On the Ledge of the Turtles

Just a bit South of the Pelican Grand and off the beach from Tower 20 is an area the size of a large room raised up with old staghorn coral. There are a few coral heads on it and around it. I call it the Ledge of Turtles because the first time I stumbled upon it, I saw six turtles there. Almost every time since that first time, when I am lucky enough to find it, I see turtles on the Ledge of Turtles. Today was no exception.


The visibility was poor. There was a mild wind from the SE and the sand was stirred up. There was some surf, but it was not difficult to get out. I left the beach just South of Tower 20, by the showers. I swam NE and swam right to the Ledge of Turtles. Under a small ledge, I saw the

two-barnacled Hawksbill we swam with this past Summer. She was resting, but got up when she heard my bubbles. I took a few pictures, but tried not to disturb her too much. I spotted a small school of Atlantic Spadefish off in the distance, so I swam to them for a couple of shots, and the Hawksbill followed me.

We had a leisurely swim back to the Ledge of Turtles and she settled back in under the ledge while I explored the rest of the Ledge, looking for eels and crabs. I did not find any, so I went back to see her and get a few more shots. Then I took off for the beach, taking care to get out of the water near the Pelican, where the lifeguards do not patrol. It was a terrific dive.

Diving Across from the Park

Dianne and I met Luis on A1A across from Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. We planned to spend the day, and we did not leave the apartment until around 8:30 am. We got to the beach just as Luis was turning from Sunrise onto A1A and parked near Tower 15.

We walked a bit North of the Tower to enter the water for our first dive. There was a little wind, a slight current and a mild surf. The entry was easy. We then headed East, but with three people taking pictures, it was a logistical nightmare. I'd take a pictures and look around to find either Luis or Dianne setting up for a shot, so I'd find something else to shoot while I waited. I'm sure they were encountering the same thing. We spent over 80 minutes underwater and barely got on the reef. We saw and photographed eels and a lot of reef fish. We got separated from Dianne once, partly because she did not bring her compass and did not follow us to the East.

We spent well over an hour warming up before we made a second dive. This time, we entered from South of the Tower and we made it to the Eastern edge of the reef. Dianne left the camera in the truck since she could not both take pictures and keep track of Luis and I. We got separated from Luis on the way back and he somehow swam past us in the poor visibility. He got to the beach first while we were waiting for him at the surface near the swim buoys.

While I had tanks to make three dives, neither Dianne nor I were interested. We went home.

Diving the Sea Emperor with Dixie Divers

Luis has some gift certificates to dive on the Lady Go Diver out of Deerfield Beach and had been eager to use them before they expired at the end of this month. It has been cold, and there are not a lot of divers eager to pay $60 for a 2-tank dive in cold weather. Pavan needs 6 paying divers before he will run the boat, but he had a trip going on Friday morning. Luis invited me to go with him.

I got to the park early: about 7:45 am. No one was there. The boat was not there. Luis came at 8:00 am. He called the shop, and they assured us the boat would go. Captain Nick brought the boat in at 8:30 am. We waited for the other divers, but everyone was aboard by 9:00 am and we departed. We got to the Sea Emperor about 20 minutes later.

As I stepped off of the swim platform, I saw a crab swimming in the water right below me. I looked around once I was in, but the crab was long gone. There was very little current and Luis and I dropped down to the wreck. The first thing we saw was a dead nurse shark just below where the line was tied. We swam under the stern and penetrated the wreck, swimming from compartment to compartment from stern to bow. I spotted a Green Moral Eel on the top of the wreck and we went up to get some pictures.








By this time, the other divers were gathering around, so we headed East through the culverts, where we spotted a Goliath Grouper. As I turned to get Luis' attention, the Grouper left the culvert in which he had been hiding and we got some parting shots. Then we swam to the rocks where there were lots of reef fish, but I could not find any stingrays in the sand. We turned back at the end of the rocks, and a large Southern Atlantic Stingray swam up underneath me. I shot video of him as we went back to the wreck.



When we got back to the Sea Emperor, the ray swam up on the top, then swooped down at me and pushed his shoulders into my thighs, looking for food. I had nothing for him, so I pushed him back and petted his belly and he swam away. After the long swim back, I was low on air, so we went up the line and were the last divers back.

Our second dive was a drift dive along Moray Bend, just North of the Boca Raton Inlet. The surface interval had been brutally cold and I was not looking forward to getting back in the water, but I did. We dropped to the reef and swam to the Western Edge, where we found a large Green Moray Eel. There was a lot of life on the reef, but little that was exceptional. As we were coming up, Luis watched a Loggerhead Turtle come by to check me out. I was busy with the flag line and did not notice the turtle. Luis got a picture, but you can barely make out a dark shape which is the turtle. He did get my attention and I watched the turtle swim to to the sea bed and then disappear from sight. I could tell from the shute pattern that it was not a hawksbill and it was much too big to be a Green Sea Turtle.

