Miami Secrets...

Manny, Manuel, and Niberto

Ask most people and they will tell you that Miami is fished out...Ask Manuel M. and be ready to find animals in abundance; from stone crabs to lobsters to Cubera Snappers.  I cannot divulge any location - that is part of the deal with Manuel - I will say that they are in places you would least expect them to be.

Manuel was born and raised in Miami - an avid and great freediver, the ocean has been his playground since he was a small boy, learning from his father (the two still go out together).  

Growing up with friends that share the same excitement (unless the water is too cold - no reason to mention names) they have formed a tight bond and work well together.  Manny C has long dived with Manuel and has been around for some of the larger landings. 

Cubera Snapper

Having been out with them quite often I can also appreciate their respect for the ocean...legal, and only catch what can be eaten the same night.  Happens to be that Manuel is also one of those really "lucky" people - the right fish just seem to be attracted to him.  

Meanwhile, I am still waiting for the right one, maybe on a trip to the Bahamas...

  

Diving South Beach

Yesterday I went diving a few miles off South Beach with some friends with the intent to get dinner - I was not expecting any sort of decent visibility from previous trips or any decent size fish for that matter.  But as luck would have it, we had both.


We dove a wreck and a cemetery, but it was not until the last location that we would find our last keeper and an hour and a half ordeal to get the grouper out of the hole he was in.  While I was not hitting anything, Manuel clearly had it aim on - but to get the fish out or part of it was a complete team effort.  The fish was wedged in a hole about 45FT deep and in the end we basically had to fillet the fish underwater to get it out - but it was worth it.


Oddly enough, no sharks came by, not even a nurse...how disappointing.


Regardless it was a fun and exhausting day - and the snappers last night that we prepared on the BBQ were well worth the workout...

Diving in Key Largo

The first time my father dove in Florida was in Key Largo in 1984 with Quiescence (dive operator). Since then, we have become regulars (myself more since I live in Miami). The owners have not changed - maybe more wrinkles and less hair ;)...Last weekend they invited me to their 30 year anniversary - music, beer, bbq, and friendly people - of course there was some Jimmy Buffet going on.

What makes Quiescence so special besides the fact they only take six divers per boat are the people...

Take a look at some of the photos of photos of the history of Quiescence.