Haven't posted with a report in a quite a while, because conditions this Winter have been horrible for diving on Florida's Gulfcoast. Those here know we have experienced a train of cold fronts that have kept visability poor, and marine conditions that do not allow boating.
The last couple of weeks we have caught a break. I have been out twice, first hitting some of our shallow spots a couple of weeks ago in 50-80 fsw, and then yesterday out deeper in the Middle Grounds.
Here's the scoop right now for the Middle Grounds:
Water temp: About 63 degrees. I felt one thermocline on my last dive, but otherwise a pretty steady 63.
Visability: Very poor, expecially by Middle Grounds standards. The water was loaded with "sea snot", which created a very "milky" type effect that filtered out light and worsened the poor vis. On the first dive vis was only 10ft, but would later improve to about 20ft.
Weather: The conditions on the surface can be described only as PERFECT. Wind maybe 5 kts, seas never more than 2, and mostly 1 all day. Ride there and back was like scooting along Lake Tarpon. Air temp, accoring to my trusty Suunto, was 72.
Most of these dives were in the northern part of the grounds, on ledges averaging 100 fsw at the top, and 125 at the bottom.
We were spearfishing, and a huge Carbo (true black grouper) was harvested by one of the shooters. Here a photo: http://www.npr-florida.com/131ricthiewithfish.jpg
I have to say it feels good to be getting out again. Surface tension was getting a little high.
The last couple of weeks we have caught a break. I have been out twice, first hitting some of our shallow spots a couple of weeks ago in 50-80 fsw, and then yesterday out deeper in the Middle Grounds.
Here's the scoop right now for the Middle Grounds:
Water temp: About 63 degrees. I felt one thermocline on my last dive, but otherwise a pretty steady 63.
Visability: Very poor, expecially by Middle Grounds standards. The water was loaded with "sea snot", which created a very "milky" type effect that filtered out light and worsened the poor vis. On the first dive vis was only 10ft, but would later improve to about 20ft.
Weather: The conditions on the surface can be described only as PERFECT. Wind maybe 5 kts, seas never more than 2, and mostly 1 all day. Ride there and back was like scooting along Lake Tarpon. Air temp, accoring to my trusty Suunto, was 72.
Most of these dives were in the northern part of the grounds, on ledges averaging 100 fsw at the top, and 125 at the bottom.
We were spearfishing, and a huge Carbo (true black grouper) was harvested by one of the shooters. Here a photo: http://www.npr-florida.com/131ricthiewithfish.jpg
I have to say it feels good to be getting out again. Surface tension was getting a little high.
