Trip Report Back in Florida, 2022 #4

[scubadada]

Dive day #5, Oct 12

So, I was signed up to do 4 dives with JDC today. They called yesterday at 5:30 to let me know they did not have enough divers and were cancelling both dives for today. Fortunately, I was able to make a reservation to dive off Starfish in Boynton again today.

I did 2 dives with Starfish today. It was another very warm, sunny day. Seas were mostly around 2 feet. Current was still mild to moderate south, water temp 82-83 degrees, visibility mostly 30 ft, occasionally a bit better.

First dive was outside of Black Condo with a crossover to Clubhouse. Second dive was at Briny Breezes. Nothing special, 2 relaxining dives, the inside reefs were just overflowing with fish. Beats the dives yesterday by an order of magnitude.

One more day of diving this visit,

 

[scubadada]

So, I was scheduled to do a 2 tank dive out of Boynton tomorrow with Loggerhead. I mainly wanted to dive with them to see my old friend Capt Jim, I've been diving with him since 2009. I was called by Splashdown, now also the owner of Loggerhead, this afternoon. to tell me that they were not going out. At least they had already arranged for me to go back out with Starfish.

The cancellations by JDC and Loggerhead illustrate one reason that SE FL will never really be a destination dive site. Too often there are cancelations. Sometimes during the fall, winter, spring, it is due to sea conditions, those cannot be controlled. Sometimes it is due to lack of divers, that cannot be controlled either but does not prevent from making reservations. I've been diving here for a long time and can easily hustle to find another ride, if available. A visitor does not have that advantage and is at the mercy of the operator with whom they made the reservation.

I love diving here, just an observation.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

So, I was scheduled to do a 2 tank dive out of Boynton tomorrow with Loggerhead. I mainly wanted to dive with them to see my old friend Capt Jim, I've been diving with him since 2009. I was called by Splashdown, now also the owner of Loggerhead, this afternoon. to tell me that they were not going out. At least they had already arranged for me to go back out with Starfish.

The cancellations by JDC and Loggerhead illustrate one reason that SE FL will never really be a destination dive site. Too often there are cancelations. Sometimes during the fall, winter, spring, it is due to sea conditions, those cannot be controlled. Sometimes it is due to lack of divers, that cannot be controlled either but does not prevent from making reservations. I've been diving here for a long time and can easily hustle to find another ride, if available. A visitor does not have that advantage and is at the mercy of the operator with whom they made the reservation.

I love diving here, just an observation.

I’m Ok if it never becomes a destination dive site.

 

[drrich2]

The cancellations by JDC and Loggerhead illustrate one reason that SE FL will never really be a destination dive site. Too often there are cancelations. Sometimes during the fall, winter, spring, it is due to sea conditions, those cannot be controlled. Sometimes it is due to lack of divers, that cannot be controlled either but does not prevent from making reservations. I've been diving here for a long time and can easily hustle to find another ride, if available. A visitor does not have that advantage and is at the mercy of the operator with whom they made the reservation.

Thank you for that, it's the kind of information people need to know. Divers vary in how accepting they are of service cancellations, especially when it's due to a lack of other customers rather than unsafe sea conditions.

I wish operators cooperated enough so that when one cancelled due to low business one day, they could offer divers a transfer to another operator's boat. It wouldn't be ideal, and yes it'd divert business to a competitor, but it would improve the success rate for getting dives in.

At least someone might grab a dive at Blue Heron Bridge.

 

[scubadada]

Dive day #6, last day, Oct 13

I did 2 dives today with Starfish out of Boynton, Capt Chris, deckhand Katy. Today was warm, but cloudy. It rained lightly a few times on the way out. It poured after the 2nd dive. Seas were around 2 feet. There was a trickle of north current today, the water temp was still 82-3 degrees. Visibility was still around 30 feet.

First dive was outside Gulfstream with crossover to Black Condo. 2nd dive was outside of Lynn's Reef with a crossover to Castle Ledge. Nothing spectacular, all the usual reef fish, Green Morays, lobster, saw no Lionfish.

So, interesting, I did 10 dives on the Boynton Reefs and saw no sharks and no turtles, a bit unusual. Otherwise, the reef was packed with fish.

I came down intending to do 18 dives, I'm happy that I did 12 and was able to dive all 6 days. Til next time...

 

[Johnoly]

I came down intending to do 18 dives, I'm happy that I did 12 and was able to dive all 6 days. Til next time...

I've talked with ALOT of florida divers and for all this week many have been catching up on both work and home projects after the hurricane which shut them down for several days or more. Combined with the viz reports and that is the main reason many are not back to diving yet and that's why alot of boats are not full or going out. But your's and other reports are helping get shops back to normal. We're diving tomorrow and have a plan for what areas we want to hit. Many times a hurricane will trash our viz to zero for 10 days. That's why I'm glad you got out and were able to dive. Lemon sharks are going to show up in December and peak in January so hope you can make it back to see the sharks then.

 

[scubadada]

I've talked with ALOT of florida divers and for all this week many have been catching up on both work and home projects after the hurricane which shut them down for several days or more. Combined with the viz reports and that is the main reason many are not back to diving yet and that's why alot of boats are not full or going out. But your's and other reports are helping get shops back to normal. We're diving tomorrow and have a plan for what areas we want to hit. Many times a hurricane will trash our viz to zero for 10 days. That's why I'm glad you got out and were able to dive. Lemon sharks are going to show up in December and peak in January so hope you can make it back to see the sharks then.

Hi @Johnoly

The real problem is how this system works. I make a reservation with JDC and they take my money. If I want to cancel, it must be within 48 hours or I lose my money. I went diving with JDC on one day and they ended up cancelling the afternoon dive, nothing about the 2 charters for the next day. At 5:30 pm, they cancel the 2 charters for the next day due to lack of divers. I have to hustle and land a ride for the next day. As a local, I am able to arrange a ride for the next day. If I were a visitor, I would be lost. This is simply not a user friendly system, entirely in favor of the operator with the up front payment and the draconian cancel policy. They are able to cancel late in the afternoon/evening before the dive day. No wonder this pisses people off, including me.

 

[CosbySweater]

Hi @Johnoly

The real problem is how this system works. I make a reservation with JDC and they take my money. If I want to cancel, it must be within 48 hours or I lose my money. I went diving with JDC on one day and they ended up cancelling the afternoon dive, nothing about the 2 charters for the next day. At 5:30 pm, they cancel the 2 charters for the next day due to lack of divers. I have to hustle and land a ride for the next day. As a local, I am able to arrange a ride for the next day. If I were a visitor, I would be lost. This is simply not a user friendly system, entirely in favor of the operator with the up front payment and the draconian cancel policy. They are able to cancel late in the afternoon/evening before the dive day. No wonder this pisses people off, including me.

I agree. The 48 hour cancel policy is annoying. It’s actually a big reason why I dive with Narcosis a lot. Don’t have to pay up front and no penalty if you cancel. I can also reserve a spot with just a quick text.

 

[scubadada]

I agree. The 48 hour cancel policy is annoying. It’s actually a big reason why I dive with Narcosis a lot. Don’t have to pay up front and no penalty if you cancel. I can also reserve a spot with just a quick text.

I haven't been diving with Alex for some time, I'll make a point of it on my next visit.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Cancelation for conditions the day before I get, but cancelation for lack of butts in seats should abide by their 48 hr policy. Just my opinion.