Diving 40 feet deep in the stirred up, post-Hermine Gulf of Mexico off Naples Tuesday, visibility wasn’t the greatest–maybe about ten feet. But perhaps the thin curtain of sediment shrouding …
Shark Week Begins at Guy Harvey Outpost’s Bimini Sands
11 Aug 20145:12 PM
Shark Week reminds us that there are all sorts of great Big Animal Encounters and Guy Harvey Outpost has lots of them. Our Hammerhead Shark Safaris offered through Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center starts off our Shark Week. Scuba Diving Magazine’s Readers Choice Award ranked the Bahamas #1 in Big Animals in the Caribbean & Atlantic in 2013 for a reason.
You do not have to go far to get your Shark on either; just 50 miles east of Miami on the island of South Bimini. The scuba diving with Great Hammerheads takes place in 25-feet of water over a white sand bottom just minutes from our docks at the Bimini Sands, a Guy Harvey Outpost Expedition Property! Led by Neal Watson’s Undersea Adventures staff, the Hammerhead Shark dives run January through March and sell out early. This dive provides an unparalleled photo and video opportunity for serious divers.
Other Big Animal Adventures we offer at the Bimini Sands include our Wild Dolphin Safaris, Stingray Dives and Reef Shark Encounters with Caribbean Reef Sharks and Nurse Sharks. Snorkeling gear is all you need to enjoy the Dolphins, Stingrays and Reef Sharks. Call Guy Harvey Outpost Reservations for details: 800.513.5257!
Catch more shark photos with Guy Harvey Outpost on Facebook.
#SharkWeek is underway on Discovery Channel!
AUGUST 12th UPDATE: The Discovery Channel included this dive in their #MonsterHammerhead episode on #SharkWeek! Congratulations Neal Watson & team!
USA Today featured the Bimini Great Hammerhead Dive as one of their top 5 Shark Dives: Swimming with Sharks: A Guide to the Best Dives
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![](mailto:?subject=Shark Week Begins at Guy Harvey Outpost’s Bimini Sands&body=<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/hamerhead-grant-johnson.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2120" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/hamerhead-grant-johnson.jpg?w=660" alt="Hamerhead, Grant Johnson" width="660" height="453" /></a>
Shark Week reminds us that there are all sorts of great Big Animal Encounters and Guy Harvey Outpost has lots of them. Our Hammerhead Shark Safaris offered through <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/destinations/bahamas/bimini-bahamas/bimini-sands-dive.html">Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center</a> starts off our Shark Week. Scuba Diving Magazine’s Readers Choice Award ranked the Bahamas #1 in Big Animals in the Caribbean & Atlantic in 2013 for a reason.
You do not have to go far to get your Shark on either; just 50 miles east of Miami on the island of South Bimini. The scuba diving with Great Hammerheads takes place in 25-feet of water over a white sand bottom just minutes from our docks at the <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/destinations/bahamas/bimini-bahamas/bimini-sands-bimini.html">Bimini Sands, a Guy Harvey Outpost Expedition Property!</a> Led by Neal Watson's Undersea Adventures staff, the Hammerhead Shark dives run January through March and sell out early. This dive provides an unparalleled photo and video opportunity for serious divers.
Other Big Animal Adventures we offer at the Bimini Sands include our Wild Dolphin Safaris, Stingray Dives and Reef Shark Encounters with Caribbean Reef Sharks and Nurse Sharks. Snorkeling gear is all you need to enjoy the Dolphins, Stingrays and Reef Sharks. Call Guy Harvey Outpost Reservations for details: 800.513.5257!
Catch more shark photos with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GuyHarveyOutpost?fref=nf">Guy Harvey Outpost on Facebook</a>.
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/sharkweek">#SharkWeek</a> is underway on Discovery Channel!
AUGUST 12th UPDATE: The Discovery Channel included this dive in their <a class="_58cn" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/monsterhammerhead">#MonsterHammerhead</a> episode on <a class="_58cn" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/sharkweek">#SharkWeek</a>! Congratulations Neal Watson & team!
