Florida: West Palm Beach
Pura Vida Divers
West Palm Beach, Florida
January 12-14th, 2019
Buddy: Dave and Cathy Karabag, Adela Isovic
Captain: Scott Guides: Scott and Britt Boat: Marín
3 dives 2 Hours 29 minutes
Flew into Orlando, plane was delayed due to snow in Chicago, but eventually Adela and I made it. Drove down to West Palm Beach and stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott. Dives were good, 2-3’ waves, but sunny and warm. Water temps were 75-77*, was chilly by the end of the 3rd dive, was glad I had the 5mm and hood.
Midreef & Spearmint Barge
74’ for 37 minutes
77°F
Reef was fairly flat and nothing too exciting. Had a decently strong current, spent most of the dive just going along with the current. Saw a very large loggerhead sea turtle that was about the size of me. Ended the dive at the Spearmint Barge, saw it and a large barracuda as we were ascending.
Bath & Tennis
52’ for 52 minutes
77°F
Site had a lot more fish and eels than the previous one some decent sized barrel sponges. There was a large 9’ (appox.) nurse shark that we were able to get close to before it swam off.
Dive-O-Rama
61’ for 60 minutes
77°F
This was the best of the three dives. There was a mild current for the first half and the last part of the dive. About midway came to a trench that we swam up through; saw a small mantis shrimp, lots of eels, and a stone/scorpion fish.
