Ft Pickens Dive Procedures

[Hetland]

Sea Nettle invasions at Pickens suck, although when the jellies come in I usually see more moon jellies than nettles.

I'm talking one nettle per square foot of water

 

[Tessunderwater]

I'm talking one nettle per square foot of water

Ouch:doh:

 

[ReefHound]

So I guess that's why everybody was in full wetsuits despite the bath water temps? You all must have been thinking look at that crazy guy from Texas in swim trunks and t-shirt. But the viz in your parts is so much better than what we get in Texas that i drove 9 hours there Friday and 9 hours back Sunday, for two dives. And I'm hoping to do it again later this month.

Reason I was asking about low tide is the highs are running in the am this time of year and I'd like to try the site at night. Looks like the lows are around 7 or 8 ish so an hour after would be just right. Keeping in mind that tide charts are just predictions subject to so many variables. Anyone done Portofino at night yet?

 

[Hetland]

So I guess that's why everybody was in full wetsuits despite the bath water temps?

I even have one of these: Jelly fish protection

But we've been lucky for the last few years. 2008 was a nightmare for shore diving. I'm not kidding when I say one jelly per every square foot of water. I wear a wetsuit in all but the hottest of conditions, not just for jellies, but to avoid thermal fatigue. I've noticed that I'm less tired at the end of the day because my body doesn't have to work so hard to keep up my core temp when I'm suited.

I'm hoping to do it again later this month.

Aug 30 we have a Neap tide at Pickens, and the Highs shift around. You'll have very late/early tides which will be nice for night dives, but you'll need a Nite Owl Pass if you plan to stay after 10:00pm IMHO, Pickens really shines after dark. Be sure to cut all your lights and run your hands through the water to see some cool green phosphorous trails.

Anyone done Portofino at night yet?

Nope, but you may also want to consider diving the Navarre Fishing Pier at night. You'll have to wait until it closes though (I think 10:00 or 11:00) and I'd bring shears. Since it's now a working pier, there's bound to be loads of monofilament and some of that newer stuff is hard to cut, even with a sharp knife. Don't bother if you've got any surf though, as the viz will terrible.

Before the current pier was built, the former pier was a favorite inshore spot to dive. There was even a field of rubble to the West that was good for holding octopuses. I'm pretty sure the rubble pile is gone now though.

If you do end up diving the pier, please post a report for us.

 

[ReefHound]

I'm pretty tolerant of jellies but it's still not pleasant. Worst time was in Destin, waiting awhile for a buddy to get ready, I stuck the reg in my mouth without looking and was treated to a jellyfish sandwich. :shocked2:

Neap tide should mean less current but what about viz? Although saltwatertides shows a new moon on Aug 29 which should bring a spring tide not a neap tide. ???

Parks website says the night owl pass requires matching annual pass so that sounds overkill for my frequency of visitation. What about just getting a campsite for the night?

I miss the old Navarre pier and it's 2 hour BT. SeaYoda introduced me to it years ago and it became one of my favorite "easy" dives. I stayed at the high rise condo beside it once and every morning geared up in my room, rode the elevator down (strange looks), and walked 50 feet to the water.

I didn't know Florida law allowed diving near a working pier even during "closed" hours?

 

[Hetland]

I'm pretty tolerant of jellies but it's still not pleasant. Worst time was in Destin, waiting awhile for a buddy to get ready, I stuck the reg in my mouth without looking and was treated to a jellyfish sandwich. :shocked2:

My worst has been at Destin Jetties too. It was just a stray tentacle, but it blistered my face.

Neap tide should mean less current but what about viz? Although saltwatertides shows a new moon on Aug 29 which should bring a spring tide not a neap tide. ???

Neap just means 2 changes per day with very little movement. Usually bad for viz, but the tides change schedule afterward.

Parks website says the night owl pass requires matching annual pass so that sounds overkill for my frequency of visitation. What about just getting a campsite for the night?

That is my understanding, but a call to the park would confirm this.

I miss the old Navarre pier and it's 2 hour BT. SeaYoda introduced me to it years ago and it became one of my favorite "easy" dives. I stayed at the high rise condo beside it once and every morning geared up in my room, rode the elevator down (strange looks), and walked 50 feet to the water.

I didn't know Florida law allowed diving near a working pier even during "closed" hours?

I loved the old setup too. It was the best place I've found for collecting good shells of all makes and models. My understanding on the piers is that it's not "working" when it's closed. If I were to dive it, it wouldn't be a terrible idea to call the fish/game people first to make sure it was kosher.

 

[ReefHound]

Neap just means 2 changes per day with very little movement. Usually bad for viz, but the tides change schedule afterward.

Neap does mean minimal change in level from high to low. It's when the moon is in the first and third quarter, aligned 90 degrees to the sun so the solar gravitational forces partially cancel the lunar forces. Diurnal means one high tide and semidiurnal for two high tides. Larger bodies like the Atlantic typical have two changes per day all the time while enclosed bodies like the Gulf have one change.

On full and new moon, the moon and sun are aligned and the combined gravitational pull creates maximum change in level - spring tides.