USA Today featured the Bimini Great Hammerhead Dive as one of their top 5 Shark Dives: <a title="Swiming with Sharks: A Guide to the Best Dives" href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2014/08/08/swim-with-sharks/13724573/">Swimming with Sharks: A Guide to the Best Dives</a> https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/shark-week-begins-at-guy-harvey-outposts-bimini-sands/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Kuwaiti Kingfish: Adventure & Friendship Aboard an Army Vessel at Sea&body=<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/kuwait-austin-mickey11.jpg"><img class=" wp-image" id="i-1580" alt="Image" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/kuwait-austin-mickey11.jpg?w=650" width="527" height="293" /></a>Fishing buddies Mickey Swoyer and Austin Capers, U.S. Army.
<a title="GHO on Facebook" href="http://www.facebook.com/GuyHarveyOutpost" target="_blank">Guy Harvey Outpost</a> is all about adventure travel. As the saying goes: The difference between an ordeal and an adventure is “Attitude.” In honor of Patriots’ Day on September 11th we thought we would share a fishing adventure from Austin Capers & his pals on the US Army Vessel Lt. General William Bunker.
Austin grew up on the waters of Jupiter, Florida. Fishing was such an important part of his life he became a commercial fisherman and was fishing right up until he joined the Army in 2004. Six months after finishing training he volunteered for a deployment on the United States Army Vessel Lt. Gen William Bunker at Kuwait Naval Base.
Austin and his ship mates arrived in Kuwait mid-May just in time for summer to crank up. Their mission was to upload battle damaged equipment and transport it to various countries on the Persian Gulf to be fixed or replaced.
On an early mission to Bahrain they found several <a title="Okuma web site" href="http://www.okumafishing.com/" target="_blank">Okuma rods and reels</a> that had been donated by the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) years before. The guys tried to fish them but the line was shot and they had little or no tackle. Austin’s Dad went to pals at Fishing Headquarters in Jupiter to round up some gear. Most of us think of Mom’s baked goods when we think of “Care Packages” from home. Austin’s was full of enough Ande mono to re-spool three rods, heavy mono leaders, a planer and assorted trolling rigs.
Also on board was Mickey Swoyer, a fisherman and “A character”, from the Outer Banks area in North Carolina, who shared Austin’s love for fishing. The Lt General William Bunker is a 274 foot, flat bottom, landing craft with bow and stern ramps for “Roll On – Roll Off” loading. Picture trolling out of a tuna-tower.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/kuwait-lsv4-1.jpg"><img class=" wp-image" id="i-1584" alt="Image" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/kuwait-lsv4-1.jpg?w=650" width="527" height="204" /></a>The 'Lt. General William Bunker'
On their down time, the two started trying different combinations of trolling rigs, including a couple of Wahoo rigs Mr. Capers sent. The best working rig ended up being a simple pink skirt with a double rigged 6-0 hook set. “We were amazed how they loved that pink skirt!” Attempts to use the planer at cruising speed proved dangerous. “It flew out of the water like a Polaris missile.”
To hear Austin tell it, “The stern of this vessel sits about 20-30 feet off the water so we had to let a ridiculous amount of line out.” The boat cruised at 9-11 knots which ended up working perfectly. “After we started catching fish our skipper gave us a hand help radio so that every time we hooked up we could yell “Fish ON!!!” into the radio and he would stop the boat. It was awesome! We caught 6 to 10 kings and an assortment of other strange looking sea creatures. We lost a massive one at the pilot door that was much bigger than the one pictured here. It was a huge morale booster for the entire 30 man crew.”
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/kuwait-me-and-mickey1.jpg"><img class=" wp-image" id="i-1589" alt="Image" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/kuwait-me-and-mickey1.jpg?w=650" width="527" height="395" /></a>Kuwaiti Kingfish!
Austin went on to spend four more years on active duty including a 15 month deployment to Iraq. Today he is back in Jupiter with his family. Mickey has relocated to Daytona Beach with his family and the guys are hoping for a reunion soon.
Thank you Austin, Mickey and all who serve our country. https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/kuwaiti-kingfish-adventure-and-friendship-aboard-an-army-vessel-at-sea/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Billfish Invitational Auction Spotlight – “Surfaced”, a Guy Harvey Original&body=<a title="Billfish Invitational web site" href="http://www.billfishinvitational.com" target="_blank">BILLFISH INVITATIONAL</a> AUCTION ITEM: "SURFACED", a Guy Harvey Original
<a href="http://guyharveyoutpost.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/surfaced.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-674" style="border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;" title=""Surfaced", an original pen and ink by Guy Harvey" src="http://guyharveyoutpost.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/surfaced.jpg" alt="" width="545" height="304" /></a>
Growing up in Jamaica, <a title="Guy Harvey Inc. web site" href="http://www.guyharvey.com" target="_blank">Guy Harvey</a> spent many hours fishing with his father along the island's south coast. He was obsessed with the creatures of the sea and began drawing pictures of the many different fish he observed.
