Pirate Coast Dive Festival June 14 and 15 in Sarasota

Being automatically attracted to anything that includes "dive" in the title, I decided to head on down to the festival on Siesta Key yesterday. Though it was a tad hard to find (I hope they plan on having signs posted to assist next year), I thought it was well worth the drive.

A combination of dive shops, local clubs, the Sarasota Parrothead Club (as far as I can tell, another word for Alcoholics-R-Us), and a smattering of save-our-reefs groups rounded out the show. A live band, food booths, and several alcohol stands added an air of festivity.

Ultra-friendly divers abounded, and my favorite booths included a dive shop in Sarasota that's focusing on all-women dive classes, and the reef burial company (they put your ashes into an artificial reef - what better way to spend eternity?).