Finding good dive conditions in our gulf this time of the year can be a challenge.  As the ground gets saturated, sediments and yard clippings get drained away along with the deluge of rainwater.  It’s not a secret where this drainage flows; into our canals, rivers, and bays and eventually into the Gulf of Mexico.  I didn’t even think of going here but my tread lightly mind has just been pummeled with a couple thoughts.

1)      Considering the final destination of this runoff, using a more organic means of fertilizing and natural pesticides is paramount to the health of our water.  At a minimum we must limit the chemicals we cover the earth with and apply them wisely.

2)      Isn’t there a way to collect, store, and utilize some of the excess drainage that comes in droves during our rainy season?  I understand that our lack of elevation poses logistical problems but if something can’t be done on a regional level perhaps locally or within communities.  I guess both thought are related to xeriscaping.  At every level we must be cognizant of how we are impacting our environment.  Let’s all tread lightly!

I’ve been called a tree-hugger before, but I prefer kelp hugger.  Back to the diving!

I consider a boat run within ten miles of shore to be a ‘near shore’ trip.  Within the last week the near shore visibility in the Marco Island, Naples area has dropped from 15 – 20 feet to less than 10.  Our recent full moon and strong tides have done a good job of mixing that runoff with our near shore waters.  Although the surface visibility looks really good in spots, we’ve been descending into a hazy layer about 10 feet off the bottom.  Sometimes running into shallower water eliminates that hazy layer.  I call that a visibility reversal when the clearer water is closer to shore.  Typically the opposite is true.

From spring until the rainy season starts visibility reversals are common.  When the moon is halved the gentle tides have a filtering effect on waters within a few miles of shore.  The new and full moon tides are strong enough to move and mix the sand into the water and force us further offshore.  The closer you are to a major pass, the further you have to run to find clean water.  It’s important to watch and even test the close in waters on your way out to dive.  How far down that crab trap line can you see?  Often you can see the dark outlines of reefs and wrecks from the boat.    Strap on a mask and a pair of long blade fins and snorkel down 20 feet to see if there’s a hazy layer.  Don’t burn the time and fuel to run farther out into less clear water!

All bets are off as the rains begin.  I’m very thankful the rain is here.  This is the time of year we need to adjust our dive latitude and our dive attitude.  Actually here in southwest Florida it’s a longitude adjustment.  This is the time of year we do a lot of Middle Ground (10 to 15 miles offshore) trips.  We need to run farther west into deeper water to find desirable dive conditions.  Despite the longer run the depths are still fairly shallow (45 to 55 feet) which allows for decent bottom time.  The diverse gulf marine life isn’t much different there than closer in.  Wherever there is structure out here we have ‘an oasis in a desert’.  However, there is a specimen that I almost exclusively encounter in the middle ground range; sea anemones, Nemo’s home.  They are always a delight and worthy of a closer observation when spotted.  Anemones attach themselves to structure by an adhesive foot.  They are actually a predatory animal related to corals and jellyfish.  Very cool when encountered by a diver with a macro lens on their underwater camera, as they are generally home to small banded coral shrimp and make an outstanding subject.

Sometimes conditions are better than I expect, every now and then they’re poorer.  This is where a positive attitude can make or break a day.  I may drop six divers in the water after a thorough briefing, what to expect, what to do to maximize your dive and have six divers climb back on the boat an hour later with six different experiences.  In extreme cases I’ve had excited divers proclaim “that was the coolest dive I’ve ever done” while others grudge “the visibility sure was bad”, or whatever negative aspect they’re locked in on.  The same dive, one ecstatic, one unhappy diver.  The same dive?  Some people are better at accepting the IS-ness of a situation and making the most of it.  Others wallow in agony despairing over things they can’t control.  There are so many parallels between diving and life.

So strap on a positive B.C. (buoyancy compensator) and hit the water swimming every morning!  I tell every diver to slow down and putz around.  Our artificial reefs and wreck sites are relatively small debris fields (less than a football field) it can all be covered at a slower pace.  Slowing down helps us stay together with our buddy in limited visibility and also allows us to spot the smaller camouflaged critters: decorator, arrow and stone crabs, nudibranchs, shells, starfish and sand dollars.  The huge goliath grouper can be wary of divers at times.  Throttling back, picking up and investigating shells, even collecting fishing lures and weights tweaks the curiosity of all the sites inhabitants.  Maybe there’s a chance for a meal over by all those bubbles?  Slowing down actually brings the life to you.  A fast pace leads to missing and spooking the very things you’re there to see, buddy separation, and swimming repeatedly over the same points of the site with the mindset that there’s nothing there.  So slow down, accept and enjoy your surroundings on every dive, and don’t forget those life parallels!

Congratulations to John Bailey and team Spearit Co for capturing biggest fish honors at the May Spearboard Open spear fishing tournament.  The large annual St. Petersburg based rodeo attracts over 300 divers from all over the southeast.  John blasted a 110 lb. amberjack on a wreck I believe was well to the south.  The song rollercoaster pops into my head when I think about that ride.  I certified John and his 2 daughters many moons ago.  It’s a thrill for me to teach diving.  I’m grateful for all the good friends I’ve made over the years.  It’s not just a spiritual sport, it’s a spiritual lifestyle!  John started a cool niche spear gun accessory company, cool name too, check him out @ spearitco.com.

Please feel free to call Scuba Marco for a conditions report: (239) 389-7889.  Any information I have about local conditions will gladly shared.  I understand the pain of filling the boat up with gas, let’s not waste it!  Getting the boat full of buddies also helps cut down that bottom line (if you have worthy buddies).  Get out there and try diving if you’re not certified or recruit more divers if you are.  The Marco Island Divers is an informal club that meets here at Scuba Marco 1141 Bald Eagle Dr. (by the Snook Inn) the first Thursday of the month about 7 PM.  We kick back, talk diving, plan reef clean ups, and hopefully hook boat owners looking for buddies up with buddies looking for boat owners.  Stop by!

For now, a slightly longer run, forever a slower, appreciative attitude.  I would welcome any feedback and love to hear what you’re seeing out there down below: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

Until then, DIVE SAFE & STAY WET!                                     Capt. Jeff Dawson