In 1985, Guy produced a series of 44 original pen and ink drawings inspired by the <a title="Wikipedia entry for Ernest Hemingway" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Hemingway" target="_blank">Ernest Hemingway</a> classic <a title="Wikipedia entry for "The Old Man and the Sea"" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Old_Man_and_the_Sea" target="_blank">"The Old Man & the Sea"</a>, and displayed them at an exhibition in Jamaica. Based on the show’s success, and a subsequent trip to Havana to fish the <a title="Hemingway Billfish Tournament web site" href="http://www.cubatravelusa.com/Hemingway%20Marlin%20Tournament.html" target="_blank">Hemingway Billfish Tournament</a>, Guy was compelled to create a complete series of drawings to honor Hemingway’s work. As they say, the rest is history!
Al these years later, Guy continues to find inspiration in the bigger-than-life exploits of Hemingway. In 1999, Guy and fellow <a title="IGFA web site" href="http://www.igfa.org" target="_blank">IGFA</a> trustees celebrated the opening of the organization’s new facility with an exhibit of Hemingway’s fishing exploits, literature and memorabilia. And now, a decade later, Guy has returned to Bimini to honor Hemingway’s contributions to big game fishing and his celebration of this “Island in the Stream”.
This Guy Harvey original is one of Guy’s most cherished pieces. This original pen and ink highlights the power of the majestic blue marlin, and defines the enduring spirit of anglers who challenge these great fish. In a fitting tribute, Guy has rendered the blue marlin in bold, real-life color – a detail that emphasizes the blue marlin’s supremacy of the oceans.
In addition to this stunning piece of artwork, the offering also includes an autographed copy of “Santiago’s Finest Hour”, a special edition, out-of-print book published in 1999 on the Centennial of Hemingway’s birth. Enjoy a first-hand perspective of Guy’s appreciation for Ernest Hemingway, whose exploits and writing have inspired Guy and millions others, including those participating in the inaugural Billfish Invitational. Framed 25 ½” x 36 ½”. Donated by Guy Harvey.
AUCTION INFORMATION:
Tickets to nightly events of the inaugural 2011 Billfish Invitational are available for $150/pp. Price includes cocktails, dinner and participation in the auction and award presentations.
On-site auction is Thursday, May 19th at the Bimini Big Game Club. Online bids accepted through Midnight, Wednesday, May 18.
Please contact Capt. Ned Stone (<a href="mailto:nstone@guyharveyoutpost.com">nstone@guyharveyoutpost.com</a>) for details.
https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/billfish-invitational-auction-spotlight-surfaced-a-guy-harvey-original/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=C. Davis Electric Onboard as Presenting Sponsor for Inaugural Blazing Mako Tournament & Festival&body=<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Davis-FamilyTeam.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-3810 alignleft" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Davis-FamilyTeam-300x195.jpg" alt="Davis FamilyTeam" width="300" height="195" /></a>ISLAMORADA, FL—MARCH 15, 2016— They say the family that fishes together stays together, and for South Florida’s Davis family that tradition also includes supporting the Blazing Mako Tournament & Festival—a June event that will combine fishing, conservation, research and marine science scholarships.
<a href="http://www.nova.edu">Nova Southeastern University</a> (NSU) and <a href="http://www.GuyHarveyOutpost.com" target="_blank">Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts</a> announced today that Miramar, Florida-based <a href="http://www.cdaviselectric.com">C. Davis Electric</a> has joined the tournament as a Presenting Sponsor, which includes two entries for the offshore tournament division and a shirt sponsorship. In total, a $25,000 commitment.