Octopus Redoux

Luis and I went to the beach at Tower 19, looking for the rocks were I found the octopus on Sunday. We swam out past the swim buoys and went down. The seas were calm despite 5-10 knot winds from the North. Visibility was not bad, but could have been better.

We found several of the round-hole amphipods, but were unable to lure any of them from their holes. Most dashed way down in the dark and could not be seen at all.



As we left the sand, a small Green Sea Turtle swam past us, but was moving too fast for me to catch him. I took some pictures but they were all backscatter.

We just got on the reef when we spotted a small purplemouth moray eel. We also swam into the staghorn coral forest, where we found all manner of reef fish and a cute little reef urchin, as well.

















What we did not find were the rocks where I saw the Octopus. We swam to the Eastern edge of the reef, then went South before turning West and heading back to the beach. They were large rocks and there were several of them, but we must have swam right by them in the limited visibility.

As we got to the beach, we saw a second Green Sea Turtle. I swam after it, but could not get close. The photos I took were filled with backscatter from the strobe. I was cold and Luis had things to do, so we stopped at the single dive.

The Octopus at the Eastern Edge of the Reef

I did not dive on Saturday, so I was not sure if Luis would be at the beach this morning. Just in case he was not, I got up early enough to make two dives before the Lifeguards got there at 9:30 am. The air temperature was 62 degrees, but the water was a bit warmer at 68 degrees, and it felt good during the first half hour of the dive.

Luis was not at the beach, so I went in by myself. I entered a mild surf near Tower 19, and went looking for the Staghorn Coral Forest Luis and I swam through on Friday. I did not find it on this first dive. I saw very little on my way to the Eastern edge of the reef, but on the way back, I found a grouping of several large rocks with lots of reef fish, a large Red Grouper and an octopus.

The Octopus was apparently dining on Conch and was so engrossed in his meal that he did not notice me until I was very close. At first, I did not notice him either. Instead, I was focused on the large Red Grouper that was following him. Then I saw the octopus swim towards a large rock right next to me. I got some pictures, then swam away and watched as the Octopus went back to the Conch shell on which he had been working. The second time I approached, I held my breath and was able to get very close to him. He was large, much larger than other octopus I have seen on these reefs.


I was pretty excited and surprisingly still warm, so I was eager to change tanks and make a second dive before the Lifeguards showed up. I got out of the water and walked back to the truck. I propped my dive flag up against the truck and some older woman hit it then tripped on it and broke it. I couldn't find any way to fix it, so I packed up and went home.

When I got home, I had an email from Luis, who had wanted to dive this morning. I called and we agreed to meet at the beach for an afternoon dive. I had to first go to the shop and get a new flag, however. I got to the beach a little after 1:00 pm and there were no parking spots from Sunrise North. I lucked into one South of Tower 19 and grabbed it. Luis was parked just North of Tower 19. We geared up and met in the middle, then went diving.

We headed East from the beach, but started somewhat North of Tower 19. We ran into the Staghorn Coral Forest and found the coral supports. Still not sure what these things are. I was looking for the large rocks from this morning and the octopus, but we did not see them. Probably South of where we were, but in low visibility, it is very difficult to know.






By the time we got back to the beach, I was shivering. I was too cold to make a third dive.

Exploring Tower 19

Luis Monroy and I decided to check out some new portions of the reef, so we went in at Tower 19, which is the second Lifeguard Tower South of the Pelican. The water was relatively calm, but cold. The air temperature was colder, though, so it felt warmer, at least at the start of the dive.

On the way out, we spent a lot of time in a dense Staghorn Coral Forest. Although it was a clear and sunny morning, the visibility was poor, with lots of back scatter in the water. I found a couple of Frecked Seahares. I think they are mating, though it is a little difficult to tell with a Seahare.

We swam past the staghorn coral and found 3 huge rocks then three rebar driven into the bottom. Just past the rebar, we found several medival looking racks that looks as if they were designed to hold the coral while it was growing.

Not long after that, we came to the end of the reef. While there were lots of reef fish, there was not much that was unusual and the visibility was so poor that I hardly got any pictures. I did find a new fish: a juvenile Creole Wrasse. This is a hamlet sized, blue fish with four distinctive bars on its back.

We swam South along the Western edge of the reef, then headed West to the beach. I was interested in how broad the staghorn coral forest was, but it proved to be not so large. Somehow, we got back to the sand without passing any of the staghorn coral. We did come across the same Sea Robbin we saw a few days ago, however.

By the time we made it back onto the beach, I was shivering from the cold. Not even Luis was interested in a second dive. We both elected to take Saturday off, too.

Looking for the Ledge of Turtles

Temperatures are still in the high-70's to low 80's and it has been several days since Dianne has been diving. This morning, she decided to come. We met Luis Monroy on A1A near Sunrise, then decided to head up the beach to the Pelican. As usual, we were looking for the Ledge of Turtles, but did not see it. We did see a lot of reef fish and a pair of Freckled Seahares.

We swam to the Western edge of the reef and back. The water was generally clear, but hazy about 20 ft out. The wind was fairly stiff from the NW, which meant the seas were calm. It was a good dive.




