Two advanced open water students and I did a "sunrise" dive today as their schedule allowed few options. The slack high tide almost coincided with the sunrise. We waited for light, but we could have a done a night dive specialty. Anyway, there was definitely an advantage to the very early high tide; the work being done to build habitat off of the beach had not started and killed the vis. We enjoyed twenty feet of vis in eighty-two degree water. I thought it would be warmer so I wore only a rash guard and a thin hooded vest. At the end of our one hour, seventeen minute dive I was actually starting to feel a chill. As we returned from our dive under the big bridge the starting of the engines of the tug attached to the barge was quite loud. I surfaced to see what was happening to be sure that we were well clear of the tug and barge. They are just off the beach putting large stones on the bottom to create the new habitat. We moved east in shallow water to the little center console wreck to do skill work, but the activity on the barge reduced the vis to very short very quickly. I assume the work will go on for several days or longer during normal working hours so that anyone considering a dive under the big bridge might run into the short vis problem. Obviously, being anywhere near the barge and tug is extremely dangerous. Options are to dive under the east bridge for a while or dive on the weekends when the work might not be happening. In any case, be aware that the habitat-building operation is going on and it is definitely something to avoid. Get in the water (probably under the little bridge), Ham
