After 3 dives at Jackson Blue, I was already feeling pretty well beat for the day but still had another dive left planned. Hide Tide in Destin was for around 9:15ish and we planned for a meet time at 8:30. Marvin and I made it by 7PM and rstone was already there, shortly afterwards GLENFWB and cmufieldhockey8 showed up. All of us well early of the meet time. After alot of BS on the side of the road and no effects from redtide(which has apparently moved offshore), we geared up and made our way to the water. Air temps were around 65F and water temps were 71F(a bit cooler than P'cola surf reports quoted 75F - oh yes, I'm passing the buck!). Waters were super calm, but the channel still had a bit of current - not much compared to this years average though.
Visibility was quite nice, 20-30' easily with very little particulate and lots of bioluminescense. While there were some fish washed up on the beach, reminants from the redtide(?), lots of life still lined the jetties. Most prominant were the mangrove snapper and blue fish feeding constantly. Tons of flounder littered the bottom like throwrugs while puffers, filefish, trigger, grouper, toadfish, pinfish were still quite numerous. We also came upon a few red drum, including one large 26+" bullred cruising the jetties. Crabs were numerous as well, lots of small stone crabs, but also a few blues! Some new rubbles has been uncovered past the anchor, with a little luck, this trend will follow and we'll get the shell bed back. Great dive, lasted 41 minutes with a max depth of 55'. I dove a 1/2mm and was a bit chilly - way more chilly in open air though! Still lots to see at the jetties, makes for a great night dive! I found a snorkel - whoopy?
A couple of us hit a Waffle House in Destin on the way out, the hot chocolate hit the spot and that food never tasted better! Course, it was pretty much the only eating establishment open
Great pics Glen!
