Hi,
We live in Ft. Lauderdale but do almost all of our diving in West Palm/Jupiter/Boynton. Our suggestions, going from north to south, and not in any order of preference, are:
Jupiter:
Operators,
Scubaworks (Capt Sl8r) charters. Great operation, very nice boat, can set you up with HP steel tanks (100s and 120s) if you want, and any nitrox mix you want.
Jupiter Dive Center. Similar comments.
Jupiter "Must See" Dive Sites:
Zion Wrecks. Not because they are spectacular wrecks, but because the draw large aggregations of goliath groupers during the late summer mating season. You might be a little early for that, but definitely worth a look as some are always there. Max depth 95'.
MG-111 Wreck. Depth 60'. A sunken barge. It never disappoints for huge variety of fish life. A great second dive after the Zion or reefs listed below.
Juno Ledges: These are reefs that start in about 75' and drop down to 90-95'. The prettiest reefs in Jupiter. The best areas are called Spadefish Point and Monkey's Ledge. Both are absolutely gorgeous. Drift along the drop (pretty steep with 20' of profile and don't bother swimming up on top. You see goliaths, turtles, sometimes sharks.
Tunnels: A shallower reef system, about 60'. You really need to do this on a high tide. It is close enough to the inlet that the outgoing tide brings murky water out. If you do this time it for a trip that takes place on high tide. Another very nice reef. Tunnels is famous for lots of Caribbean reef sharks. Also has goliath grouper and turtles. Again, a great second dive.
Deep Ledge/"Hole In The Wall": This is a deep and advanced dive on reef ledges at about 125 to 135'. There is a swim-through at about 137' (the "hole") but we have not done it as I am not going overhead at that depth without redundant/tech gear, which I don't have, but others do it on standard single gear routinely. Whatever your risk tolerance is. This is a no-margin-for-error challenging dive. Currents can be very strong and can jam you up in the reef or blow you off the site. The dive is short (9 minutes or so no-deco). You need special nitrox mixes of 28% (Scubaworks can set you up with that, in a steel 120--mandatory minimum size tank for this dive in my opinion). If you go into deco you have to be able to hold your stops while drifting, which means being able to deploy your smb from depth.
The payoff is spectacular large marine life. Bull sharks, reef sharks, even hammerheads are common sightings here, along with goliaths and occasional surprises like mola-mola, mantas or whale sharks (don't count on those, but they happen a few times a year).
West Palm Beach. You have already been in contact with JASA. You can't go wrong with them. IF, however, you need other operators, I like Pura Vida Divers and Narcosis Dive Charters. Pura Vida is a shop that can set up with all gear and the charter. Narcosis works with local shops but Force E is one of our favorites as well.
Dive Sites:
Mizpah wreck. A large very nice wreck with lots of growth and fish life. 85' deep or so.
Breakers Reef: Several different areas such as Breakers, Ron's Rock, Horseshoe, Flower Gardens and others mentioned above. These are 50-60' and are beautiful. We see LOTS of turtles on these reefs and July is prime turtle season, you should see quite a few.
Blue Heron Bridge: Of all the dives, this is the ultimate "must see" if you are interested in fascinating macro life. You have read about it I am sure. We usually are in the water 2 hours before high tide to an hour after high tide as the vis decreases rapidly when the tide changes. We use steel HP 100s which you can get from Force-E and give us almost exactly 180 minutes.
Boynton Beach:
Operators: We use Underwater Explorers. Can't comment on anyone else because we like them so much we haven't used anyone else. The "must see" locations would include:
Castor Wreck: A variety of depths from 120' to 70'. This is a huge wreck with lots of life and big fish sighings are routine.
Black Condo Reef: Simply beautiful, 50' or so. A perfect second dive.
You have plenty to do during your 5 days here! You are going to LOVE drift diving. It is great fliding along the reef effortlessly, and even drifting onto and away from wrecks instead of struggling down and up a line in a stiff current.
