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Meet Captain
Spencer Slate
Dive Operator - Key Largo, FL
 Key
Largo is a great place
to visit on vacation, as the island has its fair share of colorful
and interesting people. Captain Slate, the owner of Atlantis Dive
Center, is one of those people. He has long earned the title of
native to Key Largo, since he moved to the island in 1978 and established
a world renowned business. Captain Slate loves the ocean and is
very environmentally conscious; he is always coming up with new,
interesting ideas to promote his business and share the place he
lives with those who visit.
Originally from Jacksonville, Florida,
Captain Slate was a dive master and high school teacher there. He
always brought his students to Key Largo to dive, and would dream
of owning a dive business. Since he was a business teacher--teaching
retail sales, marketing, and accounting--he used his knowledge and
applied for a business loan. After receiving his loan, he sold all
his belonging in Jacksonville and headed south for Key Largo. He
took the leap of faith that most people only dream of and started
his dive business, Atlantis Dive Center. Since then, his business
has grown from one boat to three 41' all fiberglass, diesel powered
boats and one glass bottom boat. Atlantis Dive Center is also a
YMCA Scuba Instructor Training College, licensed by the state of
Florida Post Secondary schools. The dive center has expanded to
include a large retail center, selling dive equipment and clothing.
Even Captain Slate is amazed by how far he has come: " I started
from nothing and now look at this." His accomplishment is impressive!
Captain Slate is concerned about environmental
issues in the Keys. He says, " because of the massive growth of
people in South Florida, we are always looking to make sure the
water quality stays the same now and for the future." The Keys have
seen their fair share of environmental challenges, from ship grounding
and water pollution to over fishing. Captain Slate tries to stay
positive by keeping active and is involved in programs like the
artificial reef program and the Spiegel Grove ship. Of the Speigel
Grove ship he says, "This ship is being towed from Hampton Roads,
VA, around the tip of Florida, to Brownsville, TX. There, she will
be cleaned and stripped of all toxic material in preparation for
sinking." The ship is schedule for sinking Fall of 1999. The artificial
reef program has been a success in the Keys and many areas of the
Florida coast line. If you are interested in tracking the status
of the Speigel Grove ship, please check out Captain Slates website:
Captain
Slate's Atlantis Dive Center
Aside from being a local personality, Captain Slate is famous around
the world for this picture of him. (Picture Insert) He says, "a
friend sent me a postcard from Cozumel Mexico, and it was this picture
with the caption "Dive Mexico," and it's Key Largo and me!" If you
dive with Captain Slate on Fridays at 8:30am, he does a dive called
"the Creature Feature," where he pets Moray Eels, feeds Barracuda
with his teeth and other wild stuff. While I was interviewing Captain
Slate, he pulled a mask off the wall and showed it to me. It had
two large holes in the side of the mask. He said, "that mask got
in the way of the Barracuda and saved my face. Those holes could
have been my face!" He is a wild and brave guy. Captain Slate's
market savvy doesn't stop there, he also holds the world's record
for underwater weddings, having married 65 couples. He is always
looking for innovative ways to keep his business in the spot light.
If you're in the Florida Keys and want
to meet an fascinating guy, stop by and say hi to Captain Spencer
Slate.
Thank you, Captain, for your interview
with Tropical Adventure Magazine.
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