East Central Florida

[aquascooter]

Hi All,

I'm looking for info for folks who dive out of Ponce Inlet and Port Canaveral. Got some questions about the area and didn't see any spcific links.

Thanks
Chuck

 

[cudachaser]

What questions do you have? I can probably help you with Port Canaveral

 

[aquascooter]

hows the diving? Becuase its a bit further of a run it sounds like the sites may not get as much traffic? Where can i find info on vis for the port and ponce? How does spearfishing compare with south fl?

Sorry for all the questions.

chuck

 

[cudachaser]

It's about a 20 mile run out of Port Canaveral. Since the Gulf Stream is about 30 miles out conditions are not nearly as good south Florida...probably an average of 60 good days a year. Visibilities can be top to bottom but 15ft is more average. In mid summer a thermocline comes in. Surface water temps will be in the low 80's, bottom temps can drop 10 to 30 degrees below that.

The reefs are coquina ledges in 80 to 140 of water. The upwelling provides nutrients for animal life. Fish and lobster are much larger then what you would expect in South Florida. It is a mecca for spearfishing and lobstering.

There are no commercial dive charters out of Port Canaveral because it is too cost prohibitive (fuel, #of good days, insurance). The "Fishing & Diving Center" in Cape Canaveral services most of the divers out of Port Canaveral.

There is a weather buoy 20 miles off Cape Canaveral

Hope this helps

Joe

 

[aquascooter]

Hi Joe,

Thank you for the info. Do you happen to have some coodinates for the sites or do you suggest the Port Authotity Dive sites? I was east of the port fishing this weekend and passed a number of wrecks in about 100-130ft of water. (PA#2, steel sailboat, concrete pile). Not much on the top of the water but it looked like a frenzy on the bottom machine.

Chuck

 

[cudachaser]

I would speak to George at the Fishing & Diving Center. He usually works there on the weekends. The # is 321-783-3477