What it's all about is what is was all about! It doesn't get much better than great diving and picnicking with friends. With Carrie's and Michele's much better vision I was able to watch TWO SEAHORSES and THREE OCTOPI! (I would have missed all but one of the octopi without my buddies finding them; another reason to dive with a buddy) We started out going to the new wreck over which a sailboat and platform on pontoons is moored. On our way to the bridge from there we spotted the first octopus, a shy one. The second octopus was more animated as he pushed an urchin from his lair. The third one was also shy and chose to stay 
withdrawn. The seahorses were right out in the open sand! Carrie moved one of them gently to cover, but it moved right back out into the open. The second seahorse was also right out in the open sand between the first and second sets of pillars. The water was a comfortable seventy-five degrees and the vis varied from ten feet to five feet. We had overcast skies, but the sprinkles held off until we had all finished eating (not like the last picnic in more exciting weather). Many thanks to Stan and Veronica for organizing, cooking, and all the work that goes into a successful outing. The Jupiter Drift Divers are a great group of people with whom to share diving experiences. If you are not a member of this very active club, check out their website at jupiterdriftdivers.org and consider joining this fun group of people. They have dives and informational meetings planned every month. Get in the water, Ham
Yes, I have been to the bridge frequently this week! With the high seas offshore and a substantial swell we were bound to lose vis at the bridge. Our 5:26 high tide meant a lower sun anyway and with an overcast sky and little showers on top of a stirred up bottom, we were fortunate to have the eight feet of vis and a doable dive. Saturday almost always means many divers regardless of the weather and yesterday was no exception; there were quite a few divers there. My open water student and I saw a shortnose batfish and a flying gurnard on our way to the channel. A couple of stoplight parrotfish buzzed us making fun of our relative sluggishness in the water. They seemed to be laughing. The yellowline arrow crabs hold out a "hand" if you slowly and gently extend a finger toward them without touching them. They will touch you. It's very much like greeting them as you go by. Try it. Just be slow and don't get too close; they will extend to you. Then move on. The water temperature was seventy-three according to my computer, but it records the coldest temperature and that was probably out at the channel. Most of the water is seventy-five degrees. The accompanying photo of a flying gurnard was taken by Frank Yannello on his first photo venture at the bridge with his two sons. Get in the water, Ham
Carrie had a Discover Scuba student and I had an Open Water student in seventy-five degree water with fifteen feet of vis. We followed our usual compass course out to the new wreck which right now is directly under a sailboat and floating platform. The owner of this setup is actually using the new wreck as a mooring so for those of you who haven't been there, it is now quite easy to find. We saw a large bandtail searobin on our way to the wreck, but once back under the bridge on our way out to the channel we saw FIVE large (for the bridge) flying gurnards all digging for their dinner. I have never seen more than two together. Five at one time; always something new at the bridge! Get in the water, Ham
The water temperature was seventy-five degrees today for our one hour, twenty minutes dive under the little east bridge. The vis was only about ten to fifteen feet, but there were scores of spadefish and bermuda chub to meet us. A nice school of about a dozen snook were hanging around the little wreck that is just to the east of the sailboat wreck. One diver in our group of three saw two octopi; my eyes are getting old because I missed them. We all saw the shortnose batfish though and a small sharptail eel. The two divers with me were wearing only 3mm suits and were not cold after our one hour plus dive. In my 5mm I was absolutely toasty and seriously considering switching to my 3mm. Carrie took a young student on a Discover Scuba dive for 55 minutes. He was wearing a 3mm suit and a shorty. He was very comfortable. It was a nice day for diving at the bridge.
Please note that the Jupiter Dive Center has a super sale on right now. ScubaPro M16 first stage regulators matched with either an R190 or a G250HP (I have several of these!) second stage are drastically reduced. Premium ScubaPro rental bcds (Ladyhawks and Knighthawks) are at fantastic prices with a one-year service warranty. For those really into computers there are ScubaPro Galileo Terras (I have one), and Smart Z computers with transmitters at very low sale prices. 2007 ScubaPro Everflex wetsuits (best material in a wetsuit I have ever experienced) are 75% off. These are in limited quantities. Finally, Kinetix and VCA fins are 40% off. This is a great opportunity to own premium dive gear. With the water getting warmer by the week, it is time to think about getting back in the water. It is that much nicer with new gear! Treat yourself to new toys! Get in the water, Ham
We had mostly cloudy skies in the mid-seventies today, but the water was a warm seventy-five degrees for most of the 1:01 dive. Carrie wasn't cold at the end of the dive! At the channel the temperature was seventy-three and we had fifteen feet of vis. In the last two days we have seen bandtail searobins 2", 4", and 12" long. A flying gurnard showed us its wings without too much harrassment. I just put my hand above it and it displayed. We watched the sailfin blennies doing their dance for a few minutes. (If you have not seen Michele's video of them, visit the March 15 report.) They have been in the same place for over a year; they are a very dependable attraction. There are many french and gray angelfish juveniles and intermediates at the wrecks and under the bridge. The little spotfin butterflyfish out by the channel has also been there for quite some time. Remember to come see them and picnic after the dive on Sunday, March 29; high tide is at 10:51 so plan to be there by 10:00 at the latest. Get in the water, Ham
Gorgeous day at the bridge! I "worked" with an open water student as Carrie and Michele played for a bottom time of 1:16. The temperature was seventy-three and the vis was 10' to 15' depending on how close one was to the 3,967,543 students in the water on the beautiful Sunday late morning. Michele was testing her new Jet Fins and was amazed at how hard she had to work to make any progress until she realized that a fishing line was attached to her fin strap. Carrie unhooked her; good reason to dive with a buddy! They saw sailfin blennies (Michele has published video below), a polkadot batfish, a juvenile gray angelfish cleaning a spadefish (it is an established cleaning area at the second set of pilings out from the beach), and a sea hare. Even going through the skill sets my student and I saw an octopus out of its hole and a juvenile bandtail searobin about two inches long. In the eighty-degree air temperature with a comfortable southerly breeze we finished our dive day with a picnic at a table in the shade overlooking the Intracoastal. It doesn't get much better. Please save Sunday, March 29 (high tide 10:51) for a picnic at the bridge with the Jupiter Drift Divers. We'll have all the picnic classics: hotdogs, hamburgers, salads, etc. Plan on arriving a little early for easy parking; a nice day brings many people to the Park. Get in the water, Ham
