Florida: Changing Tides and Changing Flags
Rainbow Reef, Key Largo, FL
September 9th – 16th, 2025
Another drink, another bad idea, and several bad influences all led to yet another trip down to Florida. This time however, to undertake the biggest heist of the century. No, it wasn’t the Aqua-Bandit to rip off Disney Springs. Our plan was simple; under cover of darkness (early morning), steal (charter) a boat, go out to the Spiegel Grove and steal the flag (change it and replace it with a new, clean flag on 9/11 with a Navy Vet) and row back (sit and chat) to Spain (Key Largo) like there’s no manana. Basking in our riches (a “neatly” folded flag).
September 11th, 2025
Captain: Rae Boat: Tropical Odyssey
USCGC Duane (40 min at 114’)
The United States Coast Guard Cutter Duane was built in 1936 in Philadelphia. It is one of seven Treasure Class cutters that was named after former Secretary of Treasury William J. Duane. While the Duane was active it sank the German U-boat, U-77, and conducted several rescues picking up 346 survivors during her career. After being decommissioned on August 1st, 1985 it was donated to the Keys Association of Dive Operators to become an artificial reef and was sunk on November 27th 1987.
The Duane sits upright in 120 feet of water and is 327 feet long and 41 feet wide. The main deck is roughly at roughly 100 feet with the superstructure at 90 feet and crow’s nest and mast raising up to 60 feet. Like most older wrecks it is covered with coral and sponges and hosts a wide variety of fish and invertebrates.
USS Spiegel Grove (44 min at 114’)
Conditions on the Spiegel Grove are usually rough with strong currents and deeper waters resulting in a much more advanced dive than other sites in the area. This weekend was very much not the case. Tying off to mooring bal, allowed nice descents mid-ship near the towers and allowed for easy exploration of both the bow and stern on the dives. Plus gave us something slightly shallower to look at before ascending when we moored on the towers. After a quick swim around the ship, we arrived at the flag and with minimal difficulities.
The Spiegel Grove is a Thomaston-class dock landing ship for the US Navy named after the home and estate of former 19th President Rutherford B Hayes. She was launched on November 10th, 1955 and was finally decommissioned on October 2, 1989. She is 510 feet long and roughly 80 feet wide and was intentionally sunk in 2002. However, due to errors in the sinking process she ended up resting on her Starboard side where she remained until Hurricane Dennis caused her to roll upright in 2005. This is an advanced wreck with the shallowest part of the wreck in roughly 70’ of water and the bottom hitting 130’ with plenty of opportunities for penetration and swim throughs.
The wreck is now a well-established reef and is covered in corals, sponges, algae and a large number of fish and sharks that are commonly seen cruising along.
September 12th, 2025
Captain: Greg Boat: Tropical Destiny
French Reef (57 min at 40’) and Woody’s Hole (51 min at 50’)
One of the Key’s classic reef systems, French Reef has multiple different sites and things to see. The first dive was a “drift” dive along the midline of the reef. However, there was very little current on the dive so it wasn’t much of a drift dive. Throughout the sites there are several ledges and outcroppings for hidden critters, including sharks that can often be found sleeping under the ledges.
Woody’s Hole is a site off French Reef, that is known for several swim throughs, the largest being the namesake of the site. While all the swim throughs are small and easy to navigate, a light is still helpful to explore and see under the ledges.
While we did successfully steal the flag, opposing pirates resulted in a shootout with the coastguard, border patrol and the Floridian Navy causing us to surrender the flag. With only minimal injuries, we limped our way back up to Orlando flagless and penniless to lick our wounds and plan for the next heist.
Finally, what did we learn from this trip? We learned that the German U-boat stands for Unterseeboot. Which translates to…., wait for it…, undersea boat boat, or German submarine. If it wasn’t obvious from context clues, and thus does in fact make it a submarine, and not just a “normal” boat. It’s a cool boat.
Thus ends another trip to Florida, now to wait another six months or so until next time!
