July 25--Rodriguez Key to Boot Key Harbor, Marathon

About five years ago Dennis and I got certified to scuba dive.  Although we’ve only made a few dives, we hope to sometime in the future to get our own equipment and make some diving trips.  Right now we pay someone to come in once a month to dive under Aurora and scrap off the barnacles, but hopefully is something eventually we can do ourselves.  Leaving Rodriguez Key this morning we saw many fishing boats heading for off shore water and then later saw various kinds of boats all along the reef with their red dive flags out.  At one point the Coast Guard came calling, “Pan pan, pan pan, pan pan. This is the United States Coast Guard with a report of a diver down, unaccounted for.”   Then they proceeded to give latitude and longitude for the location, asking boaters to keep a sharp look out.  We were not close to their vicinity, so nothing to do, but say a prayer for him to be found.  Thankfully, thirty minutes later they were able to cancel the emergency, saying he had been safely recovered.  Like sailing, diving’s another water activity where safety is paramount.  Glad to have an awesome sailing and diving buddy.        

Not having been on coastal waters much to witness their incredible level of responsibility to the boating community, it has been both enlightening and reassuring to learn, like local police, the Coast Guard is just a quick radio call away to assist in an emergency.  Each and every day from early to late we’ve heard them giving assistance to boaters in trouble and warnings of potential problems on the water.  It is an incredible branch of the military, doing an incredible job of keeping our waters safe and we’ve been grateful for their reassuring presence during our trip.

Tonight we are on a mooring in Boot Key Harbor, Marathon in the Middle Keys, and then head north again in the morning, only this time on the Gulf Coast towards PGI.  We are attempting to make it home from here, weather permitting, in just two days.  Tomorrow night we will be in Marco Island, and Friday home.  They will probably be two long, hot days, plus twice already we’ve been warned of the lobster pots.  Even though the season doesn’t officially open until next week, fishermen are apparently getting them out so all they have to do is bait them when it begins.  Dodging lobster pots should make the last two days of the trip interesting, maybe learn some new sailing techniques?  I can see some of you now grimacing at the thought of the pots because you’ve been there, done that.  Anyway, send good thoughts our way for safe travel, and no lobster pot disaster stories. 

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