The continuing sagas of the Blue Heron Bridge

[DebbyDiver]

One year ago today I joined Scuba Board, thanks to fellow SFDI and SB member, Debby Diver. Not too long after that I stumbled upon the "Sagas of BHB" thread and happily discovered I wasn't the only one in the [-]12-step[/-] 15 ft. program!

I just want to say it's been a pleasure getting to know you - some in person, some by screen name. I've learned so much reading this thread and continue to learn new things.

I will never get tired of diving Blue Heron Bridge! I'm wowed on every dive.

Congratulations on your anniversary, Joanie! I've dearly loved every dive I made there with you and regret I never got back up there after my foot surgeries. And now, I'm outtahere in a week and likely won't have time to dive BHB again before my departure. You WILL come dive Fredericksted Pier with us, right? You will feel right at home there...I had a serious Deja-Blue (Heron Bridge) experience when I dove it.

 

[mntlblok]

Seagrasses

Spent three days diving the bridge this weekend. Did LBTS on Saturday morning, and that might have done me in. By the time I finished the late afternoon dive on Saturday, it was clear that Sunday would be used only for driving back to Savannah. Six, 2 hour plus dives over three days may be all this old guy can handle. Thanks to Force E and Gold Coast for the efficient fills. At least I have enough pics and video to keep me busy for a few months.

Have still not done a full year at BHB and still keep finding new stuff on every dive. The Johnson's Seagrass intrigues me for some reason and I note that it is only now growing back in after apparently going dormant during the cooler months. Turns out that it is the first seagrass listed under the Endangered Species Act. Eyeing some of it over caused me to find a most bizarre decorator crab. Hope to get the video up sometime. He's hilarious.

Kevin

 

[danvolker]

I was looking for some new destinations within the BHB area yesterday.... I took an inflatable kayak with dive flag ( to provide surface protection from ignorant boaters) and swam ( while my friends Billl and Scott paddled) out to the area "near" the artificial reef north of BHB by about 1/4 to 1/2 of a mile....It was supposed to be in a straight line out from the breakwall you see on the far side of the cove ( when you look north of the Sheriffs docks ).
It is supposed to be 25 to 30 feet deep. What I did find was one small wreck at about 20 feet that was full of lobster, but a pretty underwhelming dive site itself....we did a quick swim around this area, but it was beginning to get both dark and very rough ( due to heavy boater traffic very nearby. We think the actual artificial reef is stilll closer to the main channel ( though not in it) , but I will have one of the charter boats drop me on it in the next few days, and I will get an exact location....Yesterday evening between the waves and the darkness, we just were not feeling very "smart" about being a potential bump for a drunk boater to run over.
We scootered back underwater the whole way, and this was actually pretty cool....
Our plan will be to "run cave line" out to the artificial reef, so that it will be easy to find this any time.

One nice little bonus.....there is a new destination at the BHB area I found on our way out...the break wall, where the 2 fish cleaning stations are, has little to see along it as you follow it toward the north end...But just at the north end of it, is a very cool little reef, that goes down to about 20 feet deep or so, with lots of color and life on it...This is maybe 30 feet by 30 feet in size, so not a huge area, but a new place just the same

 

[mntlblok]

Buddies

Was fortunate enough to witness the jawfish going through his housekeeping late Saturday afternoon, but I still have some learning to do about making the video focus the way I want with my camera. :depressed: Just as I was about to leave, he left his hole area to go check out an approaching octopus.

Kevin

 

[djtimmy77]

We had a nice ~2 hr dive. Spent a lot of time looking for frogfish with no luck. Saw what seemed like 3 dozen ocotopus today, they seriously were everywhere you turned!

 

[mntlblok]

Lost mask

Just remembered. Somehow managed to lose the pictured mask on Saturday while prepping to dive the bridge - from other than my usual parking area. :depressed: Was having success with the custom "readers" in this one, too. :depressed:

Kevin

 

[jet126]

"Pink"

Up before dawn this morning for the 7:05 high tide. I am seriously whipped. I was up all night Fri-Sat doing the 12m-4a shift in KL cradling whales in my arms, BHB Sat twilight, Blue Wild Expo Sunday and BHB again today. See what happens when Tall Guy goes out of town: I play waaaay too hard! I need to get back to work so I can relax.

Anyhoo ... here are some photos from Sat and this morning. Today I was pretty much a tour guide. Seahorses for JEM. Frogfish for KW (thanks for the intel, J&C). Sailfin Blennies for Video Dude. Rich joined us mid-dive (nice to meet you!) and I managed to produce a spotted eagle ray.

Another octo from KW & my dive on Sat:


I found "Pink"


And near the end ... glorious in the morning sun

 

[bilsant]

Yes it was a beautiful dive indeed. Filefish, octos in abundance, eels, crabs, worms, and the first pipefish I've seen in the last couple of months.

Jet, we keep diving the same water and I know Jenny. Have we met? I was the big kinda clumsy guy there this morning wearing white Seawing fins.

 

[djtimmy77]

Here are a few pics from this morning's dive taken by my wife!

And a few more:

 

[mntlblok]

Pink still roams

I found "Pink"
View attachment 95686

And near the end ... glorious in the morning sun
View attachment 95685

Cool! I'd love to learn more about "Pink's" movements.

How'd you paint such a long tail on that eagle ray??

Kevin