Diving Horseshoe Beach | Big Pine Key, Florida Keys

[@skincraftorganicsllc8537]

Thank you for this great video! My husband and I visited the Keys last year and didn't find Big Pine Key too interesting, but after watching your video, we'll be sure to go to Horseshoe Beach later this year when we return to the Keys - it looks lovely and the snorkeling off the beach is perfect for us!!

[@scubamax]

Thank you! I hope you get the chance to check it out! It is definitely a fun little spot!

[@kevinlynch6799]

Outstanding Video.
The most marine educational video I have seen as well.
Thank you.
Definitely get the vibe you love marine life.
Stay with it.
You are very good at it.
Be well.

[@scubamax]

Thank you for the kind words! I do love all marine life! ☺

[@dadadadada4974]

Thank you for this video. It was a great way to snorkel in the keys when the outer reefs were not accessible due to high pressure system causing waves/small craft advisories. ❤️

[@scubamax]

@dadadadada4974 Glad you were able to check out this spot :)

[@MikeH-sg2ue]

Looks like you had a great outing!
The worst injury I ever had from diving,
was a bite on my earlobe
from a Sergeant Major,
while diving off Bermuda.
Keep your smiles on!

[@scubamax]

That doesn't sound too bad haha Hard to believe that anything so cute would dare bite you! haha Hopefully it didn't hurt too much :)

[@kinetik4422]

We are staying at Big Pine next week - thanks for the recommendation! We will definitely check it out for snorkeling. And as a former attendant of Seacamp, I really appreciate your detailed species descriptions.

[@scubamax]

I hope you will enjoy the spot as much as I did!

[@joshdavis8657]

We go there with our kids every year when we vacation! LOVE it there and perfect spot to teach people to snorkel and see tons of wildlife.

[@scubamax]

That's amazing! Glad you are showing the natural world to your kids :)

[@freedomwanderer91]

That was an awsome dive. I would love to do it one day. Thanks for sharing.

[@scubamax]

Thank you 😊

[@unchartedodyssey]

Wow so many different species, great shots Max! Really like the narration on this one!

[@scubamax]

Thanks! It was really fun to see all the different crabs and shrimps etc!

[@jodyschultz5870]

Thanks for the identification of all the fish etc. I move to Big Pine Key in 3 days. I did Looe Key on a boat trip but I will def check this out.

[@scubamax]

Oh that's awesome! Enjoy your new beautiful home! Let me know what you think of Horseshoe Beach 😊

[@TimNye850]

Been going to Horseshoe since mid-90's. Fantastic job videoing and identifying the creatures. Spot on!

[@scubamax]

Thank you! It's a great spot! Have you noticed major chances in the health of the ecosystem there since the 1990s?

[@TimNye850]

@@scubamax If anything, I think it's improved. The area to to left used to be very nasty mud and a larger area. Grass is coming back strong there and like you, I've noticed it's a great conch grazing area. The bottom is silty now, looking at your video but it used to be feet deep in grass. The creatures are the same, there used to be a couple Goliaths that resided in there. I will say that, sadly, the Oceanside reefs are in poorer shape. Across the street from the Horseshoe is a great rock outcropping with large Gorgonias and lots of Queen conch. We did some Sea fan data sampling for Seward Johnson facility late 90's. Sea fans are actually coming back and so are Elkhorn coral. But the large flesh stony corals have all but disappeared. Headed back in Sept. I'll say hi to the Pederson's cleaner shrimps for ya.:)

[@scubamax]

@@TimNye850 Glad to hear some positive news! Hopefully this spot will remain healthy for many years to come! Would have been sweet to see a goliath grouper in there though! I have noticed lots of sea fans! That's great! Definitely say hi to the Pederson's cleaner shrimps for me! haha

[@nitromax5150]

I love horseshoe!! And yes there is an ambulance over there!! Not much to see. Dove there in 2018...Amazing video scuba max!!

[@scubamax]

So it is true, there is an ambulance down there! Thanks for confirming! Would have been cool to see!

[@DameUntamed]

Love the sign at the beginning!! OMG the giant hermit crab was so cute.

[@scubamax]

haha I know right! I always love hermit crabs :)

[@themarcsus]

Great video. Will check the spot.

[@scubamax]

Thank you! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

[@jpindahaus]

Oh my gosh! Did you see all of this in one trip?

[@scubamax]

I went there a handful of times during a 2 week period. We did see quite a bit!

[@conniehutchins7104]

Great intro to Horseshoe quarry. I love that you saw the chain eel and the squids. Great Video. Will you be back this winter? I think your folks are staying just down the road from our house.

[@scubamax]

Thanks! Glad you recommended this place! We had lots of fun there! Unfortunately, my parents decided to cancel their reservations in the Keys this winter and will be heading to Mexico instead. Hope all is well :)

[@philipjalowiec420]

Fabulous video.

[@scubamax]

Thank you 😁

[@philipjalowiec420]

You're welcome. Quick question...I'm going to the Keys in a couple of weeks. Do you need a dive flag for that particular beach?

[@scubamax]

@@philipjalowiec420 You should always have a dive flag when diving. I did see some boats in the quarry and some people fishing from shore. Have fun!

[@philipjalowiec420]

Ok, thank you very much.

[@philipjalowiec420]

@@scubamax I spent all day at Horseshoe Beach today. I set up my dive flag and snorkeled and fished all day. It was a blast. No lobster but slammed the mangos and actually few grouper. Thanks so much for the insight. ❤️

[@co2tommyboy]

I dove that site last year and I did find an upside down ambulance and an old boat wreck. It does get very murky in that water so it is hard to find.

[@scubamax]

Oh cool! So the stories are true! Good to know!

[@miamiwax5504]

How deep is it there?

[@jpindahaus]

Did you see all of this in one day!?

[@scubamax]

No, this was multiple days! That would have been a good day if we saw all that in just one day haha!

[@tradingymineriadecrypto3264]

I have a question ? I can spearfish in this spots?????

[@scubamax]

I'm not too sure about all the regulations. Please check yourself as seasons, areas, species, and limits they can change.