"Capt. Matt" wrote in message
.. .
Hello,
The wife & I are looking at a week of sailing (bareboat charter, ours is
too
small for a comfy trip) and a visit to the Dry Tortugas Nat. Park. This
will
be our first trip, and I'm looking for any suggestions.

Hi Matt.

It's been about 12 years since I've visited the Dry Tortugas. I assume that
the biggest change lately is the amount of visitors there. I'm sure much
has been said and written about the history of Garden Key. I thought I
might help with some tidbits on Loggerhead Key, 2.5 nmiles to the west.

Last time I was there was with my father, who was a Biology Professor for
Eckerd College in St.Petersburg. He took a class of students down there
every fall semester. Of great interest to him was an old marine reseach
station that was located on the north end of the island. We hiked through
the brush and saw several old test-tubes and other gear, and one dilapitated
old shack eroding into the western shore. In recent years, all the
non-native foliage has been stripped. That should make the foundations
easier to find, but the artifacts more scarce.

The marine station was run by an Alfred Goldsboro Mayor, and there is a
plaque there in his honor. I can't remember what his field of study was, I
think marine invertibrates and general observations of the local ecosystem.
I might be able to get back to you with more if you're interested.

The more obvious attraction is the huge lighthouse, which is about 160 years
old. As a young child back in the 1970's, the Coast Guard fellas that were
stationed there let me climb to the top. My parents have some old slides of
that somewhere. Today, the park service watches the lighthouse. Maybe
they'll give a tour, but they are under no obligation to.

Before sailing back to the shelter of Garden Key, spend the hot afternoon
snorkling off the west side of the island. I remember a large reef just off
the shore there. You'll find more finger-type coral and active fish than
you will near Fort Jefferson.

have fun,

Ferg.