Trip Report: Jupiter Dive Center 4/5 & 4/6

[rlskill1]

I made 2 trips on the Republic VII out of Jupiter Dive Center. We dove 4 sites on the ledges offshore Jupiter (Scarface, Bonnie's Ledge, Area 51, The Tunnels).
We saw turtles, sharks, rays, morays and lots of tropicals. No lionfish on these dives. Water temps were in the upper 60's to 70 degrees. Vis was between 30 - 50' with a very slight current. Monday had top to bottom visibility. This was my first trip to dive this area. I was very impressed with the Capt. and crew and their dive guides. Kudos to the shop staff too.

I'm ready to go again!

BTW: 2 good places to eat in the area: Schooners (Order Fisherman's Stew) and The Food Shack. WOW!!

 

[soamelt]

The Food Shack rocks!!

 

[djtimmy77]

Good to hear you had a nice time. I can't wait till the water warms up just a little more so I can get my dive buddies to get back in the water!

Food Shack is great, but best to go for lunch so you don't have to wait so long.

 

[rlskill1]

That's the truth. I was gonna eat supper there Monday night and they were packed. We ate a late lunch after the dive on Tuesday and they were still busy but not packed. The food was great and reasonably priced.

Water temps were near 70. Doable in a 3mm suit, but chilly the second dive.

 

[Angry Turtle]

I made 2 trips on the Republic VII out of Jupiter Dive Center. We dove 4 sites on the ledges offshore Jupiter (Scarface, Bonnie's Ledge, Area 51, The Tunnels).
We saw turtles, sharks, rays, morays and lots of tropicals. No lionfish on these dives. Water temps were in the upper 60's to 70 degrees. Vis was between 30 - 50' with a very slight current. Monday had top to bottom visibility. This was my first trip to dive this area. I was very impressed with the Capt. and crew and their dive guides. Kudos to the shop staff too.

I'm ready to go again!

BTW: 2 good places to eat in the area: Schooners (Order Fisherman's Stew) and The Food Shack. WOW!!

My wife and I where on the Republic VII too on 4/6 (me-->tall, bald + goatee on starboard side). We enjoyed the first dive, we sat out the second, my wife's toes where purple she was so chilled. We forgot to bring our hoods.

We still enjoyed our first dive after two years, and pre-paid two more trips, so we are sure going back soon.

 

[rlskill1]

Yes, I remember. Nice to meet you! I plan on going back in mid-June after school gets out.
The second dive was chilly!!

 

[pollywogg]

I'm glad to hear you had a good time! Another +1 for JDC....it makes me think that the awful experience I had with JDC (so bad that, even though I live right down the road, I will always opt for other dive ops now) was an anomaly.

 

[rlskill1]

My JDC experience was only for those two days, but I thought the Capt. Tim Daley and his dive guides were top notch and very professional. The first trip made me go back for a second trip which will make me go back for a third trip.

 

[pollywogg]

I am glad you had a great time. It really makes me think that my one and only experience with JDC was anomalous. My girlfriend and I were misled about price, our reservations were lost(twice), we were taken to an 80 foot dive first, then to a 95+ foot dive as our second (!), given a poor dive briefing that would have gotten us both lost at sea if heeded(were told to take a heading from one location to the next, but we were dropped in on the second location of the three, instead of the first, apparently without the captain/crew's knowledge), and the captain skipped over my name when I didn't respond to the role call (I was futzing with gear and didn't hear the captain start role. I heard him and I listened and didn't hear my name, I guess because it was near the top of the list. I approached the captain to assure him I was there, and not lost at sea, he looked at me like I had 3 heads, checked his list, and told me he had me marked as present. To me, that's just scary. What if I weren't on the boat?).
Overall, I was less than impressed, but I don't mean to rain on your parade. I really am happy to hear that you had so much fun. Hell, it almost makes me want to give them another shot....

 

[Scott L]

I am glad you had a great time. It really makes me think that my one and only experience with JDC was anomalous. My girlfriend and I were misled about price, our reservations were lost(twice), we were taken to an 80 foot dive first, then to a 95+ foot dive as our second (!), given a poor dive briefing that would have gotten us both lost at sea if heeded(were told to take a heading from one location to the next, but we were dropped in on the second location of the three, instead of the first, apparently without the captain/crew's knowledge), and the captain skipped over my name when I didn't respond to the role call (I was futzing with gear and didn't hear the captain start role. I heard him and I listened and didn't hear my name, I guess because it was near the top of the list. I approached the captain to assure him I was there, and not lost at sea, he looked at me like I had 3 heads, checked his list, and told me he had me marked as present. To me, that's just scary. What if I weren't on the boat?).
Overall, I was less than impressed, but I don't mean to rain on your parade. I really am happy to hear that you had so much fun. Hell, it almost makes me want to give them another shot....

No origanization is pefect but Jupiter Dive Center is as well a functioning LDS that you will find IMO. With regard to the price mix-up there could have been confusion between a 3 tank dive vs. a 2 tank dive. Their rates have not changed in the past several years.

Regarding to the imperfect drop if you are in sand in Jupiter head directly east and you will find the reef/ledge. With varying winds, currents and slow to exit and desend divers it is nearly imposiable to stay in line with a north/south postion. So long as you deployed a SMB or safety sausage they would have recovered you regardless of any other facts. Give them another try and I am sure you will enjoy...