Dive Review of Multiple operators/Private home in
The Continental USA/Jupiter, West Palm, Boynton

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Multiple operators/Private home: "Great diving in southeast Florida", Apr, 2021, by Craig A Wood, PA, US ( Top Contributor 51 reports with 48 Helpful votes). Report 11519 has 2 Helpful votes.
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Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations	N/A	Food	N/A
Service and Attitude	N/A	Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
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Comments	So, after a miniscule 28 day surface interval, I made it back down to SE Florida The airport in Philadelphia was the busiest I've seen it since before the pandemic. The Admiral's club is open in B/C and is even serving some non-packaged food. I had a nice avocado toast sandwich with hard boiled egg and smoked salmon . More of the vendors are open now, but not all. Everyone is still wearing masks in the airport and on the plane. The Palm Beach airport was also busier than my last visit, everyone masked. National Car worked well, a better selection in Emerald Isle and everyone masked. I made my one visit to Winn Dixie for groceries, everyone was masked. Dive day 1, April 21 I was scheduled for 2 tanks in the AM and 2 tanks in the PM with Jupiter Dive Center. Only the AM boat went, I was the only one signed up for the afternoon. Nearly the whole boat was chartered by a dive club from Kansas. Only about half to two-thirds wore masks, not worth fighting as we were outdoors with good ventilation and good distancing. I'm fully vaccinated since beginning of March. The water was cool. It was about 77 at the surface but a solid 74 at depth. There was almost no current, we essentially swam the reefs. The visibility was on the poor side, 25-30 feet. First dive was at Spadefish Point, second was at Loggerhead. The 2nd was the better of the two. Five Loggerheads, a couple of Goliath Grouper, three Reef Sharks, a beautiful big Southern Ray, many Green Morays, and all the usual reef fish. I'm very glad to be back down. Dive day 2, April 22 Day started out cool for Florida, mid-60s, but got warmer to the low 80s Did a 3 tanker with JDC today. Seas were 2-3, some bigger. Water temp was a little higher, 75-76. Visibility was the same, 25-30 feet. There was little to no current, seemed like it was trying to switch over to south on the first 2 dives, mild north on the 3rd. Did Wreck Trek on the 1st dive, by request from the group from Kansas, did Area 51 going south on the 2nd dive and Bluffs going north on the 3rd dive. Wreck Trek was sparse, a Loggerhead at the Zion Train, a single Goliath Grouper at the Esso Bonaire, no sharks. Area 51 was also sparse, a couple of Reef Sharks. Bluffs was easily the best dive of the day, many Reef Sharks, a gorgeous Southern Ray, a couple of Loggerheads, many Green Morays, a very small Spotted Moray, of course all the usual reef fish were on all the dives. Dive day 3, April 23 Did a 2 tanker with Narcosis out of Riviera Beach Marina. It was a beautiful morning, mostly sunny, with a moderate wind. The water was a bit warmer, 77-78 degrees, I was fine in my 5 mm and hooded vest. There was a trickle on north current, visibility was also somewhat improved, around 50 feet. Seas were 3-5 with occasional bigger. Pickup by the Narcosis was not bad at all. First dive was at Mid-Reef, second dive at North Double Ledges. Sightings were not spectacular but solid. There was a nice small field of Yellowhead Jawfish at Mid-Reef, Several beautiful Giant Anemones and Green Morays at both sites. A huge sleeping Nurse Shark at Double Ledges and a very big Bull Shark at the end of the dive, just before the jump across the sand. Nobody going out of Boynton or Jupiter tomorrow morning, will be going out again with Narcosis in the morning Dive day 4, April 24 Did another 2 tanker with Narcosis out of Riviera Beach/West Palm It was a nice day today, mostly sunny, but quite windy. Seas were up, a good 3-5 with some bigger. Water was 76-77. moderate north current on the 1st dive, brisk on the second. Visibility was around 40 feet. We did the first dive at Yellowtail through Larsen's Valley. The second dive was at Governor's River Walk. The first dive was pretty unremarkable, relaxing, with the usual reef fish. The second dive dropped us onto a large Bull Shark, a couple more were seen. There were about a half dozen Goliath Grouper, I was grateful to get out today. I got slammed a bit getting back on the boat after the 2nd dive. Hoping to get in 4 dives in Boynton Beach tomorrow Dive day 5, April 25 This was a nearly perfect Boynton Beach dive day for me. I did 4 dives with Loggerhead, out of Boynton Harbor Marina. The morning was Capt Jim and deckhand Gia. The afternoon was Capt Alex and deckhand Maricela, It was a warm, mostly sunny day, winds were moderate. Seas were mostly around 2 feet. The water temperature was 78 degrees! Visibility was around 50 feet The first two dives were at outside reef sites that are favorites of mine, 007 and Green Roof. The outside reef was lovely today with moderate north current and good visibility. Besides all the usual reef fish, there was a large, friendly, Goliath Grouper, a big male Loggerhead, and a gorgeous large Southern Ray. The afternoon dives were down at Delray Ledges and then up the the northern Boynton Reef at Jerry's No Name. Delray was packed with fish, countless