Dive Report 24 February


The weather was changing every five minutes. The sky was cloudy, then sunny, then there were thunderstorms; it was absolutely fascinating. The strong breeze from the southeast created a light chop that was rough enough to reduce the vis to about ten feet. With an air temperature in the mid-seventies and a water temperature of seventy-two, Carrie, an open water student, and I were pretty comfortable using wetsuits before, during, and after the dive. Carrie and I were in 5mm suits. Our student was in two 3mm suits. Carrie and our student said they were a bit chilled at the end of our one hour dive. I have a little more insulation and was quite comfortable, until I took my fresh water shower at the fish-cleaning station. In the breeze it was "refreshing". A cup of coffee from the Singer Island 7 Eleven took off the chill. There were many french angelfish from juveniles through adults. It just seemed to be their day. We saw a shortnose and polkadot batfish. Unfortuately, we also saw another juvenile lionfish. They are gaining in numbers. What the effect of the increasing population of this invasive species will be remains to be seen. There is little we can do to stop it. Always a fascinating experience at the bridge. (Note: Construction on the east bridge precludes diving under it on the weekdays when construction crews are there. I have talked to divers who are still diving it on the weekends. I have not been over there to see what is happening.) Get in the water, Ham

Dive Report 20 February


Thirty to forty feet of vis off the beach! Seventy-two degrees in the water and about seventy-two degrees in the air when we got out. VERY NICE. On top of that we saw a big manatee just quietly resting on the sand right off the beach; it was quite an experience for my twelve-year-old open water student. Eagle rays seem to be abundant right now both at the bridge and offshore where divers are seeing groups of five or six big adults cruising along the edge almost daily. We saw several. Two batfish made the dive even better. To get out of the water into warm temperatures without the north wind was a treat. I still wore my drysuit, but I was overdressed for the occasion today. My student was wearing two 3mm suits (and the necessary lead to sink them) and was fairly comfortable for our one hour, three minute dive. She was chilled at the end, but the critters we saw today made it all worthwhile. Conditions should be great tomorrow with an air temperature approaching eighty. Get in the water, Ham

Dive Report 17 February


Brrrrrrrrrrrrr. The air temperature was forty-six with a stiff breeze out of the northwest. The water temperature varied from sixty-eight to seventy, the seventy degrees being close to the beach. Vis today was an improvement from the other day as we had about ten to fifteen feet, sometimes more, sometimes less. Before an open water student and I entered the water we saw a manatee right off the beach, but by the time we got in the water we couldn't find it. A couple of little spotted eagle rays and a small southern ray flew gracefully by us. I looked for the little lionfish out by the upside down wreck, but it wasn't there. A little web burrfish was in the sand not too far away from the wreck. In my drysuit I was very comfortable. My student was in a 3mm full suit; thirty minutes into the dive she was chilled. She lasted much longer than I would have in a wetsuit! It was a bright sunny day, but the cloudless sky was made possible by a high pressure center funnelling cold air right at us. Get in the water (if you have the exposure suit), Ham

Dive Report 14 February


We did not have sweetheart conditions today. It's winter, and then some, with a water temperature of sixty-eight and vis of six feet, maybe. An open water student and I were working on skills so we didn't really need to do a regular dive. With six feet of vis navigation even just off the beach was challenging. The air temperature was forty-six when we entered the water at about 7:50. I wore my drysuit and was glad to have it. I would not have lasted long in a 5mm suit and a 3mm hooded vest. Getting out of the water we were met by a significant breeze. That is the tough part of winter diving in wet suits. Friends who joined us wearing 7mm suits did pretty well until they took them off up by the picnic tables. It's not for sissies! It will probably take a few days for the water to calm down enough to give us decent vis. I will be at the bridge on Wednesday and I'll let you know how it goes. You didn't miss anything at the bridge today if you opted to view the implosion of the building at 1515 Flagler Drive. Observers on the bridge said they could see the dust cloud! (The photo is from WPTV) .It was kind of dusty where we were, too. Get in the water (when the conditions are better!), Ham