if you get in currents at PCB jetties?

[LollyO]

What if you get caught in the sometimes "vicious" currents at St. Andrews state park jetties?

If you are unable to fight the currrents, would it be possible to ride the current out of the bay and then swim to the state park beach due West?

How far would the current take you out of the bay?
What would be the best thing to do?

 

[Kevin Carlisle]

Here is how I would look at it.

1. Always try and find an experienced buddy until you have the experience to dive there.
2. Stay close to the rocks. That way you have a fighting chance.
3. Use the rocks to avoid some of the current
4. I AM NOT going to let the tide carry me out of the bay. No telling where you would wind up.
5. If you only have a 20-30 minute window until the tide turns and it is a 6in to 15in change, DONT GO.. Go home, go surfing or fishing. Those conditions can be tough even for an experienced diver.

 

[Hetland]

usually you can tell when you're getting into trouble... USUALLY. If conditions are getting iffy, retreat is always a good choice to make.

 

[GLENFWB]

Kevin gave some good advice. We had two people snorkeling get pushed out to the Gulf from the Destin jetties this week. Couple of points I would add:

• WEAR GLOVES, WEAR GLOVES, WEAR GLOVES: You can pull yourself on the rocks if you have too
• Make sure you have a safety sausage with you....IF you happen to get sucked out, you do NOT want to be floating around boats without some type of signaling device.
• If conditions are bad, stay inside and dive the kiddie pool side of the jetty.
• I would crawl over or on the rocks, before I would take a ride in the current
• The BEST choice is to not dive if there is any chance of not handling the currents....dive at High Slack Tide
• Oh Yeah, did I say WEAR GLOVES???

What if you get caught in the sometimes "vicious" currents at St. Andrews state park jetties?

If you are unable to fight the currrents, would it be possible to ride the current out of the bay and then swim to the state park beach due West?

How far would the current take you out of the bay?
What would be the best thing to do?

 

[divinginn]

I have been caught and pushed out to the gulf several times,it was no big deal,just swam over to the beach and walked across to the wading pool. It is a pretty lonk hike with a tank on but much easier than trying to climb over the rocks.

 

[GLENFWB]

I guess it depends on exactly what is meant by being "pushed out to the gulf". If the OP is a new diver, getting pushed out to the gulf can be a VERY big issue. I would only advise someone to allow themselves to be pushed out to the gulf as a last resort....but that is just my preference.

I have been caught and pushed out to the gulf several times,it was no big deal,just swam over to the beach and walked across to the wading pool. It is a pretty lonk hike with a tank on but much easier than trying to climb over the rocks.

 

[Kevin Carlisle]

I guess it depends on exactly what is meant by being "pushed out to the gulf". If the OP is a new diver, getting pushed out to the gulf can be a VERY big issue. I would only advise someone to allow themselves to be pushed out to the gulf as a last resort....but that is just my preference.

I agree with Glen.. There is too big of a risk there. There are a lot of different currents once your out of the channel and the odds of no current is going to be small. Not to mention once the tide changes your viz will be greatly reduced. I love to dive the jettys there, but its not worth doing it if the conditions are not right. There are some great springs about 45 minutes away that will do if the jettys are not ok.

 

[Granny Scuba]

So what are ideal conditions at the PCB jetties?

I have read where folks say it still can be wicked an hour before high tide, even on a day when the difference between high and low tide is less than 18 inches.
What about a Neap tide ? That would give you pretty favorable currents all day, but your visibility would be terrible because during a neap tide there is not enough water movement out of the bay to clean the turbidity.

 

[Kevin Carlisle]

Best conditions are ideally an hour to hour and half before high tide. You get fresh seawater coming in creating better viz but there is a current. However if you dont pay attention to the time you can get caught in a nasty current when the tide changes. Neap tides are great in my opinion. But i am somewhat comfy in low viz conditions.

 

[scubadog1969]

Last time i went it was on a Neap Tide must have been 50' visibility.Can't wait to go back