Blue Heron Bridge Trolls

[oceanbound]

I hadn't logged on in a while and this was just the info I was looking for Thanks! Hope to see everyone. I hate we hadn't been down there much this year but work actually got in the way the past few months. Sucks to have to work to pay to dive. Jim is there another thread to say who is attending and what to bring?

I was actually trying to respond to Cool Tech's post about the Saturday after Thanksgiving but guess I hadn't been here in so long I have forgot how to use the boards apologies

 

[olyvtx]

Thanks...Im hoping to find some colorful critters out here in the warm water too.
i'll admit...i thought the water would be more 'blue' out here...plenty of green water in Puget Sound and the intercoastal waterway looks very similar.

You have some amazingly colorful pics on yer web sites from out west. How do those critters stay alive in water that cold??

Kevin

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Remember we have had wind for the past few days that's really churned things up. Add in all the rain we've had which creates run off, it's a given we have green water and low vis. With a few day of minimal wind and no rain runoff, the water will be blue again. Not like the Caribbean, but it gets blue.

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Sheesh! Again???
(and a few of us were planning on diving there in the morning)

Fecal matter in water: No swimming at Phil Foster Park because of fecal bacteria, officials say - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

 

[danvolker]

Sheesh! Again???
(and a few of us were planning on diving there in the morning)

Fecal matter in water: No swimming at Phil Foster Park because of fecal bacteria, officials say - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

IGNORE this nonsense....the testing they do is done at peak low tide, in inch deep water where the waves hit the beach....Force E and I have tested the BHB area many times when they had reported no swimming levels in the past, and each time it was very clean water around high tide --- which is when we dive....With the huge flow of clean water coming in from the inlet mouth, the BHB area is essentially like the ocean during high tide....at peak low tide, the funky water from the canals, from the Loxahatche, from lawn runoff, and agricultural runoff, all contribute to bad water being pushed by the bridge area as you approach low tide....
Another reason "NOT" to dive the BHB at low tide

 

[guyharrisonphoto]

Dan,

Wasn't there an issue with fecal bacteria around the east bridge where the new pilings were sunk? I remember you reporting something on that, and also that it was not an issue at high tide when the clean ocean water swept in. Maybe the new bridge construction cracked a sewer line? Is the city or county looking into that?

Will Force E test the water at high tide so that everyone can have a comfort level?

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Thanks Dan, you confirmed what I was hoping. I thought I recalled you and Force E doing some testing and thought that was what the results were, but not sure. The newspaper article kinda surprised me.. been planning this dive for a week now.. sigh..

 

[scubajim 1]

Unless your immune system is severely compromised you will not have issues with diving the bridge during hi tide or even at low. I dove the east side today and am still the crust-looking hard core dude you all know and love.

Viz wasn't too bad about 30 feet but really closed down with the tide change. Saw a nice shortfin pipefish , a sea robin and lots of upside down jellies. I was weighting my drysuit with my BP/W so didn't bring the camera...turns out I could have brought two cameras cause after 5 minutes of playing with lead my bouyancy was dialed in almost exactly. But boy was I covered in sweat when I got out.
See you there Friday.

 

[danvolker]

Dan,

Wasn't there an issue with fecal bacteria around the east bridge where the new pilings were sunk? I remember you reporting something on that, and also that it was not an issue at high tide when the clean ocean water swept in. Maybe the new bridge construction cracked a sewer line? Is the city or county looking into that?

Will Force E test the water at high tide so that everyone can have a comfort level?

It is true we found what must be a small leak on the east span near shore, where you can get a small measure of e coli at low tide, or if you stayed right next to the leak in the pipe, probably even at slack high tide...when the current is moving, it dilutes the pollution source so much that you can't get a reading of any thing significant......If you have concerns, but still want to do the east span, do it WHILE the tide is coming in...this is when it will be cleanest....every where else on the west side , it is a non issue.

And no, the city does not want to hear about it, don't believe there is a leak, and the construction company even claimed they did zero hammering into the area that could have resulted in a crack.....I could swear I remember the pile driving for almost a month, but I guess they figure we all have short memories...

 

[olyvtx]

Got to the bridge this am and the water looked a lot clearer. Saw some cool stuff...saw a good size ray but he took off before i could get close enough for a pic.

Man, the moon jellies grow big down here! In Seattle area they are about 6" max and all white....