Fort Pierce-Pepper Park

[SmokeAire]

A few of us drove over to Pepper Park about a two months ago to do some beach dives at Pepper Park. When we arrived the waves looked a bit rough so we talked to a lifeguard there and he said the vis. had been about 0 for several weeks and that there had been no one diveng. He did tell us that there are 3 reefs out from the beach that are nice.
Since it's about a 3.5- 4 hour drive for us can anyone tell me if the conditions have improved and is it worth the drive? One of our members has an RV out there so we can spend the night. But still would prefer diving to sleeping. The search goes on.

Chuck

 

[metaldector]

About current conditions. You might want to contact Cliff at Deep6 dive shop in Vero Beach www.deepsix.com for an update. I dove there a few years ago and found it to be a lot of sand very small reefs, and very few fish. I have never gone back. Now south of there (the Colored Beach) are some great reefs. Take the road south of the inlet along the shore until you get to a small county park (no facililties) and hike over the dunes. There are great reefs with undercuts, and lots of wild life. Best lobstering I've ever had, nurse sharks, snook, and lots of fish. Hope this helps.

 

[USAF Diver]

I have been to Pepper Park several times over the last 2 years. I have only gone during the summer because I have been told that conditions during the winter are usually bad. You can call the lifeguards at (772) 462-1988 or (772) 462- 2355. They always know the conditions.

 

[fldivejunkie]

The third reef is really nice -- lots of undercuts. It's a pretty decent swim (a nice kayak dive), but we usually choose to swim underwater than on the surface. Good beach diving for the area usually starts in April when the wind starts to shift from northeast to more towards the west. It is alway a good idea to contact the lifeguard before you start that way. There are also a number of decent beach dives in the Vero area as well.

 

[Walter]

I enjoy Pepper Park and when the conditions aren't favorable there's always the UDT museum just down the street.

 

[cudachaser]

With the cold front coming thru, winds will be strong from the north...not good for diving...Seas were very calm earliar this week, conditions were probably good...I was planning to go last sunday but something came up and I had to bail

 

[SmokeAire]

Thanks all for the info. Sounds like it's a catch as catch can. The lifeguard numbers will come in handy. Will definitly scope out the area. Alway looking for cheapo dives to fill in between the $$ excusrsions.

Chuck