Trip Report Florida 25 #2

[scubadada]

I flew down from Philadelphia yesterday. The Philadelphia airport was quiet and not very busy, I guess Easter Sunday is not a busy travel day. The terminal in Palm Beach seemed very crowded but much of it is probably due to gate closures and other closures due to extensive construction. Besides wanting to dive, I needed to come down to fetch my gear for a two week trip to Bonaire with my wife starting May 7.

I went out on a reef 3 tanker this morning out of Jupiter with JDC. They are still leaveing from their old location, I see no active contruction going on in the lot. I went out on Republic IV, Capt Ryan, guide Brandon and mate Brandon. There were only 5 divers on the boat.

The first dive was on Scarface, the second on Capt MIke's, and the third on Tunnels. Sea conditions were better than I expected, started off 2-4 and decreased to 2-3, some smaller. The water temperature was 77-78 degrees. Visibility was around 70 feet or so on the first 2 dives, decreased to about 40 feet at Tunnels. There was a very mild north current.

Saw a couple of lemon sharks, a couple of bull sharks, several reef sharks, many nurse sharks, especially on Capt Mike's, a couple of loggerheads, several goliath grouper, most on Tunnels, a couple of green morays, and the usual reef fish.

A very good start to my short visit, I have plans to dive in Palm Beach tomorrow through Thursday.

 

[scubadada]

I went out with Walker's Charters out of Riviera Beach this morning for a 2 tank reef dive. Capt Bill, guide/mates Mike and Andrea. It was a mostly sunny morning with light wind. The seas were 2-3, occasionally bigger going out, decreased to around 2 by the end of the trip. There were only four divers on the boat today.

Our first dive was on Flower Gardens and the second was on Breakers. Water temp was 77 degrees, mild north current on first dive, moderate on the second. Visibility at Flower Gardens was 60+ feet, 40+ feet on Breakers.

On Flower Gardens there was a mating pair of loggerheads and a solitary hawksbill, There was a small school of squid, green and s;potted morays, lobster, crabs, nice giant anemones, some with shrimp, and all the usual reef fish.

Breakers had a large lemon shark, a very large loggerhead under an overhang, a beautiful purple giant anemone with a couple of small yellowline arrow crabs, green and spotted morays, lobster, crab, and all the usual reef fish. The end of the dive was really spectacular, only Andrea and I were left. There was a huge school of grunt, a veritable river of fish, farther than you could see or than we swam. There was a giant southern ray in the sand that paid no attention to us. On the ascent, there was a massive school of spadefish to entertain us up to the safety stop.

Wonderful dives today of 60 and 62 minutes

@gamon

 

[Johnoly]

The Philadelphia airport was quiet and not very busy,

Alot of people are holding off on travel plans after the hit to the market. Rates on hotel rooms are dropping with some good deals starting now. Thanks for the conditions reports !!

 

[scubadada]

Two dives today with Walker's Charters out of Riviera Beach. Mostly sunny day, light wind. Capt JT, guide Mike, mate Sarah. Seas were 2-3 feet. There were 10 divers on the boat today, not very crowded, the boat is well organized.

First dive was on Tear Drop and second was on Breakers. Water temp was 76-77 degrees with a mild north current. Visibility was not quite as good as yesterday, around 40+ feet.

Nice sea life again today. Several nurse sharks, several loggerheads, a nice golliath group on Breakers, a couple of sailfin blennies and many yellowhead jawfish in the 1st sand jump at Tear Drop, a giant hermit crab in a tulip shell and massive school of grunts and spadefish at the end of Breakers, as well as all the usual reef fish.

Another great day diving, both dives 60 min.

 

[Chrisk919]

There were only 5 divers on the boat.

I dove with JDC and Pura Vida last week. Very similar conditions - and it was nice to have some room on the boat.

Still need to go back through my 'deep' photos and see if anything turned out well enough to post.