Dive Buddy Saint Andrews for 2/2 of March

[Viron]

I'm a newbe looking for a shore dive buddy for Saint Andrews in March around the 22nd-25th. The times of the high tide look favorable around those dates. I'm flexible as this will be a dive stop on a road trip to California.

At this moment I only have OW and NITROX certifications as of 12/29/15 under my belt with six OW boat dives drifting reefs in Pompano and Jupiter. By the time I go to Saint Andrews I should have my AOW and a few more dives. I've did 70'-75' on my last OW out of Jupiter.

Diving a new place it would be good to have someone who has been there before. Especially for a newbe.

 

[Viron]

I'm a newbe looking for a shore dive buddy for Saint Andrews in March around the 22nd-25th. The times of the high tide look favorable around those dates. I'm flexible as this will be a dive stop on a road trip to California.

At this moment I only have OW and NITROX certifications as of 12/29/15 under my belt with six OW boat dives drifting reefs in Pompano and Jupiter. By the time I go to Saint Andrews I should have my AOW and a few more dives. I've did 70'-75' on my last OW out of Jupiter.

Diving a new place it would be good to have someone who has been there before. Especially for a newbe.

I sort of like the idea of going out with the tide and rounding the jetty and exiting beach side. To do that I would probably have to be in the water 20-30 minutes before the tide turns. That would leave about 30 minutes to drift out and exit.

 

[Wayward Son]

I've never done that. It's a pretty good walk from that part of the beach to where you'll be parked.

if you miss the turn, on an outgoing tide you'll be on your way to cuba...

You're also required to have a dive flag.

 

[Wayward Son]

also, I haven't done this either, but some people hike their gear out to the beach side & put in there. Go around the end of the jetty & drift the incoming high tide back to the rocks by the kiddie pool & exit there.

again, that's a pretty good walk to the beach when geared up.

 

[Viron]

I've never done that. It's a pretty good walk from that part of the beach to where you'll be parked.

if you miss the turn, on an outgoing tide you'll be on your way to cuba...

You're also required to have a dive flag.

That is the downside of exiting on the beach,... the long walk home to the car. Unless I enter and exit the same spot the walk will still happen. As I like to drift I will probably have a walk.

If I have a partner I drop gear at the pavilion for entry and then move the car closer to the beach for exit.

The more obvious problem seems to be the slack tide being about an hour before high tide peaks, so it will be running the wrong way unless I drift in then out with the tide. I'll probably only have 1.5 hrs bottom time on an aluminum 80.

 

[Viron]

I've now gotten 14 dives under my belt and my AOW.

Due to tide considerations I've move my St Andrews dive to 4/9. The tides are much more favorable. Entry into the passage should be between 9:30-10:30am. High tide is about 11:30. Slack is supposed to be 1-2 hours before peak high tide.