Blue Heron Bridge Trolls III

[tarponchik]

How has the diving been lately? I haven't been there since the east span was under construction and all that was available was the beach entry swimming west out and around the pier. We are tentatively planning a dive there tomorrow to hit the 3:15 pm high tide and will be driving in from Brevard County. If someone doesn't mind perhaps answering a few questions? Thanks.

Whats the best plan or best way to dive this spot now?
What is the park capacity/parking situation generally like on a Friday afternoon?
How has the viz been recently?
Is anyone else planning to dive tomorrow (Friday 6/18) that wouldn't mind tagging up with me and a friend?

I did the west span in May. One thing I can say is parking is tough. Even if you come Friday at noon, your chances to find a parking spot inside the park are very low. If you are coming with a friend, be prepared to unload your gear, then one of you drives out of the park, parks elsewhere and hikes back.

 

[OneRestlessNative]

Thanks @tarponchik (does that work on this forum?) We havent solidified actual plans but we should be able to get there plenty early. If we happen not to find parking where is a safe place to park that I wont get towed? I assume its a beach entry for the east span as well? Is there time to dive the east and west or should we focus on one or the other? Thanks again.

 

[tarponchik]

Thanks @tarponchik (does that work on this forum?) We havent solidified actual plans but we should be able to get there plenty early. If we happen not to find parking where is a safe place to park that I wont get towed? I assume its a beach entry for the east span as well? Is there time to dive the east and west or should we focus on one or the other? Thanks again.

I park further east, by 7-11. Do 1 span at a time, I suggest. Be aware that if you dive the east span, the boats go under the bridge there sometimes.

 

[J__o__e__]

My son and I recently got our OW certs done, we did a simple dive at Alexander Springs last week and were thinking about hitting blue heron bridge this weekend. How much does the wind affect diving here?

 

[Jaan]

Wind has never been a factor there for us, its a well sheltered area.
Just be sure to follow the tide table timing your dives with that, as the currents can be strong outside of those windows. For weekends, you want to get there early also for parking.
Enjoy and congrats on the OW !!

 

[J__o__e__]

Wind has never been a factor there for us, its a well sheltered area.
Just be sure to follow the tide table timing your dives with that, as the currents can be strong outside of those windows. For weekends, you want to get there early also for parking.
Enjoy and congrats on the OW !!

Thanks for the quick reply. We are planning on leaving Orlando around 5am, hopefully in the parking lot by 830ish, high tide should be 10:06.

 

[scubadada]

Thanks for the quick reply. We are planning on leaving Orlando around 5am, hopefully in the parking lot by 830ish, high tide should be 10:06.

Weekends can be very crowded, be prepared, you can't get there too early.

 

[Soloist]

Weekends can be very crowded, be prepared, you can't get there too early.

Recently we arrived to discover that not only all of the convenient parking places were taken, but ALL of the parking places were taken! So this is very good advice. It will also limit the disdain from the wife for not having your sh*t together when it’s time to leave.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

The first time I ever tried to dive the bridge I drove 2.5 hours, arrived 2 hrs before high tide … no dice. The park was completely full and soon closed. If it’s a weekend you’ve got to get there at least two hours before dive time if not earlier. Of late the Bridge has been super busy most weekdays too I hear.

 

[Jcp2]

We are going to use a guide from Pura Vida. The high tide for when we want to go is in the afternoon, but the guide parks at the park in the morning with everything that we are renting in the car, and we’ll walk from the Pura Vida parking lot.