Palm Beach Dive Thread

[Johnoly]

... found myself flying over the desert, blissfully lost.

I usually try to find a fish or group and follow them to a reef. It took me years to learn that fish LIE and try to trick you into following them. Nice report!!

 

[MrChen]

spotted the temp probe at the halfway point as a navigational check

Is that what that thing is? How does it report back the temp to someone, or do they have to manually retrieve it?

 

[HalcyonDaze]

Is that what that thing is? How does it report back the temp to someone, or do they have to manually retrieve it?

I'm not aware of any temp sensors deployed on the bottom, but there's a bunch of VR2 acoustic monitors and (at least during goliath grouper aggregation season) hydrophones on the various Palm Beach/Jupiter wreck corridors.

https://www.innovasea.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Innovasea-Fish-Tracking-vr2w_69khz-data-sheet-0621.pdf

 

[NothingClever]

Is that what that thing is? How does it report back the temp to someone, or do they have to manually retrieve it?

I honestly haven’t ever gotten confirmation of what it is. I’ve heard others refer to it as a temperature logger but it’s always been crew chatter, not a meteorologist or marine scientist.

 

[Johnoly]

do they have to manually retrieve it?

Many years ago we helped with acoustic monitors on the lionfish that researchers were tracking movement patterns(but it captures all fish pings too). Since we dove the same deep spots they had placed a few, we just sent emails back to their team that the monitor(s) was still in the same place, flashing, and was buoyant and not laying down on the reef due to leaks. It was the same receivers that @HalcyonDaze posted and they left them in the water for several months, then moved them north & south trying to match up fish ID movement pattern pings. Their receivers had to be brought back to the surface to be downloaded and the results were published at the lionfish summit in Cocoa Beach.

 

[scubadada]

I went diving with Walker's Charters on April 24. Before our dives on Tear Drop and Breakers, Bill dropped a diver for a bounce dive near the Ana Cecilia to download data from an instrument on the bottom. I'm sorry I did not take the time to learn more about it. Bill or Mike could probably tell more about the diver, agency, and instrument. I am also curious.

 

[MrChen]

The document states:

The receiver records the identification number and time stamp from acoustic transmitters as a tagged animal travels within receiver range. Depth, temperature and other sensor data such as predation and acceleration can also be collected

 

[DiverDan1975]

There is an ongoing thread for trip reports and condition updates for Jupiter and one for Blue Heron Bridge, but we don't have one for the sites off of Palm Beach/Palm Beach Shores. I dive this area frequently and often want to post an update without creating a whole new thread. So I decided to create this thread and we'll see where it goes!

This thread is to post trip reports and condition updates for the sites north and south of the Lake Worth Inlet. That includes sites all the way south to Lake Worth (Horseshoe and Paul's for example), sites north to Juno Beach (Juno Ledge for example), and everything in between! The common denominator is that those sites are typically hit by boats leaving out of the Lake Worth Inlet.

This is open to anyone who would like to post about diving that area, be you a local or a traveling diver. All are welcome!

If you'd still like to post your own trip report thread, by all means do so!! This thread is meant for those who feel like posting a quick update, a few picks or video, and just don't feel like created a whole new thread. Very similar to the Jupiter-focused thread that @CosbySweater created.

As a general rule, diving off of Palm Beach involves some additional considerations such as drift diving experience, dealing with currents and thermoclines as we have been experiencing lately (68 degrees two weeks ago in 80 feet of water off of Jupiter). We have great wildlife off of our shores, so it can be very worthwhile. If you have not experienced it before, I definitely recommend going on a charter. The ratios of DM to divers tends to be appropriate, but consider hiring a private guide, especially if it is the first time.

 

[NothingClever]

I wanted to dive Jupiter but that Kyalami boat is undergoing some maintenance so I jumped on Kyalami’s WPB boat.

Corridor Wreck Trek for the first drop. Captain Joe dropped us smack dab on the Ana Cecilia. I was diving ST this morning so I held off from getting overly committed to the cargo holds. Reef shark off the port side but no GGs.

Drifted straight to the acoustic sensor off the Ana C stern and I can’t understand for the life of me how I missed the Mizpah last weekend - it’s right there!

At the Mizpah saw another reefie.

PC-1174 offered a black GG and another reefie (or possibly a lapper).

Rock pile - loggerhead turtle to the east.

Amaryllis - nothing

China Barge - loggerhead turtle and a curious nurse shark

Brazilian Docks - nothing

Current was perfect - not so strong that you had to work hard to counter it but strong enough to get me and one other diver well into Brazilian Docks.

Second drop was Mid Reef. One small reef shark and two loggers. Current picked up. Viz was a little snowy.

Lindsay, Joel, and new guy Chris did great.

On board from Kyalami but not working were Captain Zach, Brandon, Alec, Layla and Sidney.

 

[MrChen]

I was wondering how you missed it too. I don't think I've ever missed the Mizpah, including when I had no idea how to get to it the first time. Maybe if there wasn't a north current? Glad you made it this time!