- Messages
- 20,353
- Reaction score
- 19,575
- Location
- Philadelphia and Boynton Beach
- # of dives
- 1000 - 2499
So, it's been a pretty long time, 102 days, since I've been diving from my home in Florida. I had a couple of medical issues to work through, now I'm quite healthy.
The trip down from Philadelphia was far from smooth on American Airlines. I got to the airport and was notified our plane had been replaced due to maintenance issues. The replacement came in and was also cancelled due to maintenance issues. We switched gates and a 3rd plane landed. It was delayed also due to maintenance issues but eventually took off and brought me to Palm Beach Intl Airport. The rental car from National and the trip home were uneventful. A trip to Winn Dixie and I was ready to dive.
My first dive was to be a 3 tanker with Jupiter Dive Center including a first dive on Deep Ledge. Unfortunately, JDC called me about 5 PM and told me there were not enough divers on the 3 tanker to run, I was moved to the morning 2 tanker.
My 30 mile drive up to Jupiter was not too bad, early morning traffic on 95 continues to increase. The boat was full, 18 divers I think, it was pretty crowded. People bring a lot of stuff, probably more than is needed. My friends put me near the stern, I did not have to deal with most of the divers.
The seas were essentially flat and glassy. Water temperature was 75 degrees, I was just warm enough in my 3 mm full suit and 5/3 mm hooded vest. Many folks in less protective gear were cold, several shivering during the surface interval. I should have worn my 5 mm. There was a very mild north current, visibility was about 40 feet.
Brad was captain, Darby was the guide, Adam served as mate. In the 15 years I've used JDC, this is the first time I've seen Adam on the boat. He is a fantastic mate, perhaps the best, as good as Ryan before he became captain. Our first dive was at Scarface, the second at Loggerhead. There was nothing remakable, a single large Nurse Shark, a couple of Goliath Grouper, no sharks, no turtles, but all of the usual reef fish.
It was great to get back in the water. I'm be doing a 2 tanker with Starfish out of Boynton in the morning.
The trip down from Philadelphia was far from smooth on American Airlines. I got to the airport and was notified our plane had been replaced due to maintenance issues. The replacement came in and was also cancelled due to maintenance issues. We switched gates and a 3rd plane landed. It was delayed also due to maintenance issues but eventually took off and brought me to Palm Beach Intl Airport. The rental car from National and the trip home were uneventful. A trip to Winn Dixie and I was ready to dive.
My first dive was to be a 3 tanker with Jupiter Dive Center including a first dive on Deep Ledge. Unfortunately, JDC called me about 5 PM and told me there were not enough divers on the 3 tanker to run, I was moved to the morning 2 tanker.
My 30 mile drive up to Jupiter was not too bad, early morning traffic on 95 continues to increase. The boat was full, 18 divers I think, it was pretty crowded. People bring a lot of stuff, probably more than is needed. My friends put me near the stern, I did not have to deal with most of the divers.
The seas were essentially flat and glassy. Water temperature was 75 degrees, I was just warm enough in my 3 mm full suit and 5/3 mm hooded vest. Many folks in less protective gear were cold, several shivering during the surface interval. I should have worn my 5 mm. There was a very mild north current, visibility was about 40 feet.
Brad was captain, Darby was the guide, Adam served as mate. In the 15 years I've used JDC, this is the first time I've seen Adam on the boat. He is a fantastic mate, perhaps the best, as good as Ryan before he became captain. Our first dive was at Scarface, the second at Loggerhead. There was nothing remakable, a single large Nurse Shark, a couple of Goliath Grouper, no sharks, no turtles, but all of the usual reef fish.
It was great to get back in the water. I'm be doing a 2 tanker with Starfish out of Boynton in the morning.