Dive Report 8 December

Winter is coming! Seventy-three degree water temperature at the bridge today. The two degree difference from yesterday was noticeable pretty quickly, but with a 5mm suit and a 3mm vest with a 5mm hood, I was comfortable for the one hour, thirteen minute dive time. Our refresher student got to see a BIG southern ray on the way to the new wreck (cold water did not bother him), two beautiful shortnose batfish, a medium-sized bandtail searobin, and a couple of striped burrfish that looked cold. The vis was quite a bit shorter than it was yesterday, too, about 10' to 15'. Nevertheless, it is always a wonderful dive if we know how to look. Get in the water, Ham

Dive Report 7 December

Another day of fabulous vis at the bridge! An open water student and I experienced 20'-30' of vis depending on where we were. It was actually a little shorter out by the channel as might be expected on a Sunday with much boat traffic. The Intracoastal had a good chop going and even some white caps out in the open area north of the bridge from a north wind that brought a noticeable chill. The water was still seventy-five; with a 5mm wetsuit and a 3mm hooded vest I was toasty warm. The octopus was still between the second and third set of pilings. We saw one of the little spotted eagle rays between the beach and the first set of pilings. At the stern of the second wreck off the beach was a large bandtail searobin combing the sand for a meal. The diving was great even if we did not want to get out into that cold north wind. Bring a coat! Get into the water, Ham

Dive Report 5 December

Fabulous vis! 30' or better! A student and I had a great dive in wonderful vis. Navigation from the beach to the new wreck was easy as we could see it at quite some distance. At the channel we could see through the pilings well out into the channel. A big octopus between the second and third set of pilings entertained several divers with color changes. A bandtail searobin and a web burrfish were off the beach on our return. The water temperature was seventy-five on a bright, sunny day. Get in the water, Ham

Sunday December 7 Schedule Change

Bridge Divers: Due to schedule back-ups and schedule conflicts we are going to postpone the picnic part of the Sunday, December 7 bridge dive. I will still be at the bridge with students that day, but my responsibilities to them preclude the post-dive picnic. The following Sunday, December 14, I will be at the bridge with students for a 9:21 high tide. If you should choose to dive the bridge that day, we'll have coffee, bagels, cream cheese and jelly. Hope to see you one of those times. Get in the water, Ham

Dive Report 1 December

Absolutely fabulous dive at the bridge today! An Advanced Open Water student and I first visited the newest wreck where there had to be six to eight lobsters of varying sizes. From there we headed north to back under the bridge where there was a medium-sized flying gurnard picking about in the sand. At the channel there were the usual suspects of intermediate atlantic spadefish and parrots of several species. On the way back east we saw a BIG octopus half-way out of its hole going through its repertoire of colors. Wonderful light show! At the third set of pilings away from the beach two intermediate spotted eagle rays were searching in the sand. And now for the grand finale! A MANATEE came up to us just around the corner from the beach and slowly went 270 degrees around us, perhaps as curious about us as we were delighted to see it! Wow! What an incredible dive! I felt obligated to inform my student that not all of the bridge dives are like this. Water temperature was seventy-five. The vis was 15' to 20'. Our bottom was one hour, twenty minutes.

Announcement: I plan on having hotdogs and hamburgers with macaroni salad after the Sunday dive. High tide is at 3:01. We'll be at the park by at least 2:00 and enter the water at 2:30. Please let me know if you plan on coming so I have enough food. (masonhh@hotmail.com) Hope to see you there. Get in the water, Ham