Went to the bridge for diving this past Thursday May 15. Arrived at 0820 for a 1041 high tide. Water temp was 80f. Visibility was 30ft with a bit of green mixed in with the blue. The park was not crowded. Went snorkeling on the trail to do a REEF survey prior to diving. REEF survey yielded 54 species in 45 minutes. Nothing out of the ordinary to report on the snorkel trail.
Parking lot had of course gotten more filled but still plenty of parking for those wanting it. After snorkeling returned to the truck and got into scuba gear. Entered the westside at 0955. I did not venture to the south like have been lately. Instead made a sharp 180 turn and drifted through that area I refer to as the "ditch". Hid behind the north bridge pilings and observed two shells suspicious shells i.e. not native to Florida (as far as I know). One shell was occupied by a Giant Hermit Crab. It looked like a Longspine Sea Urchin was guarding the other shell, but the urchin was probably just coincidentally bumping up against it.
Crossed under the fishing pier to meander around in the algae beds, just north of the pier. After a while meandered back under the pier, than back under the bridge and moved west to that area next to the channel barrier. Circled around the "wall" piling, and than headed back east to my entrance point. Total time of dive 130 minutes. Was in my 3mm with a hooded vest and was definitely chilled well by the end of the dive. Respectively Juvenile Cocoa Damsel, Lionfish, Suspicious Shell 1, Suspicious Shell 2, Tiger Goby, and Identify The Fish Video.
Parking lot had of course gotten more filled but still plenty of parking for those wanting it. After snorkeling returned to the truck and got into scuba gear. Entered the westside at 0955. I did not venture to the south like have been lately. Instead made a sharp 180 turn and drifted through that area I refer to as the "ditch". Hid behind the north bridge pilings and observed two shells suspicious shells i.e. not native to Florida (as far as I know). One shell was occupied by a Giant Hermit Crab. It looked like a Longspine Sea Urchin was guarding the other shell, but the urchin was probably just coincidentally bumping up against it.
Crossed under the fishing pier to meander around in the algae beds, just north of the pier. After a while meandered back under the pier, than back under the bridge and moved west to that area next to the channel barrier. Circled around the "wall" piling, and than headed back east to my entrance point. Total time of dive 130 minutes. Was in my 3mm with a hooded vest and was definitely chilled well by the end of the dive. Respectively Juvenile Cocoa Damsel, Lionfish, Suspicious Shell 1, Suspicious Shell 2, Tiger Goby, and Identify The Fish Video.
. Looks like a juvenile french angel passed behind the damsel in the video.
