Dive Report 20 January

High tide and sunset were almost exactly at the same time so my three Advanced Open Water students and I were a little pressed for time. We didn't have permission to do a night dive so a little after sunset we had to exit. Our dive to the east bridge was only about forty-five minutes which was fine with one of my students who, despite two 3mm wetsuits, was getting chilled in the seventy-two degree water. The other two (also in two 3mm suits) were quite comfortable. Whimp that I am, I am in my drysuit now and have been for several weeks. The vis was ten feet. Unfortunately, there were quite a few moon jellyfish, AGAIN! None of us experienced any stingies as we were careful to avoid them. Because we were shooting bags and deploying a lift bag we were not looking for fish, but an ENORMOUS southern ray lifted off from the bottom as we passed it on our way to the object of our search, an old plastic pail. I am a little disappointed that two of my students who have not been at the bridge before didn't get to see more of it. I thought we would have a little more light after the posted sunset time. It was like a light switch; at 5:53 it was lights out and dark! Now I know. If I dive that close to sunset again, I will make sure that I have permission to do a night dive and end the session as a night dive. We could have gone on for forty-five more minutes easily (although my chilled student was certainly glad we didn't!). Always learning! Get in the water, Ham

Dive Report 15 January

We're back! After a few weeks of time with family and a dive vacation (are there any other kinds?) we were back at the bridge. It is definitely winter; the north wind kept the air temperature at about sixty-five on a sunny day. The water temperature was seventy-two. The visibility was about eight feet. Norman, Michele, and I were quite comfortable in dry suits. Carrie wore her 5mm wetsuit with a 3mm hooded vest. For our fifty-six minute dive she said she was pretty comfortable until she got out into the wind. Then she jumped into her boat coat. The mantis shrimp was just off the beach not far from a medium-sized southern ray. The batfish was under the fishing pier just to the east of the big junk pile on the north side. It was very nice to be back at the bridge on a beautiful day with friends. Lunch at the Dune Dog capped a great day! Get in the water, Ham

Dive Report 16 December

It HAS been a long while since we have been diving at the Bridge. A week or so ago Carrie and I had every intention of diving the Bridge, but with three feet of vis decided we would rather visit a local Singer Island establishment for lunch and not have to wash our gear. Friday, December 16 was a very nice day for a dive at the Bridge. The water was seventy-seven degrees and the vis was around fifteen feet. We saw only three moon jellies. Our Discover Scuba students had a great time with the highlight being a small spotted eagle ray cruising around us. There have been two recent reports of a school of six spotted eagle rays at the eastern bridge. With the consistently rough seas offshore I expected shorter vis, but was delighted to have nice touring vis. In seventy-seven degree water, it was very nice! The water is still relatively warm.....Get in the water, (sooner rather than later) Ham

Dive Report 29 November

Carrie, a dive-couple, and I had a very nice one hour, twenty-two minute dive at the west bridge today. We entered the seventy-seven degree water under overcast skies and exited under bright blue, somewhat cooler skies. Our purpose was to give the new folks an orientation dive so that when they come to visit from northern Florida, if the tides are right, they can do the dive themselves. So we did some compass work and gave some instruction on how to use the reel and dive flag, but for the most part, just played sightseers. One of our friends experienced what happens when one violates the first rule of "no slack in the line" when using a reel. What better place to have the "wrapped up in one's work" experience than at the Bridge where we can all have a chuckle. We saw a medium-sized southern ray, an intermediate spotted eagle ray, a butter and a barred hamlet (first time I've seen a barred hamlet at the Bridge) and many of the usual suspects. The moon jellies were still there, but not in the large numbers of last week. There is still an occasional minor stingy in the water that is only noticeable for a moment. The vis was between ten and fifteen feet. Close to the beach it was clear; further out and by the channel it was milky. I was in my 5mm wetsuit and upon my exit into the breeze from the northwest was reminded that winter is coming. After all, tomorrow is the last day of November. Get in the water (it's not getting any warmer for a while), Ham

Dive Report 21 November

The jellies (not the kind pictured) were present in force, especially in the top three feet. Vis was about ten feet for our late-afternoon training session south of the east bridge. The water temperature was seventy-nine. As long as we stayed close to the bottom, the moon jellyfish were not a problem. One of my students experienced some minor stings on her face. In all my years of diving the Bridge I have not experienced the presence of jellyfish as we have had this year. Maybe colder water will change the situation. Get in the water (but dodge the jellies), Ham