Dive Report 21 and 22 February

The vis has been in the fifteen to twenty feet range and today it was even better. It was pool-like. We could see one piling set from another; they are one hundred feet apart. The water temperature was about seventy degrees, a little less at the channel, a little more off the beach. Carrie and I saw two species of batfish, a beautiful seahorse under the fishing pier, a sharptail eel, and, among many other fishes, the beautiful juvenile scrawled cowfish juvenile. (At least we think it is a scrawled cowfish because we see several of the adults frequently.) The high bacteria count is still in effect. The lifeguard informed us and there are signs posted. Ham

Dive Report 19 February

Seventy-two degree water with fifteen to twenty feet of vis made for a very nice early morning dive. Unfortunately, there is a warning for a high fecal count in the water. I don't know if that is a result of the many manatees around right now or dirty water from more southerly cities or what. The signs weren't posted until we were exiting the water. Oh well. I used to swim in farmland creeks in upstate New York as a kid. With a million cows in pastures that drained into the creeks in the valleys, I'm sure there was probably a significant fecal count in that water, too. My friends may not be telling me about it, but I appear to not have suffered ill effects. Nevertheless, the warnings are there. I enjoyed the dive! Get in the water (maybe when it's cleaner), Ham

Dive Report 13 February

We expected to see one of these as the water temperature today ranged from sixty-six to sixty-eight. No seventies! The vis was no more than five feet, really. Carrie and I had two open water students who braved the less-than-ideal conditions for over an hour, one in a three milimeter suit and the other in two three milimeter suits. Both were a little chilled at the end of the dive. The strong and steady north wind created a rough intracoastal chop. The north wind is not our friend when it comes to vis either at the bridge or offshore. Because there were over three million students diving under the bridge, we ventured to the east to find water deep enough there for our ascents. Our students completed the skill set and back to the west we traveled maintaining seven to eight feet and a due west course. It's all good experience. The tough dives are good ones to have under one's belt. They make us better divers. Get in the water, Ham

Dive Report 12 February

It was a challenging day at the bridge to say the least. The strong and steady wind from the north created a strong chop in the intracoastal that reduced vis to five or six feet. Carrie and I had four students and a certified diver with us. It was a great day to practice the lost buddy protocol. Three of our students were in 3mm suits for our one hour, six-minute dive. One of them was quite chilled by the end of the dive in water that bounced between sixty-eight and seventy degrees. Despite the difficult conditions both above and below, our students did very well and we did manage to see a seahorse in the junk pile on the northern side of the fishing pier and an octopus in nearly the same spot. The lionfish was discovered just off the beach in five feet of water. It is the first time I have seen an adult lionfish at the bridge. We've seen juvenile lionfish, but this adult is another indication that their population is growing. On a more positive note, we've seen a loon diving for fish just off the beach by the Sumar. They are here for the winter before returning to the lakes of the northern states. If you have ever heard the call of a loon on a wilderness lake, you know the incredible voice of these magnificent birds. Sometimes they even carry their babies on their backs! There is so much going on at the bridge. Get in the water, Ham

Dive Report 11 February

We had a great day at the bridge today! Tobin, Carrie, and I did a one hour, thirty-four minute dive in seventy degree water and were rewarded with some incredible sights. The photographs of the neck crab (decorator crab) and what we believe is a juvenile scrawled cowfish were taken by Tobin. We saw a spotted moray, a searobin, a juvenile batfish, hermit crabs, a conch, a mid-sized southern stingray, and many other critters and fishes. Tobin was chilled in his 3mm suit and hooded vest. Carrie was comfortable in her 5mm suit and 3mm hooded vest. I was very comfortable in my drysuit. Vis varied between ten and fifteen feet. The dead-flat calm surface conditions were a welcome change from yesterday's stiff breeze and strong chop. Another fabulous dive at the bridge with friends. I love it. Get in the water, Ham

Dive Report 10 February

After two weeks in upstate NY it was very nice to be back in south Florida doing a bridge dive. Last Friday as I gathered my gear to go skiing at Windham, NY the temperature was ten below zero. At the bridge the air temperature of seventy-five and the water temperature of seventy-two was an incredibly welcome change. Vis was inconsistent. Off the beach the vis was barely ten feet. At the boat channel and to the north of the fishing pier the vis was fifteen to twenty feet. That surprised me (as you know, I am often surprised) because there was a moderate chop on the water from a stiff southwesterly breeze. Holding the dive flag can be challenging with a rough surface chop. There were several jellyfish swimming around especially the beach area. I just assume all jellyfish, especially ones I don't know, have the potential to sting. Carrie and I did not experiment with the jellyfishes' tools for feeding and defending themselves. They were fascinating to watch, though. The other picture is of a lizardfish hiding-in-wait for lunch. In a 5mm suit and a 3mm hooded vest Carrie was comfortable for our one hour, twenty minute dive. I'm in my drysuit until spring. Get in the water, Ham