Fox-Cousteau
Senior Member
Friday 13th might be considered "unlucky" by some but for 8 Orlando divers and a "bubble-watcher" from the Lake Mary Scuba Club it was very "lucky"
The NOAA forecast was for 3-5 ft seas and 30% isolated thunderstorms out of Pompano Beach.
The group agreed that we would check it out personally and then make a "go/no go" decision at the dock.
Arriving at 12 noon for a 1:30pm departure our first stop was the beach to check the conditions. What we saw was "flat" seas!
THE DIVES:
Loaded on 2 "six pack boats" we booked a "Wreck Trek" dive through Parrot Is. Scuba Adv.
Dive 1: The Sea Emperor - Air temp = 90f; Water temp at 74 fsw = 77f; vertical viz = 60+; Horiz. Viz = 70+; Surface current = minimal on the wreck apx 1 kt; Seas .5 - 1.5 with 8-10 sec intervals; notes: two mid-sized Goliath groupers look to be hanging out under the wreck:cool2: also a nice sized "shy" nurse shark. on the rubble pile I noticed a small Lion fish :depressed:
Dive 2: The Ancient Mariner - Air Temp, water temp, and seas the same, current same, VIZ, Vert. "Surface to Sand" 77+f, Horz apx 100f (the A. M. is 165 long and I could see bow to stern). Lots of bate fish (as usual) inside the wreck, several beautiful Angles, and spotted Drum (one of my favorite sites).
Commentary:
For those planning on diving the "Gold Coast", there are LOTS of good charters and captains. There are several good SCUBA stores in the area and many have their own favorites. Parrot Is. and Force E are two I recommend!
Dive Safe, Dive Often!!!
The NOAA forecast was for 3-5 ft seas and 30% isolated thunderstorms out of Pompano Beach.
The group agreed that we would check it out personally and then make a "go/no go" decision at the dock. Arriving at 12 noon for a 1:30pm departure our first stop was the beach to check the conditions. What we saw was "flat" seas!
THE DIVES:
Loaded on 2 "six pack boats" we booked a "Wreck Trek" dive through Parrot Is. Scuba Adv.
Dive 1: The Sea Emperor - Air temp = 90f; Water temp at 74 fsw = 77f; vertical viz = 60+; Horiz. Viz = 70+; Surface current = minimal on the wreck apx 1 kt; Seas .5 - 1.5 with 8-10 sec intervals; notes: two mid-sized Goliath groupers look to be hanging out under the wreck:cool2: also a nice sized "shy" nurse shark.
on the rubble pile I noticed a small Lion fish :depressed: Dive 2: The Ancient Mariner - Air Temp, water temp, and seas the same, current same, VIZ, Vert. "Surface to Sand" 77+f, Horz apx 100f (the A. M. is 165 long and I could see bow to stern).
Lots of bate fish (as usual) inside the wreck, several beautiful Angles, and spotted Drum (one of my favorite sites). Commentary:
For those planning on diving the "Gold Coast", there are LOTS of good charters and captains. There are several good SCUBA stores in the area and many have their own favorites. Parrot Is. and Force E are two I recommend!
Dive Safe, Dive Often!!!
