Jupiter Dive Thread

[raphaeldpm]

We all know Palm Beach County diving is not for the timid, but being a working stiff who has been looking forward to diving this upcoming MLK Day 3-day weekend, this sucks! I mean, come on man!!

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I'm starting my vacations and travelling from Canada to Jupiter on Friday just to dive. I booked dives for Saturday through Tuesday (when I leave for Orlando) with Jupiter Scuba Diving. Yeah, I'm having the same reaction, this really sucks to think I may not be diving at all.

Is there any chance any dive operator will go out in these conditions, West Palm maybe? Is the Blue Heron Bridge dive doable? I'm discouraged.

 

[scubadada]

I'm starting my vacations and travelling from Canada to Jupiter on Friday just to dive. I booked dives for Saturday through Tuesday (when I leave for Orlando) with Jupiter Scuba Diving. Yeah, I'm having the same reaction, this really sucks to think I may not be diving at all.

Is there any chance any dive operator will go out in these conditions, West Palm maybe? Is the Blue Heron Bridge dive doable? I'm discouraged.

Hi @raphaeldpm

If JDC is not going out, they will cancel late afternoon, day before. Several boats out of West Palm are often able/willing to go out when Jupiter is not running. If that is the case, call Narcosis Narcosis Dive Company | SCUBA Diving in West Palm Beach Florida or Walker's Walker’s Dive Charters to try to book. BHB may be diveable.

After diving Boynton Beach, Jupiter, and West Palm year around for a dozen years, I have had plenty of practice hustling for a ride. Best of luck on your visit to SE FL.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

I'm starting my vacations and travelling from Canada to Jupiter on Friday just to dive. I booked dives for Saturday through Tuesday (when I leave for Orlando) with Jupiter Scuba Diving. Yeah, I'm having the same reaction, this really sucks to think I may not be diving at all.

Is there any chance any dive operator will go out in these conditions, West Palm maybe? Is the Blue Heron Bridge dive doable? I'm discouraged.

I feel your pain although I only travel over from SWFL. Nothing compared to coming from Canada!

If I get blown out, which is very likely, I plan to dive BHB. I may look at Pura Vida as well one or two of those days if they still have room and are running. As @scubadada mentioned, Narcosis or Walkers in Palm Beach are very good options as well.

 

[CosbySweater]

I'm starting my vacations and travelling from Canada to Jupiter on Friday just to dive. I booked dives for Saturday through Tuesday (when I leave for Orlando) with Jupiter Scuba Diving. Yeah, I'm having the same reaction, this really sucks to think I may not be diving at all.

Is there any chance any dive operator will go out in these conditions, West Palm maybe? Is the Blue Heron Bridge dive doable? I'm discouraged.

Narcosis and Pura Vida out of WPB are your best bets. Sunday and Monday look doable at the moment. I'd be surprised if any of the Jupiter boats make it out of the inlet this weekend.

Plan for rough seas and take sea sickness precautions. There's no easier way to throw away $100 than to get sea sick on a dive boat.

 

[raphaeldpm]

I'm not very good at reading the conditions, is the height of the swell alone enough to have an idea, or the period is important? I assume the wind at 20kt will be too much as well. How bad does it need to be for WPB not to dive?

I'm using these sites:

Jupiter, FL Surf Forecast

Detailed Surf Forecast and Surf Report for Jupiter, Florida including top quality forecast resources.

www.swellinfo.com

NDBC - National Weather Service Marine Forecast FZUS52 KMFL

National Weather Service Marine Forecast FZUS52 KMFL provided via the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) website.

www.ndbc.noaa.gov

Jupiter Inlet Surf Cam & Jupiter Inlet Surf Report

Jupiter Inlet surf report and Jupiter Inlet Surf Cam. The source for Central East Coast Florida surf reports. Surf Guru features Florida surf cams, an audio Florida surf report, and a Florida surf forecast. View current Jupiter Inlet surf conditions, weather, and buoy data.

www.surfguru.com

 

[CosbySweater]

I'm not very good at reading the conditions, is the height of the swell alone enough to have an idea, or the period is important? I assume the wind at 20kt will be too much as well. How bad does it need to be for WPB not to dive?

