Palm Beach Dive Thread
- Thread starter Divin'Papaw
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OP
Grim Reaper Jones
Get ‘em, Killer!
Looked like good eats!
Went on Pura Vida's Aurelia on Tuesday. Captain Chris at the helm and Amber lead DM training two new DM's (sorry their names escape my memory at the moment). Nice day, slight southwest breeze really no waves to speak of. North current with about 35ft of green water visibility. Surface temp 78F, bottom temp 67F, WTF Batman, 67F in the middle of May! I was at the bridge on Sunday and it was 79f.
First drop was on Flower Gardens. As I made my descent I really couldn't believe how cold the water was. And still because I have these very heavy steel 95s I had my 5mm instead of 3mm, and a Beanie hood. Couldn't believe I was thinking I needed my hooded vest. Anyway I hit about 40ft, and that was it I refused to descend any further into the cold. There was a mother and daughter with only diveskins on, they bailed after 22 minutes. Did a REEF survey of 53 species only because I would not descend any further than the 40ft where the temp remained a reasonable 73-74f. I did drop into the cold once for about two minutes to video the ancient looking male loggerhead sea turtle in the video. I am thinking that turtle just might be older than me. I registered 70f on my computer in that short amount of time. The 67f I reported is from other divers brave enough to descend further than 40ft for more than five minutes.
Three divers sat out the second dive because of the cold. Second drop was on 4th window. Same vis, same temps. Again did another REEF survey but managed a count of 61 species despite staying at the 40ft level. Again I did descend into the coldness for about two minutes to get video of Nurse Shark shown below. She had a nice notch cut out of her left pec fin. Sure it was from mating sometime early in her life. Dive length for the second dive was 50 minutes, nobody objected given the temps.
First drop was on Flower Gardens. As I made my descent I really couldn't believe how cold the water was. And still because I have these very heavy steel 95s I had my 5mm instead of 3mm, and a Beanie hood. Couldn't believe I was thinking I needed my hooded vest. Anyway I hit about 40ft, and that was it I refused to descend any further into the cold. There was a mother and daughter with only diveskins on, they bailed after 22 minutes. Did a REEF survey of 53 species only because I would not descend any further than the 40ft where the temp remained a reasonable 73-74f. I did drop into the cold once for about two minutes to video the ancient looking male loggerhead sea turtle in the video. I am thinking that turtle just might be older than me. I registered 70f on my computer in that short amount of time. The 67f I reported is from other divers brave enough to descend further than 40ft for more than five minutes.
Three divers sat out the second dive because of the cold. Second drop was on 4th window. Same vis, same temps. Again did another REEF survey but managed a count of 61 species despite staying at the 40ft level. Again I did descend into the coldness for about two minutes to get video of Nurse Shark shown below. She had a nice notch cut out of her left pec fin. Sure it was from mating sometime early in her life. Dive length for the second dive was 50 minutes, nobody objected given the temps.
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Hi @Pipehorse
I just got back from 38 dives in Bonaire, 82-83 degrees. I was thinking I'd be wearing my 3 mm on my next visit to Florida
I just got back from 38 dives in Bonaire, 82-83 degrees. I was thinking I'd be wearing my 3 mm on my next visit to Florida
OP
BRRRR!!!! This is awful early for an upwelling. I've run into mid to upper-60s in the past in Palm Beach County, but those are typically in July. I last experienced it in July 2023. I'm still thawing.
Hopefully it'll be gone by this weekend. These upwellings typically only last a few days to a week. Fingers crossed that we see 80 top to bottom again here very soon!
Hopefully it'll be gone by this weekend. These upwellings typically only last a few days to a week. Fingers crossed that we see 80 top to bottom again here very soon!
I had 73 at the bridge yesterday. We got out after an hour.. And weren't the first ones out!
Must be National Natural Birth Control Month.
You all take it easy down there, it's just spring water temps...72ish. Perfect! We snorkeled the Ichetucknee yesterday in bathing suits, (after finding out about and "discussing" their new rule about needing a pool noodle or damn tube to get into the water now. And this after swimming it for decades). Anyway, we'll be down in WPB tomorrow/Friday snorkeling BHB regardless the temp and happy to be there visiting some family!
johndiver999
Contributor
Not Palm beach but.. conditions were unbelievable off Stuart yesterday. 2 foot vis on bottom at 90 feet, cold and black and I am not exaggerating. I just kept going down hoping the vis would open up under a dirty layer.
Dove in 70 feet in that areas 4 days ago and had 60 ft vis below the top of a dirty layer at the top of the thermocline.
Next tried in 47 ft on an artificial and had 5-8 ft vis - which is not worth trying to spear fish in (got one lion and a snapper). Drove south to the loran tower, and had 5-7 ft vis in 74 feet -- top water looks blueish and not that bad. Still not worth diving.
Dove in 70 feet in that areas 4 days ago and had 60 ft vis below the top of a dirty layer at the top of the thermocline.
Next tried in 47 ft on an artificial and had 5-8 ft vis - which is not worth trying to spear fish in (got one lion and a snapper). Drove south to the loran tower, and had 5-7 ft vis in 74 feet -- top water looks blueish and not that bad. Still not worth diving.
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