Blue Heron Bridge Trolls III

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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.

05-15-25 Juvenile Cocoa Damsel.jpg
05-15-25 Lionfish.jpg
05-15-25 Suspicious Shell Occupied.jpg
05-15-25 Suspicious Shell Unoccupied1.jpg
05-15-25 Tiger Goby.jpg


 
Hi @Pipehorse

The video quiz is a really great idea, I hope you will continue it. I passed this one, the only fish I didn't really know was the juvenile cocoa damsel, but you gave us the answer earlier in the post :). Looks like a juvenile french angel passed behind the damsel in the video.

Most appreciatively, Craig
 
The water quality has been looking pretty nice lately. Get in on it before the heavy rains come & the locks start getting opened again.
 
and Identify The Fish Video
I only got the lionfish right in the quiz, lol. But we shorten and give fish nicknames when we laugh among the shaft divers. Like cobia=mud shark, red grouper=firetruck, lobster=bugs, flounder=doormats, so that's why there's books, websites and especially @Pipehorse to help us slow learners.

Great picts as always!
& the locks start getting opened again.
Lk Okee's normal level for this month is 15 feet. It's down to 9 feet. I hope we don't have a bad summer of water shortages cause it's really low.
 
I only got the lionfish right in the quiz, lol. But we shorten and give fish nicknames when we laugh among the shaft divers. Like cobia=mud shark, red grouper=firetruck, lobster=bugs, flounder=doormats, so that's why there's books, websites and especially @Pipehorse to help us slow learners.

Great picts as always!

Lk Okee's normal level for this month is 15 feet. It's down to 9 feet. I hope we don't have a bad summer of water shortages cause it's really low.
I remember that you got hammerhead and eagle ray correct once :)
 
We're coming down near the end of June to dive the BHB and I'm hoping to get some clarification on park hours...

The Parks & Rec page indicates "sunrise to sunset", but various other sources seem to indicate that it's 7a-7p. On June 22nd statutory Sunset seems to be 8:16pm. The tide charts seem to indicate that high-tide is around 6:30 that evening, so is it feasible to get in a dive on that day?
 
We're coming down near the end of June to dive the BHB and I'm hoping to get some clarification on park hours...

The Parks & Rec page indicates "sunrise to sunset", but various other sources seem to indicate that it's 7a-7p. On June 22nd statutory Sunset seems to be 8:16pm. The tide charts seem to indicate that high-tide is around 6:30 that evening, so is it feasible to get in a dive on that day?
Park is technically open sunrise to sunset, but in practice it never closes. There’s no gate & I believe boats can launch 24x7. I’ve arrived well before sunrise for an early high tide and have never had an issue. As long as you’re not causing problems, no one seems to care.

A 6:30 pm high tide with 8:16 pm sunset, you can absolutely get in a full 2 hr dive, exit the water at 7:30 pm and be out of the park by sunset.
 
We're coming down near the end of June to dive the BHB and I'm hoping to get some clarification on park hours...

The Parks & Rec page indicates "sunrise to sunset", but various other sources seem to indicate that it's 7a-7p. On June 22nd statutory Sunset seems to be 8:16pm. The tide charts seem to indicate that high-tide is around 6:30 that evening, so is it feasible to get in a dive on that day?
The fishing pier is open late. The boat ramps are open 24hours. The park never really closes. The swimming area probably closes when the life guards go home. That's just from having spent time there. I haven't actually read the official rules lately.
 
From the county website:
HOURS

  • beach and playground: Sunrise-Sunset
  • boat ramps: 24-hour Boat Trailer Parking Permit Required ($10 daily permit available onsite)
    • 24-hour ramp access and parking available, boat trailer and tow vehicle parking permitted (24-hour period maximum). Boaters requiring more extended stay periods must utilize alternate parking location.
  • fishing pier: Sunrise - 10:00 pm
 

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