Went down to LBTS to dive on Friday 08/05 and Saturday 08/06, had planned on doing today as well, but considering the wind was not going to abate, I bagged it. On Friday the wind was out of the SE at 12 mph wtih 2-3 seas, sea temp of 86f, visibility 25ft on the first reef and 40 feet on the second reef, there was little current but the swell had tendency to push northwest back towards the beach On Saturday the wind was out of the SE at 16mph 3-4 seas, sea temp of 86f, visibility of 5-10ft on first reef, and 20ft on the second reef, again no current but swell pushed northwest back towards the beach.
On Friday I entered the water at 0945 from Datura Avenue went to the first reef and moved slowly northward towards the pier. Approaching the pier I observed at large bait of mixed species, Scaled Sardine, Spanish Sardine, Round Scad, and American Shad. One Snook and several Tarpon were swimming through and around the bait ball. A little disconcerting for me and the Tarpon when the school would open up and the Snook would practically swim into me before quickly altering course. After the bait ball I proceed east to the second reef. Swam south along the eastern edge of the reef for an hour and then headed back north on the western side of the reef until finding the coral arch which is directly east of the Datura Avenue. Encountered a small Green Sea Turtle, which I tried to video, but the Turtle was not having anything to do with a close approach, so no video. Did a REEF Fish count of 52 species in 60 minutes. Striped Burrfish are seen at Blue Heron Bridge all the time, but this is the first time in over a 1000 surveys that I have observed one at LBTS. Total time of dive 168 minutes.
On Saturday I almost bagged the dive. A squall moved making the water look most uninviting. But after squall past the wind subsided slightly and the sun came out, so I went for it despite the 3 to 4 waves. Nevertheless it was definitely a washer machine dive. Visibility had deteriorated since the day before. First reef was 10ft at best so I proceed directly east to the second reef where visibility was 20ft. Again the swell was pushing me to the northwest so I headed south along the west side of the second reef. I did encounter a large school of Bigeye Scad but the video was terrible due to the particulate in the water. Swam south along the reef for a period of 75 minutes, and turned back north to find same coral arch waypoint before heading back west towards the beach. Did a REEF fish survey of 51 species in 60 minutes. Total time of dive 172 minutes. Respectively from Friday, Graysby, Juvenile Three Spot Damsels, Large Queen Conch, Rock Hind, Sand Diver, White Grunts, Coral Arch on second reef, directly east of Datura Avenue. Respectively from Saturday, Florida Horse Conch, Glasseye Snapper, Lone Spadefish, Smooth Trunkfish, Striped Burrfish, and White Speckled Hermit Crab. Videos are all from Friday, respectively, Southern Stingray, Snook and Baitball, Tarpon and Baitball.
On Friday I entered the water at 0945 from Datura Avenue went to the first reef and moved slowly northward towards the pier. Approaching the pier I observed at large bait of mixed species, Scaled Sardine, Spanish Sardine, Round Scad, and American Shad. One Snook and several Tarpon were swimming through and around the bait ball. A little disconcerting for me and the Tarpon when the school would open up and the Snook would practically swim into me before quickly altering course. After the bait ball I proceed east to the second reef. Swam south along the eastern edge of the reef for an hour and then headed back north on the western side of the reef until finding the coral arch which is directly east of the Datura Avenue. Encountered a small Green Sea Turtle, which I tried to video, but the Turtle was not having anything to do with a close approach, so no video. Did a REEF Fish count of 52 species in 60 minutes. Striped Burrfish are seen at Blue Heron Bridge all the time, but this is the first time in over a 1000 surveys that I have observed one at LBTS. Total time of dive 168 minutes.
On Saturday I almost bagged the dive. A squall moved making the water look most uninviting. But after squall past the wind subsided slightly and the sun came out, so I went for it despite the 3 to 4 waves. Nevertheless it was definitely a washer machine dive. Visibility had deteriorated since the day before. First reef was 10ft at best so I proceed directly east to the second reef where visibility was 20ft. Again the swell was pushing me to the northwest so I headed south along the west side of the second reef. I did encounter a large school of Bigeye Scad but the video was terrible due to the particulate in the water. Swam south along the reef for a period of 75 minutes, and turned back north to find same coral arch waypoint before heading back west towards the beach. Did a REEF fish survey of 51 species in 60 minutes. Total time of dive 172 minutes. Respectively from Friday, Graysby, Juvenile Three Spot Damsels, Large Queen Conch, Rock Hind, Sand Diver, White Grunts, Coral Arch on second reef, directly east of Datura Avenue. Respectively from Saturday, Florida Horse Conch, Glasseye Snapper, Lone Spadefish, Smooth Trunkfish, Striped Burrfish, and White Speckled Hermit Crab. Videos are all from Friday, respectively, Southern Stingray, Snook and Baitball, Tarpon and Baitball.
