Fort Pickens night dive

[mrmccoy]

What would I have to do in order to make a night dive at fort pickens if I am camping there?

 

[Hetland]

What would I have to do in order to make a night dive at fort pickens if I am campin there?

1. make sure the tides are right.
2. tie a marker light to your tank.
3. carry a dive flag (I often put a marker light on my flag as well)

Bonus: turn off your light at some point and wave your hand through the water for a neat show of green lights

 

[sontek]

If you have never dove Ft.Pickens before I'd suggest doing it once during the day to get a feel for where everything is, its a great site with lots to see but also very easy to get turned around and not find anything.

Past that, the night dives are great and for the past 2 weeks I've seen an octopus on every night dive there, they seem to be hanging down around 30-40ft near the rebar shelf and pipe organ.

There is really nothing out past 40ft so if you start getting too deep just turn around and head south until you get back up to shallower grounds.

I like to attach a bike reflector to my dive flag so boats can see it even at night and then a marker light attached to your tie-in spot so that you can easily make it back to the flag (if you decide not to tow it with you).

 

[Hetland]

I like to attach a bike reflector to my dive flag so boats can see it even at night and then a marker light attached to your tie-in spot so that you can easily make it back to the flag (if you decide not to tow it with you).

Great Ideas!

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

1. make sure the tides are right.
2. tie a marker light to your tank.
3. carry a dive flag (I often put a marker light on my flag as well)

Bonus: turn off your light at some point and wave your hand through the water for a neat show of green lights

I never really thought #2 was helpfull at all, but definately #3 and you might want to toss a glowstick at your entry/exit as well.

 

[mrmccoy]

I thought they locked the gates at dark to get to the dive site. Isn't there a night owl pass I would need or is that only required for non campers?

 

[Hetland]

I never really thought #2 was helpfull at all, but definately #3 and you might want to toss a glowstick at your entry/exit as well.

#2 is in case you have to surface away from the flag. Might not keep a boat from running you down, but the possibility is enough to keep me using it.

I thought they locked the gates at dark to get to the dive site. Isn't there a night owl pass I would need or is that only required for non campers?

Campers are okay w/o a night owl pass.

 

[mrmccoy]

I may be heading that way next weekend if everything works out. High tide is about 8am but it isn't a big tide change so I could make an early morning dive. The high tide for friday is 3:50 so I will be able to make a dive Friday afternoon then do an early dive Saturday morning.
Nothing is set in stone yet but it should be by the weekend.
Anybody want to wake up that early Saturday morning?

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

#2 is in case you have to surface away from the flag. Might not keep a boat from running you down, but the possibility is enough to keep me using it.

You'll hear a boat before they'll see you.

 

[sontek]

I thought they locked the gates at dark to get to the dive site. Isn't there a night owl pass I would need or is that only required for non campers?

The gates have been open every night I've been there but I have heard rumors about them starting to close them... as soon as they start closing them I'll get my owl pass