WPB Rpt Jun15- Walker's Charters Saves Me

[Johnoly]

We met this morning at the Phil Foster Park boat ramp for a private boat trip. Our dive partners showed up with the boat and said unfortunately there is a mechanical issue and we can't dive. Started checking and calling WPB Charter boats to see what we could jump on. It was just 30 minutes before all the boats leave & depart. Called Boat #1, sorry full. # 2 & 3, Nope sorry.

But Bill Walker from Walker's Dive Charters Saved me and said sure, and bring your speargun too!!. Arrived at the dock, tossed gear under my dive seat and away we went on time. And for those of us posting reports years before FaceBook was invented, ie: @Ana ,,Our divemaster today was Joanne from the old DiverLink board. It was fun to catch up on old stories and she's doing great and very happy.

There's a really strong Gulf Stream current about six miles offshore in 200 ft deep water. But that also creates in water eddie's with reverse currents and that's what we had on the first dive. It was about a half knot south current and not the direction the captain was expecting me to be going. So I sent a text message from 85ft on bottom to the captain to let him know that I was going the opposite direction and he loved it. Viz was still 60-70 feet and water temperatures were down slightly at 77 degrees. Plenty of turtles and had a big hammerhead come right by the boat on the surface chasing bait fish with his big ole dorsal gliding on top of the water just like the scene in JAWS.

Jupiter and West Palm Bch are always an adventure and divers are the best problem solvers in the world when things break. Many Thanks to the fantastic Crew at Walker's Dive Charters for saving my butt !!

Johnoly & Joanne

 

[PoolsOpen]

Thanks for the report,
you lucked out this time !!

 

[scubadada]

I dived with Joanne in May on Shark Canyon

 

[Ana]

We met this morning at the Phil Foster Park boat ramp for a private boat trip. Our dive partners showed up with the boat and said unfortunately there is a mechanical issue and we can't dive. Started checking and calling WPB Charter boats to see what we could jump on. It was just 30 minutes before all the boats leave & depart. Called Boat #1, sorry full. # 2 & 3, Nope sorry.

But Bill Walker from Walker's Dive Charters Saved me and said sure, and bring your speargun too!!. Arrived at the dock, tossed gear under my dive seat and away we went on time. And for those of us posting reports years before FaceBook was invented, ie: @Ana ,,Our divemaster today was Joanne from the old DiverLink board. It was fun to catch up on old stories and she's doing great and very happy.

There's a really strong Gulf Stream current about six miles offshore in 200 ft deep water. But that also creates in water eddie's with reverse currents and that's what we had on the first dive. It was about a half knot south current and not the direction the captain was expecting me to be going. So I sent a text message from 85ft on bottom to the captain to let him know that I was going the opposite direction and he loved it. Viz was still 60-70 feet and water temperatures were down slightly at 77 degrees. Plenty of turtles and had a big hammerhead come right by the boat on the surface chasing bait fish with his big ole dorsal gliding on top of the water just like the scene in JAWS.

Jupiter and West Palm Bch are always an adventure and divers are the best problem solvers in the world when things break. Many Thanks to the fantastic Crew at Walker's Dive Charters for saving my butt !!

Johnoly & Joanne
View attachment 665609

Great report... Nice to hear she's doing good. Wow it's been about 15 years, feel old now.

 

[jeffsky29]

Are you saying there was a north current at the surface and south at the bottom? And you shot a SMB, from 85’, so the Captain would know?

 

[Gene]

No one else has asked, but I have to. I assume you sent a text from your mobile phone in a waterproof case and the capt. received it 85 feet above? That's pretty cool if that's the case. I've never been able to get my Lifeproof housing for my iPhones to work underwater, much less at that depth.
I've dove off WPB for many years and always carry a safety sausage and other items like whistle, mirror, etc. I've had to send it up a few times from the current pushing me away from other divers and/or the DM with their flag.
I wonder how many people on SB remember Frank's Dive Shop at the BHB...

 

[jeffsky29]

A cell phone can’t transmit or receive under water.

 

[Steve Roquemore]

We met this morning at the Phil Foster Park boat ramp for a private boat trip. Our dive partners showed up with the boat and said unfortunately there is a mechanical issue and we can't dive. Started checking and calling WPB Charter boats to see what we could jump on. It was just 30 minutes before all the boats leave & depart. Called Boat #1, sorry full. # 2 & 3, Nope sorry.

But Bill Walker from Walker's Dive Charters Saved me and said sure, and bring your speargun too!!. Arrived at the dock, tossed gear under my dive seat and away we went on time. And for those of us posting reports years before FaceBook was invented, ie: @Ana ,,Our divemaster today was Joanne from the old DiverLink board. It was fun to catch up on old stories and she's doing great and very happy.

There's a really strong Gulf Stream current about six miles offshore in 200 ft deep water. But that also creates in water eddie's with reverse currents and that's what we had on the first dive. It was about a half knot south current and not the direction the captain was expecting me to be going. So I sent a text message from 85ft on bottom to the captain to let him know that I was going the opposite direction and he loved it. Viz was still 60-70 feet and water temperatures were down slightly at 77 degrees. Plenty of turtles and had a big hammerhead come right by the boat on the surface chasing bait fish with his big ole dorsal gliding on top of the water just like the scene in JAWS.

Jupiter and West Palm Bch are always an adventure and divers are the best problem solvers in the world when things break. Many Thanks to the fantastic Crew at Walker's Dive Charters for saving my butt !!

Johnoly & Joanne
View attachment 665609

We were feeling bad that you drove all the way down and then we had mechanical issues. Walker is a great operator and have been out with him many times. New coupler for the turbo is installed and the tow vehicle is back and ready to tow again.

 

[jeffsky29]

The joys and realities of owning and towing a boat. My boat stays in the water, so she is currently on the hard for the next week getting new bottom paint, prop speed on props and running gear, and props sent out for reconditioning and slight pitch reduction.

 

[Steve Roquemore]

The joys and realities of owning and towing a boat. My boat stays in the water, so she is currently on the hard for the next week getting new bottom paint, prop speed on props and running gear, and props sent out for reconditioning and slight pitch reduction.

We have done it both ways and like it best in my driveway where we can do constant maintenance on our terms and then have a choice of which inlet to go out of. Had a few issues with the truck but still cheaper than a marina.