Just try to stroll through it (also the headquarters for ongoing explorations) without catching gold fever. MUST DIVE 1. Hoyt S. Vandenberg 2. Benwood 3. Duane 4. Spiegel Grove 5. Key Largo Dry Rocks