huge schools of grunt. Jerry's was incredible with a couple of Loggerhead, three massive schools of Spadefish, a couple large schools of Bermuda Chub and all the reef usuals. There was a treat at the end of the dive when a large Lemon Shark joined me and swam slow circles around for several minutes before heading off. I didn't know exactly where I ended the dive, Alex told me I was less than 100 feet from the end of the reef, Next would have been the jump to the east island. Four and a half hours underwater at some of the best sites in Boynton, doesn't get a whole lot better. Dive day 6. April 26 Wow, this was a great day. Did 2 dives with Loggerhead out of Boynton. The day was sunny and warm with mild wind. Seas were mostly 2-3 feet. Water temperature was 78 degrees. There was a mild north current and visibility was 60+ feet on the outside reef and 30-40 feet on the inside. My first dive was outside Clubhouse with a crossover to Gulfstream The outside reef was gorgeous in the good visibility with all the usual reef fish. The highlight was a big Bull Shark that swam out from between two fingers as I entered it. The second dive was outside of Black Condo/Briny Breezes with a crossover to Briny Breezes. About 10 minutes into the dive, I saw a beautiful 10+ foot Great Hammerhead. It swam leisurely south just outside of me . I then came to an area I know well, the valley between two fingers that I call Glassy Sweeper Cave. There is a "small" Goliath Grouper that has been living there for some time. I have previously reported on it last July Trip Report - Back in the high life, part 2 It has a tunnel from the outside of the finger that connects with Glassy Sweeper Cave. It is very friendly and allows you to approach to within about 5 feet, and will "play" with you, making approaches and retreats while doing the shimmy, making yawns, etc. Eventually, when it is tired of playing or you have approached too close, it retreats into its tunnel. Just before I left this area, a huge group of large, silver Jacks came sweeping though. I was so dazzled by the silver shimmer in the bright sunlight that I did not pay enough attention to their appearance. I know these were not one of the common Jacks I usually see. By their body shape and size, I'm guessing Crevalle Jacks, I can't swear to the characteristic black splotches/spots. Just to top it off, there were three Nurse Sharks that paid me a visit during the dive. A spectacular day of diving. It looks like I may have tomorrow off due to high seas and winds. Still hoping to get in one more day before I head back home. Almost dive day 7, April 27 No diving today due to winds and seas. Admittedly, I did not call Narcosis last night to see if they were going out today. After getting somewhat slammed getting back on the boat last Saturday after the 2nd dive, I decided to take it a little easier. I'm not as young, strong, agile, or flexible as I once was. It used to be, if the boat goes, I go, I'm revising that a little I rode my bike to the Boynton Inlet this morning, not terrible, but moderate breakers across the inlet. I saw only one large fishing boat come in while I was there Dive day 8, April 28 Wow, a great last day for this visit. Did a 2 tanker with JDC this morning. There were only 5 divers, luxury. The day was warm and sunny with mild wind. Seas were 2-3, mostly 2. We had a mild north current, water temp 78 degrees, visibility 60+ feet. The first dive was on Bluffs, the second on Tunnels. The first dive was very relaxing, a big Goliath Grouper, a Loggerhead, one Reef Shark. The second dive was wild. Several Goliath Grouper, several Loggerhead, and Reef Sharks everywhere, for nearly the entire dive. Probably some of the same ones circling around, I recognized a couple, it was hard to tell. So, I was able to dive 7 out of 8 dive days this visit, 17 dives, just a little short of 17 hours. I used 3 different operators in 3 marinas to get in all my dives. I had to hustle a few days to find a ride. A great visit to SE FL.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, Cayman Brac, Bonaire, Curacao, Turks & Caicos, Roatan, Cozumel, Key Largo, SE Florida (Boynton Beach, Jupiter, West Palm...), Maui, Oahu, Cape Ann, San Diego, Costa Rica, Panama, Cocos Island, Red Sea, Galapagos, Revillagigedos
Closest Airport	Palm Beach International	Getting There	Direct flight from Philadelphia rental car
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy, cloudy, dry	Seas	calm, choppy, currents, no currents
Water Temp	74-78°F / 23-26°C	Wetsuit Thickness	5
Water Visibility	30-80 Ft/ 9-24 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Each operator with some reasonable guidelines
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics	N/A
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	All boats has some facilities for cameras. Crews were all good with cameras

Report currently has 2 Helpful votes

Subscriber's Comments

By Greg Bruce in WA, US at May 01, 2021 20:38 EST

Thanks for taking the time to post on Undercurrent Craig!

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Dive Review of Multiple operators/Private home in The Continental USA/Jupiter, West Palm, Boynton

Multiple operators/Private home: "Great diving in southeast Florida", Apr, 2021,

Photos Submitted with this Report

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subscriber's Comments

Dive Review of Multiple operators/Private home in
The Continental USA/Jupiter, West Palm, Boynton