Dive Report 31 May

Carrie and I had a day off so we did an early-morning bridge dive. We were in the water by 7:00 for our two hour, thirteen minute dive. The water temperature was between seventy-nine and eighty-one depending on where we were. In three millimeter wetsuits we were very comfortable. Vis was at best twenty feet, but fell off after the slack high tide. Octopuses were still everywhere; we saw over two dozen, most of them in the sand south of the bridge. A squadron of four squid hovered between the third set of pilings and the solid bridge support by the boat channel. Carrie got the photo of one of them. Two jawfish were very camera-tolerant by the north end of the "canyon". A batfish was about twenty yards north of the "upside-down wreck" hiding in the same piece of junk for over a week now. We saw a lionfish in the shopping carts just off the beach, but could not catch it in Carrie's shell jar. It's so nice to be there on a weekday; we saw only three other divers and a few snorkelers. Conditions are gorgeous! Get in the water, Ham

Dive Report 24 May

With reports of colder offshore water temperatures I was thinking that the water at the bridge might be cold, but I was very happy to be diving in eighty-two degree water. The vis was between ten and fifteen feet. I had five students with me so I was not searching for critters. Nevertheless, we still saw ten octopuses. Marv Caples reported seeing a striated and a white frogfish. A very large southern ray at the boat channel thrilled my students. There was a very big school of intermediate-sized Atlantic spadefish there, too. In three millimeter wetsuits we were all very comfortable for our one hour, six minute dive. Get in the water, Ham

Dive Report 19 May

It was an absolutely spectacular day at the bridge. The highlights were a school of five spotted eagle rays out by the boat channel and a lookdown fish around the pilings of the second set. Incredible! I was diving solo in my steel doubles to reacquaint myself with their heft, balance, etc. while wearing a drysuit. We are planning some deeper stuff so I need the practice and the bridge works well for that. I did the normal circuit counting at least twenty octopuses on the south side of the bridge in the sand. That is no exaggeration, twenty! They were everywhere. I saw a little black seahorse in that neighborhood, too. The vis was better than forty feet. It seemed spring-like. The water temperature was eighty-one. By moving very slowly and wearing a minimal undergarment I was very comfortable in the drysuit. Several divers were not wearing exposure suits. The conditions are absolutely premium right now. NOAA reports that the Gulf Stream is only two miles off the Jupiter Inlet. That may have something to do with the incredible conditions. GET IN THE WATER!!! Ham

Dive Report 18 May

Thirty feet of vis and eighty degree water made for a really nice one hour, seventeen minute dive at the bridge today. We saw eleven octopuses! They seemed to be everywhere. The striped burrfish hovered until I pushed the button on my camera. My Discover Scuba student, his brother, and I watched a little spotted moray and a sharptail eel forage side-by-side. Stoplight parrotfish zoomed by us frequently. Being a weekday, there were fewer than ten divers there. Very nice. The three of us were in three millimeter wetsuits and were very comfortable. Warm, clear water is here! Get in the water, Ham

Dive Report 6 May

A late night with open water students at the shop last night meant no blog until now. We had a full day at the pool today so this report is a little late. Friday at the bridge was gorgeous. The vis was better than twenty feet off the beach and the water temperature was seventy-nine. We did a one hour, seventeen minute dive. My student in a 3mm wetsuit was comfortable. Because of some recent work on my back by my dermatologist I dived dry. I wore the thinnest undersuit I have and was very comfortable. It was octopus day as we saw six of them. It seemed every pipe and hole had an octopus in it. It's fascinating to watch them change color. I tried to get one to come out and play tug-of-war, but it was pretty shy. Diving on weekday mornings is so nice at Phil Foster; we had the place almost to ourselves. I'm back at the Park on Sunday with students for a 12:31 high tide; we will NOT have the place almost to ourselves. Oh well, I'll still be in the water. Get in the water, Ham

Dive Report 1 May

We had to leave the house at 5:30 this morning to meet our students for a 7:44 high tide, but the early tides on the weekends have the benefit of being less attended than an afternoon high tide. We watched the sun come up at 6:43 as we finished gearing up for the one hour, seven minute dive. The vis was ten feet and milky which was a little disappointing, but the seventy-nine degree water in my 3mm wetsuit was nice! It was octopus day as we saw three or four on our way around the circuit doing our skill set. I know folks who are not morning people have a tough time understanding this, but I love watching the sun come up and getting into the water to start the day. Brunch at the Corner Cafe in Tequesta with friends was the perfect end to the morning! Get in the water, Ham