Ft. Pickens Jettie (dive on a slack tide?)

[evensplit]

With a 1.24' change at the "bay entrance" at approximately 0530, I would try between 0510 and 0550. With a 1.24' change, you should get a bout 15-20 minutes of decreased current on either side of the high. The tide tables for the "bay entrance" are usually pretty close.

 

[gcbryan]

There is a difference of more than a foot.








So given the above, the best time to dive the Pensacola Jetties this Sunday is between 5:06 AM and 7:48AM . except the difference of more than a foot
A couple of more questions:
1. Why is it that only the midchannel reports shows slack/ebb?
2. There are several Pensacola Entrance points….which is the best one to use for the Jetties? (however I think only mid channel shows slack and ebb.

Tides for Pensacola Bay Entrance August 29, 2009.
Day High Tide Height Sunrise Moon Time % Moon
/Low Time Feet Sunset Visible

Sa 29 High 5:06 AM 1.4 6:25 AM Set 12:52 AM 63
29 Low 5:53 PM 0.1 7:15 PM Rise 3:36 PM

Pensacola Bay entrance, midchannel, 8/29/09
2009-08-29 00:43 CDT 1.97 knots Max Flood
2009-08-29 00:51 CDT Moonset
2009-08-29 06:24 CDT Sunrise
2009-08-29 07:48 CDT -0.00 knots Slack, Ebb Begins
2009-08-29 12:13 CDT -2.35 knots Max Ebb
2009-08-29 15:35 CDT Moonrise
2009-08-29 18:52 CDT 0.00 knots Slack, Flood Begins
2009-08-29 19:15 CDT Sunset

Pensacola Bay Entrance, Pensacola Bay, Florida
2009-08-29 00:51 CDT Moonset
2009-08-29 05:27 CDT 1.39 feet High Tide
2009-08-29 06:24 CDT Sunrise
2009-08-29 15:35 CDT Moonrise
2009-08-29 18:00 CDT 0.15 feet Low Tide
2009-08-29 19:15 CDT Sunset

Entrance, Pensacola Bay, Florida 30.3333° N, 87.3167° W
2009-08-29 00:51 CDT Moonset
2009-08-29 05:05 CDT 1.38 feet High Tide
2009-08-29 06:24 CDT Sunrise
2009-08-29 15:35 CDT Moonrise
2009-08-29 17:52 CDT 0.06 feet Low Tide
2009-08-29 19:15 CDT Sunset

Not all stations are current reporting stations. The other stations are more mathematical predictions I think would be the correct way of looking at it.

Larger exchange days indicate that currents will be higher and therefore the the slack period is shorter with less room for error and greater consequences if an error is made due to faster currents.

A large exchange (difference between high and low tide) day here would be a difference of 12 feet, a medium day might be 5 or 6 feet and a low exchange day would be a foot or two.

So you can see local knowledge is needed since the local poster here indicated that at that site 1 or 2 feet is high.

 

[evensplit]

Excellent addition! I spent a long day with the boat high and dry because of the "giant" tide changes up there. I was new to the area and had never seen a 10 foot tide change before.

 

[LollyO]

I would guess you would need to be a registered camper to be in the park that early.

 

[mike_s]

I would guess you would need to be a registered camper to be in the park that early.

or if you have the Florida "annual park pass", you qualify to get the gate codes for early entrance.

 

[OldNSalty]

What time are the gates open normally?

 

[jridg]

Lolly,

Will you be in the area before the dive? IF so, I would highly recommend talking to the local shops - there are several in the area that do checkouts at Ft. Pickens. I haven't been there for several years, but I recall that we would always do the dives towards the end of the tide change to enable us to work with the current.

Also, if memory serves, they are in high jellyfish season right now - I recommend a lycra hood and regulator mouth guard (available at the dive shops) to prevent stings.

 

[evensplit]

No jellyfish this year - so far (knock on wood).

 

[paul madox]

I would check the moon cycle as this can help.
Dive on neap tide rather than a spring tide a full moon is Spring as is no moon or as they say a new moon so between full moon and a new moon is neap and in between new moon a full moon is a neap and if you use this along with slack water the current's will not be as strong as spring tide you should be able to look this up on the net

 

[paul madox]

What i'm saying is dive neap not spring It can help used a long with slack water