Blue Heron-caught by the tide

[TSandM]

I think the bottom line is that current can be scary, and not very much current can be very scary to a new diver. I can remember a very anxious dive when I was new, where I got frightened by current when the current was pushing me IN to shore. Water is very powerful, and getting in at the wrong time at a current-intensive site is at best an interesting experience. I called a dive once after less than three minutes, because we were in at the wrong time (not MY idea) and we had to wade a hundred yards or so to get back to our entry point.

We have a local site which is not known for being current sensitive, and which is extensively used for training, but every once in a while, it gets a quirky current that can be extremely strong. (We call it the "Redondo River".) It takes some experience to keep your wits about you, make use of all natural features you can to make headway, and keep your breathing under control.

If the dive shop apologized, it sounds as though either they did send these folks into the water at the wrong time, or they at least did not make it clear enough what the time parameters were. As a result, these guys got a sharp object lesson in the power of current. They may have learned things like: check with more than one source when you're asking for current information; check the site when you get there, to see if other divers are getting into the water (if they aren't, maybe they know something you don't); pay close attention to water movement, and head home BEFORE the current gets so strong you can't swim against it, and finally, that the surface often isn't the best place to be when you are fighting a current.

I hope the OP takes Cool Tech up on his offer. A lot of current-intensive sites are really fun to dive, because the water brings in nutrients that support a lot of life. If you pick the right time, these dives can be delightful, as a soft drift out and a soft drift back. But if Florida is anything like Puget Sound, you have to have a lot of information about the site to know just what the right time is.

 

[sportxlh]

From what she had stated they got into the water about 9:45 am with the intention of being on the shore by 10:30am....this is apparently where the problem started. Wrong Time to be in

now I understand the situation, though I get in an hour before high tide regularly: if the tide seems too strong, I just duck behind a bridge piling for a few minutes and watch or photograph whatever is in, on or around that piling. I realize that the current 1 hours and 15 minutes prior to high tide can make for current that is stiffer than even one hour prior to high tide. Too bad nobody experienced with bhb was with Mandy that could have suggested a similar routine to the one that I follow.

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

now I understand the situation, though I get in an hour before high tide regularly: if the tide seems too strong, I just duck behind a bridge piling for a few minutes and watch or photograph whatever is in, on or around that piling. I realize that the current 1 hours and 15 minutes prior to high tide can make for current that is stiffer than even one hour prior to high tide. Too bad nobody experienced with bhb was with Mandy that could have suggested a similar routine to the one that I follow.

But, that is the difference between us and other divers. We can dive the currents because we have developed the experience, knowledge and skills to do it.

Yes, I have dived the site at all hour of tide and made my own conclusions based on my "testing". But, I certainly would not subject a diver new to the site to those conditions. We often see divers being swept to the south on the outgoing tide (and drifting back into the shore), but we experienced BHB divers learned how to stay for another hour or longer. I would never recommend doing that with a diver new to the site... It's a recipe for trouble

 

[sportxlh]

Would a rip current be possible at BHB? I have never dove there so I am not familiar with its location.

not a rip current, but a ripping current. outside of slack tides, the water can move quite fast: almost like a river

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

This might help

What you are seeing are actual pictures of the area in question.

The picture on the left is the exact area between the big bridge and the fishing pier where the ladies were assisted. The picture on the right is from the fishing pier back to the shore where the left picture was taken.

The crude illustration shows how an incoming tide works around land through a channel and out the other side.

The "void" area is where there will be little or no tidal current after running through the channel
(NOTE: This is all reversed for an outgoing tide).

The red circle shows the area where the ladies were assisted and the blue area is closer to the channel itself.

Current will pull from the edge of a channel harder than it does toward the middle of the channel (displayed by the crude lines marked current). The pull will be stronger the closer one is to the channel and in close to shore.

The OP was caught up in this current and pulled down the first lane where it is strongest and they were assisted prior to going under the fishing pier (a side note that not everyone is aware... The water level just beyond the fishing pier quickly goes to 5' or less the closer you get to the east wall where the picnic areas are.)

That should at least help the discussion

 

[ScoobaDood]

This might help

What you are seeing are actual pictures of the area in question.

The picture on the left is the exact area between the big bridge and the fishing pier where the ladies were assisted. The picture on the right is from the fishing pier back to the shore where the left picture was taken.

The crude illustration shows how an incoming tide works around land through a channel and out the other side.

The "void" area is where there will be little or no tidal current after running through the channel
(NOTE: This is all reversed for an outgoing tide).

The red circle shows the area where the ladies were assisted and the blue area is closer to the channel itself.

Current will pull from the edge of a channel harder than it does toward the middle of the channel (displayed by the crude lines marked current). The pull will be stronger the closer one is to the channel and in close to shore.

The OP was caught up in this current and pulled down the first lane where it is strongest and they were assisted prior to going under the fishing pier (a side note that not everyone is aware... The water level just beyond the fishing pier quickly goes to 5' or less the closer you get to the east wall where the picnic areas are.)

That should at least help the discussion

Thanks for the pics and explanation...makes more sense now

 

[DandyDon]

not a rip current, but a ripping current. outside of slack tides, the water can move quite fast: almost like a river

Haha try the San Juans when Puget Sound is emptying or refilling. Rapids!

 

[D2Diver]

I haven't read every post so sorry if this is a repeat. Yesterday, my usual dive buddies saw 2 guys with pole spears (I think they were snorkeling). That upset them but what really angered them were the dead spade fish & barracuda they saw on the bottom. Senseless killing.

As for the the original posters upsetting news of being ignored I cannot understand that, but if it did happen that is very disturbing.

 

[snaphappy]

I am a 3rd generation native Floridian who does not understand why anyone would dive there due to tides, heavy boat traffic, frequent bacteria alerts, spooky neighborhood, etc.

1/2 mile to the east is some of the best diving in the world. I just got back from a spectacular day diving having seen turtles, a large hamerhead shark, a large school of cobia, groupers, snappers, etc., etc. etc.

When you return again hopefully, book some spots on an easy going boat charter and have a great ocean dive....

Yes, BUT...diving at the bridge offers some unique sightings of macro-sized creatures that aren't seen as readily as offshore. Many well-known photogs have come from miles around just to photograph the unusual fauna at the bridge.

In fact, the recently-released 'Sensational Seas Two' DVD features an awesome clip of 2 spawning frogfish that was filmed by Anna Deloach during a night dive at Phil Foster Park. I know because I was fortunate enough to have been with them on the dive!

Phil Foster Park rocks and I'll never tire of diving there! Robyn