4/22 - Shark River Inlet - Night Dive

[Basking Ridge Diver]

High Tide was about 8:54pm - High Tide was supposed to be 5 foot above normal but it was the highest I have seen it... about a foot below the bridge abutment...
I walked out to the end of the inlet - did a shell test and counted to 6. I figured this was going to be a great dive with fantastic viz. It was a bit odd - it felt humid and then all of a sudden a cold spell would hit - so the weather was a bit funky.
Jumped in at 8:40pm - a little late but nothing to bad... Straight into 1 foot maybe 1.5 foot viz - ugh I was so disappointed - but hey I got to dive - so there is always that little plus...
Dove for 34 mins - viz varied from 6 inches to about 2 feet - min temp was 45 degrees so it is warming up - avg depth 14.6 and max depth 22 feet. Tied off under the bridge and played around the wooden structure and around the bridge but did not stray too far tonight. Saw one flounder about 6 inches - way short but good to see. If anything else passed by me - I did not see it...

 

[lowviz]

We are coming up on a biggie, won't see it again until October.

May 5th=6.0 feet
May 6th=6.2 feet
May 7th=6.2 feet
May 8th=6.0 feet

I'm seriously planning on checking out the blue claw crabs (this will be a big year) in the back bay, but I could be talked into a rock-and-roll inlet dive just for fun. Maybe even the RR bridge, that would be over the top. Goof up on the RR Bridge in that wash and you will wake up in Portugal...

Edit :
But I'm really into this: NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife - Blue Claws: Crabbing in New Jersey

Second Edit:
This vid really captures the critter's attitude:
Not trying to justify anything, I see them as food, as good as it gets.

Friends, crabs, Old Bay spice, and Genessee Cream Ale. Oh, can't get that anymore. Oh well...