Two impressive dives today.
First dive was on Spearman’s Barge and Mid-Reef. The schools of fish on the big, flat wreck were huge and densely packed. I can toss my DPV behind me like a champ and crush a gas switch coming off a deep technical dive but can’t identify fish on a recreational dive to save my life. Ifeel like am such a rookie!
Second dive was the Princess Anne wreck. I burned up a whole tank at 28m / 91ft watching an adult nurse shark closely accompanied by approximately 200-250 green, bait-sized fish in the shape of a torpedo, enough to conceal a large part of the shark, and about 75-100 Jacks (trevallies) who were swimming in an outer orbit. The interaction amongst the three was absolutely captivating. The nurse shark was patrolling low and slow while the green bait fish swam excitedly but closely around the nurse shark. Periodically and unpredictably the green fish would just explode away from the shark and then just as quickly resume their tight slithering around the nurse shark. The Jacks would also periodically and unpredictably start their own dive bombing. The nurse shark sank down into the exposed ribs of the barge and although all I could see was his tail, it was clear he was working on something as he kicked up a ton of silt. The green fish went absolutely berserk crawling all over the nurse shark to the point it looked like a school of piranhas attacking their prey. What was really strange was the shark finally turned and although I could then clearly see its face, it would suddenly jerk violently but without any clear evidence of feeding. It made me think the shark was suffering from some neurological condition. Other witnesses couldn’t figure out what was going on either.
Anyways, two grey GGs (one adult, one juvenile) with white flecks showed up and kept us company for a bit.
Further like a rookie, my GoPro sat fully charged in the car.
First dive was on Spearman’s Barge and Mid-Reef. The schools of fish on the big, flat wreck were huge and densely packed. I can toss my DPV behind me like a champ and crush a gas switch coming off a deep technical dive but can’t identify fish on a recreational dive to save my life. I
Second dive was the Princess Anne wreck. I burned up a whole tank at 28m / 91ft watching an adult nurse shark closely accompanied by approximately 200-250 green, bait-sized fish in the shape of a torpedo, enough to conceal a large part of the shark, and about 75-100 Jacks (trevallies) who were swimming in an outer orbit. The interaction amongst the three was absolutely captivating. The nurse shark was patrolling low and slow while the green bait fish swam excitedly but closely around the nurse shark. Periodically and unpredictably the green fish would just explode away from the shark and then just as quickly resume their tight slithering around the nurse shark. The Jacks would also periodically and unpredictably start their own dive bombing. The nurse shark sank down into the exposed ribs of the barge and although all I could see was his tail, it was clear he was working on something as he kicked up a ton of silt. The green fish went absolutely berserk crawling all over the nurse shark to the point it looked like a school of piranhas attacking their prey. What was really strange was the shark finally turned and although I could then clearly see its face, it would suddenly jerk violently but without any clear evidence of feeding. It made me think the shark was suffering from some neurological condition. Other witnesses couldn’t figure out what was going on either.
Anyways, two grey GGs (one adult, one juvenile) with white flecks showed up and kept us company for a bit.
Further like a rookie, my GoPro sat fully charged in the car.
. That ought to make for some awesome Palm Beach fun!
