Palm Beach Dive Thread

[NothingClever]

Can you provide some context of what the presenter was saying with regards to the image below, i.e. where the dives took place, at what time of year, were these feeding dives, over what length of time were the dives, are they subset of other dives where no sharks were observed, etc?

Hannah spoke so fast that I wasn’t able to take very good notes. I walked away with a favorable impression of ASC more than I did a more educated diver.

Long-winded way of answering your question with “No”.

 

[johndiver999]

Yeah, that pie chart definitely represents accurately the diversity seen in specific dive sites and times of the year, but most definitely not the diversity in the area. Of 450 sightings 80% being Lemons/Bulls/Sandtiger (~160/160/45), while about less than 5% being Caribbean Reefs (~20)?

perhaps you have a typo or misread the chart, but I think you mean sandbar, not sand tiger?

 

[Pavao]

perhaps you have a typo or misread the chart, but I think you mean sandbar, not sand tiger?

Yeah.
It’s really more about the lemons and bulls, I lumped the sandbars together with it because bulls + sandbars draws a line at 50% of the pie and makes for easy visualization of the numbers. You could change the sandbar slice to virtually any other species and my point would still remain, including Caribbean reefs.

 

[tekkydiver]

perhaps you have a typo or misread the chart, but I think you mean sandbar, not sand tiger

The fisherman between Key West to Vero will tell you the sandbar shark population is out of control

 

[johndiver999]

Yeah I think I see a lot of them, although I am probably not that good at shark ID. I'm not sure if I have seen sand tigers in palm beach, ever? I have a vague feeling I might have a long time ago, but really not sure.

 

[DiveFlag = Target]

@LI-er What days and trips are you going out with Stuart?

I booked a few wreck dives with Stuart Scuba during my upcoming trip in April.

Even though I've never dived with them they were extremely accommodating and friendly people, immediately updating their schedule to accommodate my choices and putting steel nitrox tanks aside for me as requested.

Conversely the other 3 West Palm Ops who I've dived with several times before were a disappointment.

Pura Vida said they'd "put in a request" for my choice of wreck dives but no promises, and pointed out that they've accommodated me in the past but there's a difference, they no longer post specific wreck dives on their schedule, now it's been changed to a much less detailed itinerary and doesn't say anything wrecks at all.

Pirates and Walkers with whom I've dived before didn't even respond to my email inquiries and their schedules don't provide any information about where they'll be going, even in the next few days.

S

 

[HalcyonDaze]

Yeah I think I see a lot of them, although I am probably not that good at shark ID. I'm not sure if I have seen sand tigers in palm beach, ever? I have a vague feeling I might have a long time ago, but really not sure.

Historically sandtigers have been in PBC - their teeth come up in archaeological digs, and there are records of them being sighted, but as far as I know nothing more recent than 50-60 years ago. Furthest south I've seen people report them in the past few years has been St. Augustine.

 

[johndiver999]

I know for sure that a women was attacked in vero beach by one (sand tiger) in the surf with terrible injuries, but it was over 30 years ago.

 

[Johnoly]

......., and there is a smattering of ..... great white,

Extremely clear viz & close up FB Video posted this morning by Jupiter's Salty Divers dive boat and diver Jared Galvin of a slow Great White who was staying close to check out the divers.

You can search for > salty divers < . Don't know if this link will work here, but I'll try..............
FB Link = Salty Divers | Jupiter FL

The past 2 weeks there's been 3 different GWS reports but don't know if it's the same one. They usually migrate right thru on the way to the Gulf side of Florida.

 

[Pipehorse]

I just posted this link in another thread. It is worth posting in this thread as well.

Palm Beach County Dive Sites Published by Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management

Hit the search function it gives coordinates and details for all the artificial and natural reefs listed.

They even sneak in a few sites located in Broward County as well.