I took my Canon 5d Mk 2, Luis had his Nikon and Dianne had my Intova, but could get get the camera to work since I had managed to get the batteries in wrong. Still, we had an interesting time taking pictures and exploring the reef. By the time we got back, though, I was chilled and Dianne was cold enough to pass on the second dive. I got this picture of a Doctorfish sporting a Cymothoid Isopod. These Isopods start out as tiny free-swimming males who attach themselves to a host fish with their several pairs of legs and eat food they find floating in the water. Once attached, they loose the ability to swim and become attached for life. If they are not paired with a female, the males may transform into females. On the way in to the beach, Dianne spotted a Sea Robbin and I got a few pictures, but the battery on my strobe was dead, so only a couple came out.

After drying off and warming up, Luis and I made a second dive. The wind had come up some, but the sea was still quite calm. This time we entered slightly North of the main entry point. We headed due East, but still did not find the Ledge of Turtles. We swam over some pretty barren sea bed. We did find a fish neither of us had seen before: a juvenile Creole Wrasse. The fish was hiding in some Staghorn Coral, but I got some pictures and ultimately identified it because of the coloration and the distinctive pattern on its back. I was shivering by the time we got to the beach.

Enjoying the Coral Knoll off Sunrise and A1A

Luis got hung up in traffic and called about 7:45 am to tell me he would be late meeting me at 8:00 am. The water was still and clear, so I parked just North of Sunrise on A1A, planning to dive the Coral Knoll. I have had some trouble in the past finding the Knoll. It's only the size of a large room and a very short swim off the beach. In limited visibility, however, it is very easy to swim right past it. I know because I have done it. Several times, but not today.

Luis got to the site shortly after 8:00 am and we got in, swam beyond the buoys and descended. There was very little wind and not much wave action. We headed East and found the Knoll in a few minutes. Lots of reef fish. Found a crab, a few anemones and even a squat anemone shrimp, which I only found while editing my pictures. We found a Green Sea Turtle, which I chased for some pictures. While chasing the turtle, I lost track of where I was. In a few minutes I lost the Coral Knoll and could not find it again.


The second dive was a little more challenging. The wind came up from the Southeast and stirred up the waves. The visibility was still good, but not as clear and there is some doubt that it will be good tomorrow after a night of SE winds.

We missed the Coral Knoll and swam to the Western edge of the reef, where we found a lot of a small nurse shark under a coral head. The water temperature was 71 degrees, but I was chilled by the time we got out.

Back to the Pelican

Luis Monroy and I met at the Pelican Grand early this morning. I hoped to make a couple of dives. I brought the Canon 5d Mk II and Luis got a Nikon point and shoot for Christmas, so we seemed set for a couple of photography dives. The wind was gentle and the water calm. We swam past the swim buoys and descended, then headed East looking for the Ledge of Turtles. Of course, we did not find it.

We found a few fish and I got some photos, but saw nothing unusual, except maybe a small Sharptail Eel, which we found on our second dive. Check out the pictures below.

Alone Again at the Pelican

Debbie and Clayton Bonnell came to town on Christmas Eve. Miriam and Gunter had arrived with their son, Chris, a few days before. Dianne and I dove with Clayton and Debbie on Christmas Eve, then spent Christmas in the Storm Belt with Miriam and Gunter. The weather was cold and windy following Christmas, but we dove with Debbie and Clayton twice on Wednesday and once on Thursday, despite some rough wave action. On Friday, Gunter and his son Chris joined us, as did Luis Monroy. Miriam was along to look after Chris and to hold the hot chocolate. The visibility was terrible and the waves made getting out a challenge. Debbie and Clayton came over and we cooked Dianne's vegetarian spaghetti for dinner. Clayton and I bought a bottle of Oban. Between the scotch and a cold I had been fighting off all week, I spent Saturday in bed. I got up Sunday, but lacked the heart to go to the beach. Finally, on Monday, I got back in the water.

I went to the beach early to avoid being hassled by the lifeguards, who besides believing that the flag is protects divers, also think that diving solo is a bad thing. Most of my dives are solo dives, not because I dive alone, but because the students with whom I dive are not in a position to recognize any problems I might have and certainly are not in a position to render assistance. Besides, when I take the camera, I get in my own little world and there are not many people who will watch me as I wait for just the right shot. More about solo diving later.

The wind was slight and the water calm and relatively clear. There were no waves and there was no sand stirred up, but there was a haze about 15 feet out. I brought the Canon 5d Mk II. I headed for the Ledge of Turtles, but, as is too often the case, I missed it. I found a Porcupinefish and tried several shots with the strobe in different positions. I got several good pictures and learned a little something about strobe placement.

I also found an Orange Spotted Filefish that posed for several pictures, a True Tulip and a tightly curled Basket Star. While it was not a remarkable dive, it was a pleasant dive and very peaceful. I was in the water for 75 minutes and chilled when I got out. The lifeguard arrived before I had warmed up, so I stowed the gear and headed for home.