March 1, 2008 -

Southpoint Divers creates Key West Complete to provide all Island Activities.

When you decide to visit Key West, you will quickly realize that there are tons of things to do on the island both on and off the water. The crew at Southpoint Divers has been working on the water for over 15 years and have worked on many of the different tours on the island. Be it Dolphin Encounteres, Fishing Charters, Sunset cruises or Jet Ski tours, the crew at Southpoint have either worked or worked closely with other crew of these companies.  Captain Don has run light tackled fishing charters on the island and works closely with JerkWater Charters. Captain Glen's worked with Sebago and Fury snorkeling adventures and has run Dolphin Charters, Sunset Cruises as well. Doug has worked with Sunset Watersports and has done Parasail Charters, Jet Ski Tours as well as operated Dinner Cruises.  Captain Jay has worked with the Tall ships and Schooners on the island as well as Captained private sunset cruises.

There are many island concierges both on the Internet and on the island. Why not book your activities with people who have actually worked and lived IN Key West and ON the actual tours you are interested in. Were confident that you wont be surprised and will know exactly what each tour provides.  

So if you are interested in doing other things besides Diving(crazy, I know), give us a call at 1-800-891-DIVE. Our shop also has lots of freebies, island maps and valuable information that you just cant get anywhere else.

January 24th, 2008- Official Press Release

MAY 15 SCHEDULED DATE FOR
VANDENBERG SINKING

January 24, 2008

Key West, Florida Keys – Project organizers overseeing the conversion of a retired U.S. Air Force missile tracking ship into an artificial reef off Key West announced Friday that May 15 would be the scheduled scuttling date for the General Hoyt S. Vandenberg.

The sinking of the Vandenberg, a 522-foot ship that tracked manned space launches beginning with Mercury through early Space Shuttle missions, has been the obsession of members of the Artificial Reefs of the Keys for the last 10 years. You can see the project in detail at www.bigshipwrecks.com.

“This is a major event for us, a great opportunity for the health of the reef as well as an economic shot in the arm for the Keys,” said Chris Norwood, ARK president. “Tens of thousands of people have been waiting to hear this date.”

Currently, the ship is in a Virginia shipyard with workers ridding the vessel of all environmental hazards, prior to its scuttling in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Officials with Reefmakers, the project’s facilitator, are planning to coordinate towing of the Vandenberg to Key West sometime in March for final preparations.

The Vandenberg reef project will provide additional marine habitat and relieve recreational pressure off America’s only contiguous coral barrier reef. It should also provide a unique attraction for visitors as well as a venue for environmental educators and students.

“Not only do artificial reefs divert recreational user pressure from natural reefs, they also create a valuable habitat and new breeding grounds for the marine environment”, said Joe Weatherby of Reefmakers. “The Vandenberg will provide tools and resources to create sustained educational, social and cultural programs while also generating substantial revenues for the community.”

The Vandenberg was originally commissioned in 1944 as Gen. Harry Taylor to serve as a World War II Army troop transport ship. In 1963 the ship was re-commissioned under its current name and served in the Atlantic Missile Range becoming one of the most technologically advanced platforms in the world during that era.

Retired in 1983, the Vandenberg also saw cinema duty as a Russian science ship in "Virus," a 1999 release starring Jamie Lee Curtis.

Southpoint Divers is hiring!  Looking to live and work in paradise?  Southpoint Divers is looking for Captains, Dive Masters and Instructors.

Captains: USCG 50 Ton Ocean Operator license required. Knowledge of Key West and the surrounding waters a plus!  Must be able to pass drug screenings.

Dive Masters: Must be a certified insured SCUBA divemaster. Responsible for the safety of our customers, assisting all divers and snorkelers with gear, general daily clean up of the boat after trips, and general divemaster tasks. Must be able to pass drug screenings.

Instructors: Outgoing personality a must! Flexible schedule a plus! Must be able to proficiently certify open water students.  Must be able to pass drug screenings.

Theres hope for a new wreck in Key West. After years of planning and development, the U.S.S. General Hoyt Vandenberg is looking more and more like Key West's newest artificial reef.  Hopes are renewed when The Vandenberg is towed from the Ghost Fleet to Norfolk, VA to be cleaned for sinking.

The Vandenberg began its nautical life in 1943 under a different name: the Gen. Harry S. Taylor. After duty in World War II and the Cold War, it was overhauled and became a sophisticated missile-tracking vessel in the Atlantic.

When christened for that assignment, in 1963, it was named after a former Air Force officer and CIA director. In the 1990s, the ship was repainted and stenciled with Russian lettering for its role in the Universal Pictures science-fiction film “Virus.”

To learn more about the numerous benefits this wreck will give to the lower keys, check out the official website of the Sink the Vandenberg project.

www.bigshipwrecks.com

Southpoint Divers teams up with Captain Bastard Enterprises!  Who is Captain Bastard? Check out the website at:

Southpoint Divers moves to 610 Front Street.  Now more convenient than ever, Southpoint Divers is now located in the heart of old town and across the street from their custom dive boat the M/V Phoenix.