- Messages
- 20,485
- Reaction score
- 19,845
- Location
- Philadelphia and Boynton Beach
- # of dives
- 1000 - 2499
So, it's been since September that I was down in Florida. My wife and I had a wonderful 2 week trip to Bonaire in Oct-Nov Trip Report - Bonaire: Den Laman and Dive Friends, October 20-November 3, 2021 I just had to get in one more visit to SE FL.
The airport in Philadelphia was not terribly busy, of course it was mid-week in the morning. Most everyone is wearing masks in the airport and on the plane. Some have trouble figuring out how to cover their nose. National Car rental was all masked. On my one trip to the grocery store, about half of the patrons at Winn Dixie were wearing maskes, I was. No masks at or on the boats.
Day 1 Diving, Dec 9
I did four dives with Jupiter Dive Center off Republic IV with Capt Tim. Troy and Brandon switched off at guide and mate. The seas were quite flat, water temp 79 degrees, mild to moderate north current, visibility of 60-80 feet. We dived North Juno Ledge, Capt Kirle's, Loggerhead, and Tunnels. There were several Reef Sharks, a good size Lemon Shark, several Goliath Grouper, many Southern Rays at Tunnels, a few Hawksbill at at least one Loggerhead, several Green Morays, and all the usual reef fish. At Tunnels, believe I saw a Batfish, will post some photos later.
Day 2 Diving, Dec 10
I did a 3 tanker out of Boynton Beach with Starfish with Capt Chris and mate Moty. Seas were again quite flat, water temp 79 degreees, mild north current, visibility 50-60 feet. We did Delray Ledges, a drift from Culverts to the Bud Bar, to the Tony, and outside of Black Condo (Tumbled Rocks) to the inside. Delray Ledges was covered in huge school of grunt and the usual reef fish. The second dive had a large Bull Shark that hung with us after Maureen shot a fish, we also had a couple of good sized Lemons stay with us for quite a while on the Bud Bar. The 3rd dive had a gorgeous free-swimming Green Moray, a Hawksbill, and a nice Lemon Shark.
Dive 3 of Diving, Dec 11
Did 2 tanks with Loggerhead out of Boynton Beach this morning with Capt Jim and mate Dave. The seas were 2-3 feet, water was 79 degrees. visibility was about 60 feet, the current was interesting. First dive was outside of Clubhouse, second dive was at Briney Breezes. The first dive started with a trickle of north current that changed to a trickle south. I cut across the reef in essentially no current. On the inside the current was mile south, increasing as I went. I ended up diving a big U from outside to inside. The dive at Briney Breezes was a mild south current. I was a Hawksbill Turtle, nice Lemon Shark, few Green Morays, all the usual reef fish. Another group on the boat saw a Great Hammerhead, I was not so lucky.
So far, so good. i have 4 dives out of Boynton with Loggerhead tomorrow. Seas are said to continue at 2-3. I would like to dive Monday-Wednesday, the seas look to be increasing each of those days, we'll see.
Sorry I was tardy in posting, I was just too tired on Thursday and Friday to write
The airport in Philadelphia was not terribly busy, of course it was mid-week in the morning. Most everyone is wearing masks in the airport and on the plane. Some have trouble figuring out how to cover their nose. National Car rental was all masked. On my one trip to the grocery store, about half of the patrons at Winn Dixie were wearing maskes, I was. No masks at or on the boats.
Day 1 Diving, Dec 9
I did four dives with Jupiter Dive Center off Republic IV with Capt Tim. Troy and Brandon switched off at guide and mate. The seas were quite flat, water temp 79 degrees, mild to moderate north current, visibility of 60-80 feet. We dived North Juno Ledge, Capt Kirle's, Loggerhead, and Tunnels. There were several Reef Sharks, a good size Lemon Shark, several Goliath Grouper, many Southern Rays at Tunnels, a few Hawksbill at at least one Loggerhead, several Green Morays, and all the usual reef fish. At Tunnels, believe I saw a Batfish, will post some photos later.
Day 2 Diving, Dec 10
I did a 3 tanker out of Boynton Beach with Starfish with Capt Chris and mate Moty. Seas were again quite flat, water temp 79 degreees, mild north current, visibility 50-60 feet. We did Delray Ledges, a drift from Culverts to the Bud Bar, to the Tony, and outside of Black Condo (Tumbled Rocks) to the inside. Delray Ledges was covered in huge school of grunt and the usual reef fish. The second dive had a large Bull Shark that hung with us after Maureen shot a fish, we also had a couple of good sized Lemons stay with us for quite a while on the Bud Bar. The 3rd dive had a gorgeous free-swimming Green Moray, a Hawksbill, and a nice Lemon Shark.
Dive 3 of Diving, Dec 11
Did 2 tanks with Loggerhead out of Boynton Beach this morning with Capt Jim and mate Dave. The seas were 2-3 feet, water was 79 degrees. visibility was about 60 feet, the current was interesting. First dive was outside of Clubhouse, second dive was at Briney Breezes. The first dive started with a trickle of north current that changed to a trickle south. I cut across the reef in essentially no current. On the inside the current was mile south, increasing as I went. I ended up diving a big U from outside to inside. The dive at Briney Breezes was a mild south current. I was a Hawksbill Turtle, nice Lemon Shark, few Green Morays, all the usual reef fish. Another group on the boat saw a Great Hammerhead, I was not so lucky.
So far, so good. i have 4 dives out of Boynton with Loggerhead tomorrow. Seas are said to continue at 2-3. I would like to dive Monday-Wednesday, the seas look to be increasing each of those days, we'll see.
Sorry I was tardy in posting, I was just too tired on Thursday and Friday to write
