Support your troops....please

[Event Horizon]

Hello all,

My name is David and I am a scubaholic. I am in the U.S. Navy, stationed out here on the drab and cold California coast. Thankfully I am going to be visiting North Miami for the up and coming holiday season, (Dec 24-Jan 04), and would like to do some serious diving, but have a limited knowledge of your waters, though I have gained quite some knowledge from these forums, limited transportation plus I don't have a dive buddy. I am going to be bringing all my dive gear, sans dry-suit, and a hope that someone here might be kind enough to show me around. I do mostly shore dives out here, and to be quite honest I have seen some intriguing things accessible from your shoreline. I am very well trained, having nearly a hundred logged dives, and a great appreciation for any kind gestures that my fellow divers might have for a son of our country.

Respectfully,

D.A. Sklar

I am nearly sure this is the right area of the forum for this thread, if not my apologise

[DennisS]

This is probably one of the best shore dives around. I'm out of town during the holidays, hopefully you can find a dive buddy. If you don't have a buddy, this would be a dive to consider. It's under 20 ft at the deepest and under 15 for most of it.

Fill Express -- The Best Shore Dive in Florida Is off Datura Avenue

The problem with shore dives is the east wind that can stir up the bottom and give a surf.

[Scubastud16]

D.A.;

First off, thank you very much for your service. I would of course be down for some exploratory shore diving (I'm from the West Coast). I should get my work schedule for the next month or so on Monday/Tuesday, so I'll see if I can make it your way.

If not, there are PLENTY of divers in the area, many of which I'm sure will pop in this thread and say hello.

Check out the "Ero Jacks" thread in the Trip part of the Conch forum, that's a great little shore dive from what I'm told, and it's done fairly often by people on this board.

Danny

[Event Horizon]

Thanks for the recommendations and consideration. I have researched both of those dive sites, they look very promising. Are there any wrecks accesible from the shore, i don't mind swimming a bit. Also wetsuits. I dive a 4/3 out here, but the water is 59 up top. Is it too cold at depth to trunk it out there?

[solensdotter]

Hi DA,

Not too much in the way of wrecks that are swimmable from shore. I believe that the kayaking crew do make it to a couple of them, though. If you have the $ for a boat, there are some fantastic wrecks here in the area.

You are definitely going to want some exposure protection, water temps over the weekend were around 75°. I like that for swim practice, but it's pretty cold for diving, especially for longer (e.g. shore) or multiple dives. Unless there is a thermocline, there shouldn't be a significant temp difference between the surface and depth. In fact, it is often warmer at depth than in the shallower waters near shore this time of year. Most of us warm water wimps are now in 5mm, but being used to colder water, you could probably get away with 3mm...

Also keep an eye on the "Trips & Local Marketplace" thread here under the Florida Conch Divers. As has already been mentioned, there is an active group of divers here in south Florida. Feel free to join any of the posted dives - that's why they're there!

[deepstops]

D.A.,

I'd be happy to jump on a boat dive with you and I can hook you up with tanks for any dives we go on (I'm assuming you're not bringing tanks).

[Event Horizon]

hmmm, it would be a shame if i didnt make it on a boat dive while out there. You guys have any recommendations, and trip cost. There about a hundred a head out here

[deepstops]

hmmm, it would be a shame if i didnt make it on a boat dive while out there. You guys have any recommendations, and trip cost. There about a hundred a head out here

Of course we do

Personally, I like Parrot Island Scuba out of Pompano, American Dream II out of Fort Lauderdale, and RJ Diving out of South Miami Beach. As far as prices, they are around half of what you're used to paying.

[Event Horizon]

Yeah, I researched the dive charters out there....47 dollars, thats awesome. Im for sure going to be going on a few boat trips. Hopefully there will be a club trip that I can get on. Is spear fishing legal there, say off the beach or what not.

[CBulla]

Howdy Sailor! Right outa blocks I would like to thank you for your willingness to serve!

Don't forget our very own ScubaKevDM and his op Underwater Explorers. He's got a georgous boat I still have yet to get over to take a ride on, but maybe between Xmas and New Year...

Hmmm I wonder what the water temp is.....