The goal of the non-profit tournament and festival, scheduled for June 16-19 2016, is to raise $100,000 for marine science scholarships. NSU’s <a href="http://cnso.nova.edu/index.html">Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography</a>, home to the <a href="http://cnso.nova.edu/ghri/index.html">Guy Harvey Research Institute</a> (GHRI), the <a href="http://www.nova.edu/ghoc/">Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center research building</a>, the Center of Excellence in Coral Reef Ecosystem Research and the <a href="http://cnso.nova.edu/save-our-seas/index.html">Save Our Seas Shark Research Centre</a>, will administer scholarship funds donated through the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF).
“C. Davis Electric and the Davis family have been friends of NSU for many years, and this new tournament and festival is yet another way they can combine their love of NSU with their love of fishing and the ocean,” said Richard Dodge, Ph.D., the dean of NSU’s Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography. “We thank them for coming onboard as the signature sponsor— and for helping NSU students realize their potential by following their dreams.”
Davis Electric co-founder and owner Charles “Ed” Davis Jr. has long supported NSU, and the school’s annual sponsorship of the Fort Lauderdale Billfish Tournament, which this year was renamed the Blazing Mako Tournament & Festival and moved to Islamorada, known as “The Fishing Capital of the World”.
“We’re out fishing nearly every weekend in the Florida Keys,” said Mike Gagliano, a son-in-law and Davis Electric Executive VP. “As a family we fished Keys tournaments for over 20 years as we have a house and boats down there. Islamorada is a perfect spot for the tournament. This is such a great cause and we’re looking forward to the competition.”
Tournament Director Cliff Jensen said corporate team registration for the offshore division is $5,000 per team (six anglers), with the registration fee for Inshore anglers competing is $2,500 (three anglers). To register for the inshore/offshore division go to <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/blazing-mako/fishing.html">http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/blazing-mako/fishing.html</a>. The tournament will also feature cyber on-the-water release documentation for research using the IGOfish App.
In addition to the not-for-profit fishing tournament, expansive plans also are underway for innovative art exhibits, live music, conservation organization displays and local vendors, all showcased in a 100-tent “Conchservation Village” to be located at the host property, The Islander, a Guy Harvey Outpost Resort. Also planned are a series of watersport competitions, (including a paddleboard competition), a Kids Pier Fishing Tournament, fishing seminars and a Rum Village.
As part of Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts’ signature Bonfire Series fishing tournaments, a fish-themed sculpture is created by a local artist. The artist incorporates a conservation message with a “trash-to-treasure” concept, incorporating recycled material into a sculpture to be set ablaze.
In the case of the Blazing Mako Tournament & Festival, the sculpture will be a mako shark in the image of the NSU mascot. Local artist Pasta Pantaleo will incorporate steel with reclaimed parts to fashion together the mako cage with exposed beams. The cage will then be filled with non-toxic flammable materials to create the tournament’s signature bonfire. https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/c-davis-electric-onboard-as-presenting-sponsor-for-inaugural-blazing-mako-tournament-festival/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Join Guy Harvey at the Islander Resort, a Guy Harvey Outpost, In Person for a Signing Event Sept 18th&body=Artist, Scientist, Author, Conservationist, Angler & Diver; Guy Harvey will be signing autographs at the <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/destinations/florida/islamorada-fl/islamorada-fl-overview.html">Islander Resort</a> Thursday, Sept. 18th from 10 am to 12 noon. Come join Guy at the Islander Resort, his latest signature hotel and get your autograph or a quick selfie.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/gh-signing-at-islander.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2233" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/gh-signing-at-islander.jpg" alt="GH Signing at Islander" width="550" height="711" /></a>
If you need to pick up the latest <a href="http://www.guyharveysportswear.com/">Guy Harvey Sportswear</a> the Islander's Outfitter Shop has a nice selection of Guy's latest designs.
More information on Guy Harvey Outpost & our other great resorts: <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/">http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/</a>
For the Guy Harvey Outpost Blog <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpostnews.com/">www.guyharveyoutpostnews.com</a>
For Guy Harvey Outpost on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GuyHarveyOutpost">https://www.facebook.com/GuyHarveyOutpost</a>
For Guy Harvey Outpost on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/GHOutpost">https://twitter.com/GHOutpost</a>
For Guy Harvey Outpost on YouTube <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/GuyHarveyOutpost">http://www.youtube.com/user/GuyHarveyOutpost</a> https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/join-guy-harvey-at-the-islander-resort-a-guy-harvey-outpost-in-person-for-a-signing-event-sept-18th/){kind=link}
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