Current Weather

[ajtoady]

Well I think my luck has something to do with the current cold and blowing winds. After planning this trip for three months, we are finally here. Currently in Ft. Lauderdale, have to go up to Blue Heron Bridge to dive due to winds. However have met Scuba Jenny and she will be guiding us. She is an outstanding person and a definite plus for anyone coming to the area!!! Next two days will more than likely be watching the waves and wind from the beach in Key Largo. But hey it's better than below zero temps in upstate NY. Hope to get a few dives in Key Largo but want shallower due to my newly certed daughter. Who or Whom would you recommend for that? Thanks, Tony

 

[rhwestfall]

-7 here Tony, with a possible high of 7. Wind chill is putting us at -30 to -40. Snowfall in the Lake Zone is 1"-2"/hour, and the 90 Mainline, 400, and 219 are closed. Sunny here on the Island, but your old home is under siege. Colleen said it bad there, with visibility about 50'. Looks pretty bad off the east end of Ontario (Tug Hill) too. enjoy your absence from this.

 

[DiverAmy]

I don't know who to recommend in Key Largo. I usually go out with Conch Republic when I am down there. Bad timing on the weather. I have picked some bad weeks for liveaboards, so I feel ya'. Diving the BHB is always an adventure though, enjoy!

 

[mselenaous]

Scuba Jenny is great

Sorry that someone up north let this mean weather out the barn gate.

Looking at the forecast I'm not sure you'll be able to get out...or if you do that it will be much fun in high seas.
When the seas are this wavy, if you do choose to go out, go on the biggest boats that are the most stable: Ocean Divers, Conch Republic, Horizon Divers, Rainbow Reef all have large stable boats.
If these boats do go out, they may limit to experienced divers.

Here is the current forecast (remember it is a prediction and could be off by a bit and is always being re-forecasted):

TONIGHTNORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS NEAR 25 KNOTS. SEAS 6 TO 9 FEET.
SCATTERED SHOWERS.

WEDNESDAY
NORTHEAST WINDS 20 TO 25 KNOTS. SEAS 5 TO 8 FEET.
SCATTERED SHOWERS.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT
NORTHEAST TO EAST WINDS NEAR 20 KNOTS. SEAS
5 TO 8 FEET. SCATTERED SHOWERS.

THURSDAY
NORTHEAST TO EAST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. SEAS 4 TO 7
FEET. SCATTERED SHOWERS.

THURSDAY NIGHT
EAST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. SEAS 4 TO 6 FEET.
SCATTERED SHOWERS.

FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT
EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS.
SEAS 4 TO 6 FEET. ISOLATED SHOWERS.

SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT
SOUTHEAST WINDS NEAR 15 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET. ISOLATED SHOWERS.

Personally I don't take students/guides in seas greater than 3-5ft as it's just not safe on the surface, getting off and back on the boat, and the ride isn't much fun.

There are 2 alternatives, not as pretty as our coral reefs, but both protected from winds and high seas.
1-Pennekamp Park Cannon Beach - 18ft max, silty laid out easy to navigate viz around 15ft. There are 1715 canons and a wall of little critters. We've seen some surprises there too - manatee, dolphin, nurse shark, sting ray. Admission is cheap by the car load. You will need to rent tanks/weights.
2-Jules Undersea Lodge - set up as a dive park to support the underwater hotel, there are platforms, and various items on the bottom. You can look inside the hotel windows. Viz is also about 15-20ft and when the seas are like this, all of the local shops end up taking students there for their check out dives. Admission is $37.50 and tanks/weights extra to rent as well as hot showers.

In the interim, let me know when/where you are in town and maybe meetup for or break bread.

---------- Post added January 7th, 2014 at 05:14 PM ----------

You do have the option to head over to Crystal River to see manatees where the conditions are not impacted by weather like in Key Largo. The colder the weather, the more manatess in the warm (70deg) springs.

 

[scallop]

If the weather improves and you are looking for a 6 pack I can heartily recommend Sailfish Scuba. They put a dive guide in the water with you and take photos of your group. You get the disc at the end of the dive to keep. Great friendly service for sure. Jen and Chris will take care of you. They will also mix snorkelers in with you if some of your people do not dive. Snorks get a in water photo guide as well.

 

[Humpinit]

Well I think my luck has something to do with the current cold and blowing winds. After planning this trip for three months, we are finally here. Currently in Ft. Lauderdale, have to go up to Blue Heron Bridge to dive due to winds. However have met Scuba Jenny and she will be guiding us. She is an outstanding person and a definite plus for anyone coming to the area!!! Next two days will more than likely be watching the waves and wind from the beach in Key Largo. But hey it's better than below zero temps in upstate NY. Hope to get a few dives in Key Largo but want shallower due to my newly certed daughter. Who or Whom would you recommend for that? Thanks, Tony

Rainbow Reef. My 12 year old son and I did our open water there and it was a great experience. Their website has up to date buoy reports and on location conditions.

 

[iluvtheocean]

my vote would be for rainbow reef if you go out -- i'm staying inside as much as possible right now -- cold & wet weather like this i'll take a cup of hot chocolate & my remaining 1/2 rack of ribs from Scrubys BBQ

Elena, I'll wave as we drive past friday on our way down to the Celtic Festival in Marathon.

 

[ajtoady]

OK, So the weather for my trip well........................it has been AWFUL!!! However.... got to dive with Scuba_Jenny>>>>>>>>>an absolute definite PLUS!!!!!!! Got to have diner,,,,,and meet and talk to mselenaous and the one and only Netdoc!!!! Great people!!! Currently in Key West and I think the weather may finally change to sunny skies tomorrow!!! YIPPPEEE!!! Heading north towards Lake Placid, FL for a few and hope to get a manatee dive-snorkel in! May decide to head over to Ft. Lauderdale and try again if the weather looks OK. We'll See.

 

[Katch]

Do you know if any of those Key West shops have their boats back in the water (Southpoint and Capt Corner)?

 

[scubadada]

Scuba Jenny is great

Sorry that someone up north let this mean weather out the barn gate.

Looking at the forecast I'm not sure you'll be able to get out...or if you do that it will be much fun in high seas.
When the seas are this wavy, if you do choose to go out, go on the biggest boats that are the most stable: Ocean Divers, Conch Republic, Horizon Divers, Rainbow Reef all have large stable boats.
If these boats do go out, they may limit to experienced divers.

Here is the current forecast (remember it is a prediction and could be off by a bit and is always being re-forecasted):


Personally I don't take students/guides in seas greater than 3-5ft as it's just not safe on the surface, getting off and back on the boat, and the ride isn't much fun.

There are 2 alternatives, not as pretty as our coral reefs, but both protected from winds and high seas.
1-Pennekamp Park Cannon Beach - 18ft max, silty laid out easy to navigate viz around 15ft. There are 1715 canons and a wall of little critters. We've seen some surprises there too - manatee, dolphin, nurse shark, sting ray. Admission is cheap by the car load. You will need to rent tanks/weights.
2-Jules Undersea Lodge - set up as a dive park to support the underwater hotel, there are platforms, and various items on the bottom. You can look inside the hotel windows. Viz is also about 15-20ft and when the seas are like this, all of the local shops end up taking students there for their check out dives. Admission is $37.50 and tanks/weights extra to rent as well as hot showers.

In the interim, let me know when/where you are in town and maybe meetup for or break bread.

---------- Post added January 7th, 2014 at 05:14 PM ----------

You do have the option to head over to Crystal River to see manatees where the conditions are not impacted by weather like in Key Largo. The colder the weather, the more manatess in the warm (70deg) springs.

In my experience, if OD does not go out, it is not safe.