West Palm Beach recommendations

[SSC-uba]

Looking to head to West Palm Beach in August/September for a few days to dive with some Goliath Grouper. Does anyone have any recommendations on who to dive with as well as what other dives we should target at that time of year? (ex. are there any good shark dives at that time of year?)

My buddy and I are reasonably confident AOW divers (only ~50 dives, but in various conditions and temperatures), but we may be making the trip with some friends who are just starting off and may be doing their referral dives while there. Are Goliath Grouper dives possible as a referral dives or should we look at splitting into groups and go to different dive sites?

Appreciate any recommendations!

 

[caruso]

Goliath Groupers tend to hang out on the deeper wrecks in that area, around 90' or so, usually done as drift dives meaning descending without a line and ascending after deploying an SMB. Out of range of non AOW divers.

Split up.

I recommend Captain Dustin with Florida Scuba Charters in West Palm and Captain Dave with Spashdown Divers in Boynton. At least a half dozen good diveable wrecks in West Palm, only one wreck in Boynton, that's the MV Castor and you'll see Goliaths there for sure, almost any time of year but in high numbers Sept-Oct.

I hear Jupiter is good for Goliaths on the 3 area wrecks that are close enough to do as one dive, but I've never been. Had a dive scheduled with Jupiter Dive Center but got blown out a month or so back. They're top rated. Watch for another Dive Op in Jupiter that charges a hefty extra fee for weights over and above the charter cost and tanks. For that reason I cannot recommend them.

 

[uncfnp]

Looking to head to West Palm Beach in August/September for a few days to dive with some Goliath Grouper. Does anyone have any recommendations on who to dive with as well as what other dives we should target at that time of year? (ex. are there any good shark dives at that time of year?)

My buddy and I are reasonably confident AOW divers (only ~50 dives, but in various conditions and temperatures), but we may be making the trip with some friends who are just starting off and may be doing their referral dives while there. Are Goliath Grouper dives possible as a referral dives or should we look at splitting into groups and go to different dive sites?

Appreciate any recommendations!

If you are there during the full moon in September, look for a special GG Full moon night dive. I had the opportunity years ago and it still ranks as one of my best Florida dives, heck any dive, ever. I should add that from my experience I would recommend it only to experienced divers comfortable with drift night dives.

 

[PoolsOpen]

I recommend Narcosis in WPB. Request GG dive and they will let you know if they are doing the Corridor wrecks. A lot of GGs there during that time.

I then recommend another day at Jupiter Dive Center. Also request GG dive. If they do, it will be on the Jupiter wreck treck and if you're lucky, in addition to the GGs you might also see several lemon sharks..

I recommend Nitrox on both dvie sites since they will be around 80 ft or so.

Both ops put a guide in the water and when your group finishes the dive, ascend, inflate your sausage and boat picks you up.

 

[Frank Dieber]

Dixie Divers out of Deerfield Beach,( the next town south of Boca) they have been an awesome dive shop / escort since my father took me there in the 90’s twice a year till I lived in Fl. For a year in 2001. They had a day dive charter boat out of the marina I worked at Pannell’s Marine witch is a great place as well. They chartered out of Boca inlet and dove all the reefs and wrecks in the area. If you look them up on google they pop right up

 

[Frank Dieber]

I recommend Narcosis in WPB. Request GG dive and they will let you know if they are doing the Corridor wrecks. A lot of GGs there during that time.

I then recommend another day at Jupiter Dive Center. Also request GG dive. If they do, it will be on the Jupiter wreck treck and if you're lucky, in addition to the GGs you might also see several lemon sharks..

I recommend Nitrox on both dvie sites since they will be around 80 ft or so.

Both ops put a guide in the water and when your group finishes the dive, ascend, inflate your sausage and boat picks you up.

Jupiter is a great place to dive if you work your way up that way because the Gulf Stream comes closer to that area of Fl. On high tide your vis is amazing!!!!

 

[scubadada]

Hi @SSC-uba

I have many dives in SE FL over the last 10 years. I do most of my diving in Boynton Beach, best reef, most and most diverse reef fish. The Castor has an endemic population of 20+ Goliath Grouper, this goes up dramatically during aggregation. I dive with Underwater Explorers, Loggerhead, and Starfish, in that order, out of Boynton Harbor Marina.

Diving out of Jupiter is excellent, I use Jupiter Dive Center. They label Goliath Grouper dives specifically on their reservation page. Most of these dives are on the wreck trek and on MG-111, very reliable.

I use Narcosis in West Palm.

Have a great visit, feel free to message me with questions.

Good diving, Craig

 

[Soloist]

Dive site MG-111 may be the best option for you. At 65 feet it’s a relatively shallow Goliath wreck dive by comparison. There are some concrete columns behind the wreck where you can typically find Goliaths at roughly 50 feet. I have done this dive with Jupiter Dive Center and on the Narcosis. One of the DMs on the Narcosis took this picture of us at the MG-111 several years ago. Enjoy your trip.

 

[scubadada]

Did Finch take that?

 

[Soloist]

Nope. Damien snapped that one, but Finch took this one of me in a staring contest with a grouper a couple of years ago.