Trip Report Back in Florida, 2022 #2

[scubadada]

So, I have not been in Florida since a few dives in March. I did have a great time spending a week with Dolphin Dream at Tiger Beach and in Bimini with my friend @Dan Trip Report - Tiger Beach and Bimini on the Dolphin Dream, March 11-19, 2022 and I had a very good trip to Belize on the Belize Aggressor IV Trip Report - Belize on the Aggressor IV April 9-16, 2022

I flew down on Tues at mid-morning. The airport in Philadelphia was quite busy, most all businesses open. Only a small minority of people in the airport and on the plane wore masks. I had a perfect flight down to West Palm and my scuba gear came with me. Airport in West Palm was not busy mid-day. National had a poor selection of cars, but made due. Made my one trip to the grocery store, almost nobody with a mask

Dive day 1, Wed May 25

I did 4 dives with Jupiter Dive Center, Captains Ryan and Tom, guide/mate Tory and Sam took turns. It was predicted to be 2-3 ft seas. It was 3-5 with occasional bigger in the morning. We got pounded a bit and there were several sick divers on the boat. The afternoon was down a bit, mostly 2-4, seemed much better. Water was 79-80 degrees, visibility 40-50 feet, mild to moderate north current. We did 4 good dive sites, Captain Kirle's, Loggerhead, Bluffs, and Tunnels. There were many, many Loggerhead Turtles. We saw quite a few Reef Sharks, Goliath Grouper, Nurse Sharks, Green and Spotted Morays. All the usual reef fish were present, some beautiful schools of Horse-Eye Jacks and Spadefish.

All in all, a very nice day diving

 

[scubadada]

Dive day 2, Thurs May 26

I planned to do 4 more dives with JDC today, the day ended early, very unexpectedly.

It was a beautiful sunny day with less wind than yesterday. I went out on Republic VII with Capt Tim. The seas were only 2-3. Our first dive was at North Juno Ledge. Water temp was 80 degrees, mild to moderate north current, visibility around 50 feet. We saw at least a half dozen Goliath Grouper, several Reef Sharks and Loggerhead Turtles. The usual reef fish were out, another gorgeous large school of Horse-Eye Jacks.

At the surface interval, the guide for the 1st dive became acutely ill with profound fatigue and weakness with numbness and tingling of all four extremities. We took care of him on the way back in and were met with ambulance service. As much as this sounds like decompression illness, the benign profile would generally not support that, max depth 87 feet, avg depth 69 feet, nitrox 36, 52 min. I wish the guide the very best.

The rest of the day was cancelled. The captain and mate need undergo drug testing following this event, I can't personally figure out exactly why.

Tomorrow is another day

 

[drrich2]

Glad you're back in Florida for diving good times, and sorry to hear about the guide running into such strange trouble. Given the confidential nature of healthcare matters, it's quite possible we won't hear the ultimate diagnosis, but it would be interesting to know. Hope the guide's okay.

 

[Johnoly]

The captain and mate need undergo drug testing following this event, I can't personally figure out exactly why.

The testing requirement usually can fall under 2 jurisdictions, CG & Insurance Co. If EMS is activated then either can request/require it. Capt Tim is 100% by the book and he follows a strict timeline & procedure. Anyone who has been diving for sometime on JDC will probably be part of their regular drills on the boat. It gives me ALOT of comfort when I see the CPR mannequin during the surface interval and watch them go step by step. Or the man overboard drill and many of us divers just instinctively join in the hand pointing cause that's how we've been trained. I've also copied alot of their procedures in what I do for timelines on a boat. Never want to see a fellow diver get hurt, but they are in excellent hands with the JDC boat.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

I planned to do 4 more dives with JDC today, the day ended early, very unexpectedly.

It was a beautiful sunny day with less wind than yesterday. I went out on Republic VII with Capt Tim. The seas were only 2-3. Our first dive was at North Juno Ledge. Water temp was 80 degrees, mild to moderate north current, visibility around 50 feet. We saw at least a half dozen Goliath Grouper, several Reef Sharks and Loggerhead Turtles. The usual reef fish were out, another gorgeous large school of Horse-Eye Jacks.

At the surface interval, the guide for the 1st dive became acutely ill with profound fatigue and weakness with numbness and tingling of all four extremities. We took care of him on the way back in and were met with ambulance service. As much as this sounds like decompression illness, the benign profile would generally not support that, max depth 87 feet, avg depth 69 feet, nitrox 36, 52 min. I wish the guide the very best.

The rest of the day was cancelled. The captain and mate need undergo drug testing following this event, I can't personally figure out exactly why.

Tomorrow is another day

Oh no! I wish him the best. I'm not even going to speculate what it could be. Way outside of my expertise. It certainly sounds scary. I pray he recovers quickly and completely.

 

[scubadada]

@Johnoly

Capt Tim is the best

Capt Mike RIP

Capt Brian, enjoy retirement from driving

 

[Lostdiver71]

Even though the profile doesn’t support it, he could still have decompression illness. We still don’t fully understand all of the mechanisms behind dcs, some people suffer from it after a benign dive for no apparent reason, while others push or exceed the limits for decades without issues!

 

[scubadada]

Dive day 3, Fri May 27

I did 2 dives today with Starfish out of Boynton Marina, Capt Chris, Mate Ren. It was a little rougher than predicted, 3-4 ft, short period, choppy and chaotic. Water was warmer than in Jupiter, mostly 81, occ 82. Visibility was variable. On the 1st dive on the outside, could see the bottom from the surface, at least 80 ft. The inside reef had visibility of 40-50 ft.

1st dive started outside at Clubhouse, crossed over to Gulfstream. 2nd dive was north, Lynn's and Castle Ledge/Table Tops.
Large Lemon Shark, Loggerhead, Nurse Shark and the usual reef fish on the 1st dive. Gorgeous large school of Spadefish on the second dive with a single file line of 6 Smooth Trunkfish following them from behind. All the usual reef fish were present.

A good day of diving, 2:11 dive time

 

[Johnoly]

I did 2 dives today with Starfish out of Boynton Marina,

Just curious on loads. Almost all the schools in Florida let out on Weds & Thurs for the long summer break and it's a big 3 day holiday weekend with lots of travelers in the airport and the turnpike is packed.

*) Was your boat full?
*) Since there's other charters next to yours, Was the parking lot full when your returned back to the dock?

Thanks for the conditions report today!!

 

[scubadada]

Hi @Johnoly

Interesting question. Starfish today was plumb full, 13 or 14 people. Much of the group was a large, extended family, from Tampa I think. There are a few seats on the AM boat to the Castor. funny, it was sold out a couple of days ago, must have been some cancellations. The afternoon and Sunday are sold out. There are a few seats for Monday. The other 3 boats in Boynton did not appear to go out today, Loggerhead, Splashdown, or the Scubatyme boat.

I'm with JDC on Sunday and Monday, plenty of seats available.