Don’t get me wrong - there are many, many places I’d love to see. But coming home to the Florida Keys is an exotic destination in itself. Just look at our statistics. Millions of visitors a year come here to see the third largest barrier reef system in the world. Not too shabby. So when I got home from the Philippines, it was like coming home to a vacation that was interrupted by another vacation. On our trip we did not come close to seeing a vast array of fish we see routinely on Snapper Ledge or the south end of Molasses Reef. Last weekend, on one dive on Permit Ledge, we saw several large groupers, a massive school of chubs, a school of horse-eye jacks, an eagle ray that swam in circles around us, a group of permit in the cave with the copper sweepers, a stingray and more grunts, creole wrasse and blue chromis than you can count. Yes, the Philippines had more robust and abundant coral, but we’ve got the fish. And we’re working on the coral. There are not many places in America that hold that distinction. I’m glad I’m here to experience that. So when I become complacent with everyday mundane activities, I can go jump off a boat and be at home in a place millions of people come to see. I have developed a simple attitude - you never know what you’re going to see in the water today, so let’s go! Not many folks in this world can say that. Glad we can. It’s good to be home.
