Dive Report 26 June

The outer bands of tropical storm Debby kicked up wind gusts in excess of 30mph at the bridge giving us a good sand-blasting before we moved to a picnic table close to the fishing pier to get away from the beach. I had made no promises to my three young diving companions warning them from the start that with all the wind from the southwest and all the rain from the last twenty-four hours, it was unlikely that we would be able to see well enough to dive. The sea was all of one to two feet in a very serious chop. We looked at rough green water and were not optimistic. Nevertheless, I grabbed my mask and fins and did an exploratory swim off the beach toward the little wreck. To my amazement (and to the joy of my charges!) we had ten to twelve feet of vis in somewhat milky water. I couldn't believe it. We assembled our gear and entering the rough water, enjoyed an hour and five minutes in eighty-two degree water. We encountered the batfish off the beach where the blue sailboat used to be moored. A flying gurnard displayed its wings for us and bait fish swarmed around us for what seemed like the entire dive. Who would have thought that conditions would be favorable? Certainly, not I. How many times have we heard "We don't know unless we go"? It paid off in a nice dive for us today. Get in the water (because you can't really tell from your armchair), Ham

Dive Report 20 June

It was raining when Troy and I went in and it was raining when we got out, pouring actually. Parking was not a problem, but I was surprised to see many divers at the bridge despite the monsoon-type conditions. With rough seas offshore the water was milky with sand so the vis was about ten feet under dark skies. The water temperature was eighty-two for our one hour twenty-six minute dive. I was very comfortable in my three millimeter suit and thin hooded vest. It was a two batfish and two octopus dive. There are two dozen lobsters or more at the junk pile under the fishing pier. There is always plenty to see! Get in the water, Ham

Dive Report 14 June

Carrie and I had four students at the bridge on Friday in fabulous conditions. The vis was better than twenty feet and the water temperature was eighty-four. My students were in 3mm wetsuits, but we would have been fine without them. We saw the batfish south of the west bridge out by the boat channel. Enormous schools of baitfish whirled and danced around us several times during the dive. Amazingly, there were almost no people on the fishing pier so we did the grand tour. I tend to stay away from the fishing pier if there are several people fishing. We have had some close calls with fishing line and hooks. The conditions are prime! Get in the water, Ham