Dive Report 26 June

The outer bands of tropical storm Debby kicked up wind gusts in excess of 30mph at the bridge giving us a good sand-blasting before we moved to a picnic table close to the fishing pier to get away from the beach. I had made no promises to my three young diving companions warning them from the start that with all the wind from the southwest and all the rain from the last twenty-four hours, it was unlikely that we would be able to see well enough to dive. The sea was all of one to two feet in a very serious chop. We looked at rough green water and were not optimistic. Nevertheless, I grabbed my mask and fins and did an exploratory swim off the beach toward the little wreck. To my amazement (and to the joy of my charges!) we had ten to twelve feet of vis in somewhat milky water. I couldn't believe it. We assembled our gear and entering the rough water, enjoyed an hour and five minutes in eighty-two degree water. We encountered the batfish off the beach where the blue sailboat used to be moored. A flying gurnard displayed its wings for us and bait fish swarmed around us for what seemed like the entire dive. Who would have thought that conditions would be favorable? Certainly, not I. How many times have we heard "We don't know unless we go"? It paid off in a nice dive for us today. Get in the water (because you can't really tell from your armchair), Ham

Dive Report 20 June

It was raining when Troy and I went in and it was raining when we got out, pouring actually. Parking was not a problem, but I was surprised to see many divers at the bridge despite the monsoon-type conditions. With rough seas offshore the water was milky with sand so the vis was about ten feet under dark skies. The water temperature was eighty-two for our one hour twenty-six minute dive. I was very comfortable in my three millimeter suit and thin hooded vest. It was a two batfish and two octopus dive. There are two dozen lobsters or more at the junk pile under the fishing pier. There is always plenty to see! Get in the water, Ham

Dive Report 14 June

Carrie and I had four students at the bridge on Friday in fabulous conditions. The vis was better than twenty feet and the water temperature was eighty-four. My students were in 3mm wetsuits, but we would have been fine without them. We saw the batfish south of the west bridge out by the boat channel. Enormous schools of baitfish whirled and danced around us several times during the dive. Amazingly, there were almost no people on the fishing pier so we did the grand tour. I tend to stay away from the fishing pier if there are several people fishing. We have had some close calls with fishing line and hooks. The conditions are prime! Get in the water, Ham

Dive Report 12 May

Carrie and I arrived at Phil Foster Park a little before eleven to make sure we could get a parking spot for our 2:30 high tide dive with an advanced open water student and friends. Being that early we got a prime spot and then ventured over to the SevenEleven on Singer Island for a cup of coffee and a look at the ocean. It was much calmer at the bridge than it was offshore for sure. We entered the water about one hour fifteen minutes before the high tide partially because a woman grilling a picnic lunch next to us was constantly SCREAMING at high volume at six children. Perhaps a bit more focused on the children (who were apparently conditioned to ignoring her) she did not notice that she had set the picnic bench on fire with her legless grill which she had set directly on the wood. (The attached photo is not her table.) The fire was quickly extinguished with sand at Carrie's direction; the cooking lunch was fortunately unaffected. With that kind of excitement we sought the refuge of the depths of the east and west bridges. Carrie and her folks went west while my student and I went east to blow bags and practice other skills. The vis was fifteen to twenty feet and the water temperature was seventy-nine. Everyone in 3mm suits was comfortable while I, in my 5mm suit, was more than toasty. (I'll wear my 3mm next time.) With our attention on skills we did not look for critters, but we did see a nice little octopus. Saturday afternoons are doable at the bridge, but our strategy involves getting there early. When we exited the water and I walked over to the fresh water hose to rinse off, I saw no available parking spots. That is the norm for a sunny Saturday afternoon. There are many divers, picnickers, boaters, fishermen and few if any parking spots. So for diving on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon in warm, sunny weather, GET THERE EARLY, and Get in the water, Ham

Dive Report 8 May

There were fewer than ten divers at the big bridge today where there was a special on octopuses. We saw five or six without looking too hard. After a chilly 52-minute dive offshore on Sunday in a 3mm suit I chose to wear my 5mm suit and a light hooded vest today. I was comfortable for our one hour, fifteen minute dive in 77 degree water. Vis was between fifteen and twenty feet. Interestingly, the vis was better off the beach than it was out by the boat channel. Nevertheless, the vis was very good! The octopus, highhat juvenile, and gray angelfish juvenile seemed to be good friends. The blue anglefish juvenile was at the upside down wreck. Getting out of the water into a mid-eighties air temperature was very nice. After a shower and a change into dry clothes it was off to Longboat Johnnie's on Singer Island for lunch and a few Arnold Palmers. Nice day!! Get in the water, Ham