Picnic Report 24 August

Several folks mentioned that this was our first picnic without rain! We had absolutely glorious picnic weather for our post-dive get-together. The dive conditions were still showing the effects of Tropical Storm Fay as the vis was about 10' and after slack much, much less. Nevertheless, we had a nice dive in several groups as there is always (as long as there is SOME vis) something to see if we know how to look. Mother Nature calls the shots; we just have to know how to adjust. We will have another get-together in September. There is always something fascinating to see at the bridge. Get in the water, Ham

Dive Report 23 August/picnic reminder

Very nice at the bridge today! Still not premo conditions, but the vis was at fifteen feet and the water was up to eighty-one degrees. A sunny day with a calm surface made for a pleasant 1:18 bottom time. We saw a flying gurnard and a shortnose batfish along with some beautiful juvenile gray angelfish. Conditions were better than I expected. When the tide turned, however, it got real murky - six or eight feet of vis murky. High tide for the picnic dive Sunday, August 24 is 3:16 so we will plan on entering the water at about 2:45 or 2:50. Get in the water, Ham

Dive Report 22 August

Fay is still stirring things up creating marginal conditions at the bridge. We had about ten feet of vis today in seventy-nine degree water. It was great for compass work as we could not see our targets until we were very close to them. The stiff breeze gave us a strong surface chop at the start. By the end of the dive the wind had died down leaving us a calm water exit. The showers came and went the entire time we were there. It seems that Fay just will not let go. Maybe this weekend we will see some change, but right now the vis is limited and the water is colder than usual. If it doesn't bother you to dive in less than good conditions (you are a dive nut), it is fascinating to see what is going on when Mother Nature is in storm mode. Ham

Dive Report 21 August

Although this is not what we found on the beach under the bridge, there is a small day sailboat beached there. Another was almost under but with a little of her hull still showing out toward the channel. Tropical Storm Fay, or her remnants, kicked up a serious chop from the southwest and made the water a chillier than usual seventy-nine degrees. To our amazement, the visibility was still a very enjoyable fifteen feet! On the beach it looked like a Sahara Desert sandstorm as the wind whipped the beach sand across the parking lot. We were the only ones there! Figure that. If you are planning to dive this weekend, the water may be colder than the eighty-four degrees that we have been enjoying for the last month. Get in the water, Ham

Most of you have taken instruction from Ham or Carrie starting with your initial steps of doing discover scuba, open water.  or advanced open water certification.  For me this weekend was a major next step in my dive career and I spent the weekend with two extremely experienced divers and an instructor that is top notch.  The weekend started out very early - Saturday at 7 am and didn't finish until Sunday at  4 pm.  Through every skill practice it took us from unsure to confident in no time flat.  We learned how to assist panic divers to responding to an unresponsive diver at depths I never imagined.  Ham and Carrie are two of the best divers I have come to know and love.  They give of their knowledge and experience openly and truly and want us all to succeed in our endeavors as ocean divers.  This truly was the most intense and rewarding certification I have done.  I encourage each of you to take the next step and have the courage.  I promise you will never forget it!  Sooooo what are you waiting for........get Rescue Diver Certified!

- Michele

Dive Report 3 August

A quadruple wow dive! We had forty to fifty feet of vis under the big bridge in eighty-four degree water. I had open water students on their first saltwater dive. A couple of medium-sized southern rays gently flew by with many of the other regulars. At the end of the dive just to the south of the first off-the-beach wreck we had a big manatee swim by us in no hurry. It was so close I could have petted it as it passed! My kids (and certainly me) went nuts! Of the many dives I have made at the bridge this is only the second time I have seen the manatees so close. What a thrill. Get in the water, Ham