Venice Beach visibility 10 - 15 ft

[Walter]

We made it to the bottom.

 

[DEEPSEAWOLF]

,... and it goes on forever!!!! Especially at Venice. You just can't see it all!

I'm chomping at the bit to get to Venice again!

 

[ReefGuy]

7, Most of the shore diving at Venice Beach is done between 13'-21' of water. The boneyard, just offshore is around 25'.

Narcosis, nice to meet you. And Walter, as always, a pleasure. Thanks for the help with the BC.

I would have liked to stay around for a while, but that just didn't work out. This was Wes's first ocean dive (just certified in Devils' Den/Blue Grotto), and the low vis creeped him out . We were able to work out his weighting for salt water, though, so it wasn't a total loss. Dive time :02. Made it to the bottom, and still didn't see it.

Also, I woke up feeling a bit under the weater, but ok. By the end of our short dive, I was hurling and beginning to wish I were dead. As soon as I got my gear off, Zech and I headed home. He doesn't believe how close he came to getting his first drivers lesson . I was out all the rest of the day, and got up Monday afternoon (missed work).

 

[Walter]

I hope you're feeling better now.

 

[ReefGuy]

Much better, thanks. It just hit like a ton of bricks.

 

[havnmonkey]

What is the best time of year for good visibilty/conditions for Venice and the surrounding area for diving? shore and boat? I'm from Daytona so viz can suck most of the time except for summer...

 

[Walter]

I've seen excellent and really bad viz in all seasons. It's a crap shoot.

 

[Chad Carney]

Spring is typically when we usually get the best nearshore visibility. Fall is usually good too.

Any time it's highly subject to the wind direction, strength and duration.

Look for periods of easterly winds for several days. This weekend will likely be much better than the last one, yet it still may not be well settled in just a few days.

Use these NDBC and USF buoy reports.
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Florida.shtml

Also the marine forecasts shown on the above links, and the one below.
http://www.intellicast.com/IcastPag...dgrp=Forecasts&product=WINDcast&prodnav=d1_00

Good diving!

Capt Chad

 

[havnmonkey]

Any personal leanings to a boat or shore dive off Venice? I know a boat can always take you more places but a shore dive is getting tanks and walking on out, right?

I'll be on Longboat key this weekend and will definitely do some exploring; I've lived on the east coast water my whole life and haven't ever ventured to the Gulf!!!

 

[DiveBandit]

I'd use my boat if it wasn't so far away. Cleaning all that sand out of my gear and my truck after the dive is getting old fast.