KeysDiveGuide Vol.7-Islamorada / Hen & Chickens / U.S.S. Alligator (1822) / The "Cannabis Cruiser"

Thunder southbound down A1A with Don Ferguson! Islamorada dive sites include HENS & CHICKENS, the IRON MAST WRECK, the USS ALLIGATOR and the CANNABIS CRUISER.


After a quick trip from Tavernier to Islamorada, launch at Pelican Cove Resort and hurtle out to the first dive site, Hen and Chickens. This shallow patch reef is visible from the Snake Creek Drawbridge about two miles away. Dive the light tower with a large school of tolerant Barracuda before easing over to a large school of curious Gray Angelfish. Check out the Steel Brick Wreck, yet another unnamed Ghost Ship. Enjoy the antics of a large Hermit Crab and a strange looking Peacock Flounder during an exhilarating night dive! Next, skip over to the Iron Mast Wreck, thought to be the ship Star of the Sea, a schooner that went down in the Islamorada area in 1911. The large fish here are usually excited from the chum of nearby fishing boats! Then, cruise out to Alligator Lighthouse and learn the history of its namesake, the USS Alligator that went down in 1822, 150 feet seaward of the Lighthouse in 15 feet of gin clear water! Ease 300 yards or so to the southwest of the Lighthouse and dive Alligator Shelf, yet another reef with an active, friendly fish population including Chainsaw, a frisky 3 1/2 foot Barracuda! End the day with a dive on the Cannabis Cruiser, a 65 foot long Shrimpboat converted to haul marijuana in the late 1970s. Located 2 1/4 miles southwest from Alligator Lighthouse, she rests in 105-110 feet of water. Clouded by huge fish of every description and very seldom dived, she's a true jewel of Islamorada dive sites! Through the years, divers have plucked hundreds of bales of commercial grade reefer from her hold!

The Dive Odyssey Continues.......Tomorrow.......In Lower Matecumbe Key! Key West is just about 75 miles away!

Copyright 2001(VHS Video), 2003(DVD Video), 2012(You Tube) Don Ferguson Productions. Conceived, Shot on Location, Scripted, Narrated, Produced and Edited by Don Ferguson. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 868-438-6176. This YouTube Video, "KeysDiveGuide Vol. 7", was edited from the "Shiprecks of Islamorada" Chapter in the UPPER KEYS DIVE GUIDE DVD, which shares information on 9 additional divesites not featured in this program.
Music Copyright 1996, 200, 2001, 2002 by Jeff Yurkowski with Special Thanks to The Yonders and Zyde-Gator. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Contact BeauVinyl Records 859-278-0439
Oil Paintings and Sketches by William "Bill" Trotter. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Contact the Trotter Lighthouse Maritime Studio 904-241-6511
Technical Advisor - Major Chuck Hayes (USAF Retired).
Additional Aerial and Topside Footage - Tom Jackson of Seascape Productions, Key West, FL 305-294-7280
Additional Topside and Underwater Footage - Dan Baker Productions, Marathon, FL