Improving conditions! Friends dived at the bridge for the 1:21 high tide and reported 15' to 20' of vis in seventy-five degree water. They reported that it was French Angelfish day as they saw the whole range: juvenile, intermediate, and adult. Somebody opened the pen, too, as there were hogfish all over the dive. They are wonderful to see as they are in several colors. It's amazing how fast conditions can change. As an experienced wreck diver says, "You won't know unless you go." So go! Get in the water, Ham
Dive Report 10 April
Lousy vis! Eight feet - maybe. Four open water students and I did the training dives with a "git 'r done" determination. It was not a sightseeing day as the vis was so short that we had all we could do to keep track of each other. The water was seventy-five degrees. We have some east wind coming so we're hopeful that will bring us some clearer water. Ham
Dive Report 7 April
We had a nice morning dive at the east bridge this morning with a 9:49 high tide. Skills practice was the purpose of the trip, but we were treated to a shortnose batfish, a big flying gurnard, a southern ray/bar jack team, and a very active sailfin blenny giving a great show. The vis was about twenty feet. The water temperature was seventy-five. Gorgeous day. I have to mention that yesterday on the Republic IV at Area 29 I had the most spectacular dive I have had there. The vis was eighty feet plus; it might have been quite a bit more. We cruised at seventy feet in a moderately fast current. The "landscape" from that depth in that area is spectacular as we flew along. We saw three lemon sharks, one being in the twelve feet plus range. It was an enormous fish! The other two were in the eight to ten feet range we figure. What an incredible day! We're looking forward to Sunday's bridge dive. Please bring lawn chairs for yourselves as it being a Sunday, there will probably be quite a few people there. Get in the water, Ham
Dive Report 1 April
Nice late afternoon dive! Even with a 5:25 high tide the sun is still very high in the sky. The vis is still a milky ten feet, but the water is still a very comfortable 77 degrees. We saw a small (two feet) bluespotted cornetfish just off the beach under the big bridge. It is the first time I have seen one at the bridge. I always see something new at the bridge! Get in the water, Ham
Dive Report 31 March
Gorgeous afternoon for a dive! Water temperature 77 degrees! The visability was a milky ten feet, perfect for the missing diver exercise for my rescue student. Our "missing diver" is the bicycle between the second and third set of columns under the big bridge. Once the bicycle is found, I become the unresponsive diver. (I've been informed I'm not particularly responsive anyway so this role suits me.) My student found a little octopus, too. We also searched for and found easily the small center-console open boat that is on the bottom just to the south south east of the second sunken sailboat you can see from the beach. It's only about seventy-five feet away, but be careful if you go looking for it underwater as you are headed for the main boat channel. You don't want to overshoot the wreck and end up in the boat channel!! We snorkeled to it and then descended to check it out. I've been told there is one more just to the west of that one. I'll let you know. Eighty-five minutes of bottom time and not even a chill. Get in the water! Ham
