The Boynton Dive Chronicles (new and improved)

[Scubakevdm]

Okay, hopefully it's not too late for anyone who is planning on diving around here tomorrow, but the water was very very cold today. The air cold too. We had divers from Wisconsin and Alaska today, and they were all cold. There was an upwelling underway today, resulting in a cold undercurrent mixing with our nice warm 75 degree layer. The end result out on the reef was 70 degree water with a sharp thermocline of something like low sixties, high fifties. It was like getting an ice pick in the forehead when I wandered into it. The good news (for us) is that it was sporadic. These are anomalies and are generally short lived, so it may be gone by tomorrow, but I thought I'd let you know.

There was also an incredible bait ball on the Tony today, with Goliath groupers laying in wait deep within, ready to inhale some unfortunate jack while it tears through the ball. The water was kinda cloudy, but blue everywhere we went. Viz was between 30 and 40 feet depending on the sun. The current on the wreck was slight south, but it changed top slight north on the second dive, punctuated by intermittent ice pick undercurrents flowing moderate to strong from east to west.

I wish the water would have been more clear. I thought I was getting these killer bait ball pics, but when I put them on the computer, they were all foggy and not crisp.

Here's one anyway. the AJ's werer ripping around, punching through the bait, gobbling up the minnows.

Here's the Goliath grouper were irritated with me for wrecking his ambushes. You can see the bait swirling around us at the top of the frame.

There were lobsters, here and there, and tons of green morays. Many were out and about.

 

[divad]

Are you doing any afternoon trips tomorrow?

 

[Scubakevdm]

Are you doing any afternoon trips tomorrow?

Yes sir. A 1:00 departure with two spots left. It's 'spoda be getting nasty though... just so you know.


SATURDAY
NORTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. SEAS 4 TO 6 FEET NEAR
SHORE AND UP TO 7 TO 9 FEET IN THE GULF STREAM. INTRACOASTAL WATERS
CHOPPY IN EXPOSED AREAS.

It may not do what it says though. Call in the morning and we can give you the actual sea state.

 

[Divergirl4U]

Wow those are beautiful pictures Kevin.

 

[crd_kats]

Damn, you're a tease.

I'll be headed up there as soon as I can.

 

[BIGSAGE136]

Durn I miss you. Great Pics!

 

[Scubakevdm]

Hey thanks everyone!

I'm afraid the news from Boynton isn't too great today though. We had 10 viz out on the Castor and about 15 feet on the reef. There was still a tiny thermocline, maybe about a foot off the reef, not nearly as marked as the ice pick from yesterday... it could be the the upwelling is done and the freezing cold water was just working it's way out of the reef. There was a slight south current though along the very bottom, and a moderate north current above that. I had 71 degrees, both dives, but the thin layer I was talking about felt a degree or two colder.

A 6 foot or so swell built while we were out, and that caused a pretty good surge out on the reef. Winds also swung around past north, causing a 2-4 foot chop on top of that. Hopefully as the winds continue to swing to the east, they will blow our normal, clear, and warm water back to us.

Due to the poor visibility, I did not take the Friends of Scubakev and REEF PHOTO & VIDEO Memorial Camera swimming today, however I have rendered some illustrations of the dives by hand.

I was lucky enough to catch these mating whale sharks out of the corner of my eye. When I say eye, of course I mean my mind's eye, since all we could see were shades of this color.

Here, a squadron of manta rays frolics with baby dolphins overhead.

This frogfish was motionless on the reef. I only noticed him when these two octopi which were fighting over territory bumped into him and he moved.

 

[tasdiver]

Hey thanks everyone!

I'm afraid the news from Boynton isn't too great today though. We had 10 viz out on the Castor and about 15 feet on the reef. There was still a tiny thermocline, maybe about a foot off the reef, not nearly as marked as the ice pick from yesterday... it could be the the upwelling is done and the freezing cold water was just working it's way out of the reef. There was a slight south current though along the very bottom, and a moderate north current above that. I had 71 degrees, both dives, but the thin layer I was talking about felt a degree or two colder.

A 6 foot or so swell built while we were out, and that caused a pretty good surge out on the reef. Winds also swung around past north, causing a 2-4 foot chop on top of that. Hopefully as the winds continue to swing to the east, they will blow our normal, clear, and warm water back to us.

Due to the poor visibility, I did not take the Friends of Scubakev and REEF PHOTO & VIDEO Memorial Camera swimming today, however I have rendered some illustrations of the dives by hand.

I was lucky enough to catch these mating whale sharks out of the corner of my eye. When I say eye, of course I mean my mind's eye, since all we could see were shades of this color.

Here, a squadron of manta rays frolics with baby dolphins overhead.

This frogfish was motionless on the reef. I only noticed him when these two octopi which were fighting over territory bumped into him and he moved.

Amazing !!! simply Amazing !!! that is why we tell EVERYONE that Boynton is THE place to dive LMMO !!!!! See you at the party Kev . . .

 

[ScubaAl]

Great shots, what camera setup are you using
Al

Hey thanks everyone!

I'm afraid the news from Boynton isn't too great today though. We had 10 viz out on the Castor and about 15 feet on the reef. There was still a tiny thermocline, maybe about a foot off the reef, not nearly as marked as the ice pick from yesterday... it could be the the upwelling is done and the freezing cold water was just working it's way out of the reef. There was a slight south current though along the very bottom, and a moderate north current above that. I had 71 degrees, both dives, but the thin layer I was talking about felt a degree or two colder.

A 6 foot or so swell built while we were out, and that caused a pretty good surge out on the reef. Winds also swung around past north, causing a 2-4 foot chop on top of that. Hopefully as the winds continue to swing to the east, they will blow our normal, clear, and warm water back to us.

Due to the poor visibility, I did not take the Friends of Scubakev and REEF PHOTO & VIDEO Memorial Camera swimming today, however I have rendered some illustrations of the dives by hand.

I was lucky enough to catch these mating whale sharks out of the corner of my eye. When I say eye, of course I mean my mind's eye, since all we could see were shades of this color.

Here, a squadron of manta rays frolics with baby dolphins overhead.

This frogfish was motionless on the reef. I only noticed him when these two octopi which were fighting over territory bumped into him and he moved.

 

[BIGSAGE136]

Sheer genius! Truly a unique mastering of the art! We are not worthy!