I'm using these sites:

Jupiter, FL Surf Forecast

Detailed Surf Forecast and Surf Report for Jupiter, Florida including top quality forecast resources.

www.swellinfo.com

NDBC - National Weather Service Marine Forecast FZUS52 KMFL

National Weather Service Marine Forecast FZUS52 KMFL provided via the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) website.

www.ndbc.noaa.gov

Jupiter Inlet Surf Cam & Jupiter Inlet Surf Report

Jupiter Inlet surf report and Jupiter Inlet Surf Cam. The source for Central East Coast Florida surf reports. Surf Guru features Florida surf cams, an audio Florida surf report, and a Florida surf forecast. View current Jupiter Inlet surf conditions, weather, and buoy data.

www.surfguru.com

Wave height and period are the two most important pieces of information. For WPB and Jupiter, 3 foot waves at any period and most every boat will go out.

It depends on the boat but for Jupiter not to dive, the wave height will usually have to be 4+ with a period less than 2x wave weight (so for 4 foot waves, a period less than 8 seconds usually means they won’t dive). This is just a general rule of thumb. Jupiter typically won’t dive if waves are 4.5+ regardless of period because it’s very difficult to get out of Jupiter’s narrow/shallow inlet in those conditions.

WPB is different. I’ve been out on Narcosis when the forecast was for short period 4s and 5s numerous times. Same with Pura Vida. The reason for this is because the inlet is wide and deep and there are several good dive sites close to the inlet so it’s a short run. 4s at any period are usually doable out of WPB. 5s are doable if the period is 1.5-2x wave height. Again this is just a general rule of thumb and forecasted condition can be better or worse than actual conditions.

 

[Jaan]

We are travelling but I understand there is a sawfish dive taking place on the 16th with the jupiter dive center. No guarantees of course, but perhaps something special if you are here next week (and weather permits)

 

[raphaeldpm]

Wave height and period are the two most important pieces of information. For WPB and Jupiter, 3 foot waves at any period and most every boat will go out.

It depends on the boat but for Jupiter not to dive, the wave height will usually have to be 4+ with a period less than 2x wave weight (so for 4 foot waves, a period less than 8 seconds usually means they won’t dive). This is just a general rule of thumb. Jupiter typically won’t dive if waves are 4.5+ regardless of period because it’s very difficult to get out of Jupiter’s narrow/shallow inlet in those conditions.

WPB is different. I’ve been out on Narcosis when the forecast was for short period 4s and 5s numerous times. Same with Pura Vida. The reason for this is because the inlet is wide and deep and there are several good dive sites close to the inlet so it’s a short run. 4s at any period are usually doable out of WPB. 5s are doable if the period is 1.5-2x wave height. Again this is just a general rule of thumb and forecasted condition can be better or worse than actual conditions.

This is exactly the information I have been looking for, thank you!

We are travelling but I understand there is a sawfish dive taking place on the 16th with the jupiter dive center. No guarantees of course, but perhaps something special if you are here next week (and weather permits)

Thanks for the tip, that would be very interesting, but I'm already booked with Jupiter Scuba Diving (Kyalami).

 

[raphaeldpm]

I dived the BHB today. Pretty nice site, I couldn't get a guide, but I buddied up with a couple of guys I met there. We probably didn't go to the best spots, but we still saw a spotted eagle ray and plenty of fish, including some great barracuda that are huge.

By the way, Kyalami is going out tomorrow!

 

[Johnoly]

By the way, Kyalami is going out tomorrow!

The crew of Kyalami are friends of ours and we dive many of the same dive sites. Like @Divin'Papaw & @CosbySweater have mentioned many times, Jupiter's inlet is very narrow with a sandbar underwater that makes it difficult. Sunday still has the nasty weather system and below you can see they are calling for 8 footers. 8's might be do able if the wind was straight out of the west at a 290 degree angle, but Sunday's wind will be at an angle of 350 degrees and only the surfer's love that setup. I hope NOAA and me are wrong, but please do consider a backup plan like visiting the manatee lagoon about 15minutes south and it's free. Or climb the Jupiter lighthouse / dive the BHB bridge.