Ralph's Florida Trip January 15-18,2010 (Trip Report and Photos)
"Trip Report Friday 1-15-2010 – Monday 1-18-2010
2010 Dive Season Ralph’s Florida Trip 2.
Geographic Location: Coral Springs Florida (American Dive Center). Diving from Pompano Beach (Hillsboro Inlet Marina).
Background: Left at night from Hagerstown, Maryland (1-15-2010) to Sanford International Airport (Orlando) using the same air carrier as before:
http://www.allegiantair.com/ . It appears the round trip will always be full because this is a very popular flight. Plan accordingly by looking at Allegiant’s website and see how late you might be able to make a spur of the moment trip.
Upon arrival, I drove from Sanford International Airport (Orlando) to Coral Springs, Florida (3.5 hours). It was an easy late night drive. I stayed at Studio 6 Coral Springs and it was only $54.00 per night + 11% tax= $59.94 total per night in January 2010.
In Coral Springs, the motel is about 3-4 miles to the dive shop mentioned below.
I had the opportunity to meet our affiliate American Dive Center at Coral Springs, Florida. The main person I connected with while there was Mr.Randy Hively (i.e. the newest Instructor at ECDLLC besides an Instructor of American Dive Center). Randy Hively lives about 1-2 miles from the motel mentioned above. Besides Randy, I also did meet others at American Dive Center: Lorrin (i.e. owner). and Jonathan.
Their webpage is: http://www.coralspringsscuba.com/
In this scuba shop, they possess artifacts from the Andrea Doria. Some of those items are hanging in their shop between the merchandise they sell. The items observed included: brass wheels and brass portholes (i.e. pictures shown below). American Dive Center is only ½ hour to Pompano Beach (Hillsboro Inlet Marina). Unbelievably, the dive sites are only 15-25 minutes by boat (Fathoms O' Fun – is a 38' Burpee with room for a maximum of 22 divers.).
Their website is shown below:
http://www.parrotislandscuba.com/index.html
This dive boat had free pretzel and animal crackers to eat, and canned soft drinks (i.e. Dr. Pepper, Coke, and Sprite) and water with cups for the divers to consume free.
Saturday 1-16-2010 Blown Out due to 7 foot + waves in the afternoon. Dive 86. Sunday 1-17-2010. Morning. 4-6 foot waves. Surface Temperature 82 degrees. Water Temperature 73 degrees. Nitrox 31%. Wreck Dive: Sea Emperor – Upside down barge. Aluminum 80 tank used. Maximum Depth: 73 feet. Time: 45 minutes. Observed at least 2 Moray Eels swimming around as opposed to ones I have seen stationary in other dives places over the past year. I had the opportunity to be 4 feet away from a Nurse Shark. In addition, a Ray was constantly swimming by Randy and me. This was similar to the experience at the Baltimore Aquarium in the Wings in the Water exhibit that ECD LLC dive group dove in during December 2009. Lastly, I observed a big Barracuda. The boat was rocking left to right more than my experience at Murrell’s Inlet. The Boat Diving Course taken in my past helped me with the entry and exit for this dive.
http://www.parrotislandscuba.com/wrecks/seaemperor.html
Between Dive 86 & 87 a quick sea storm occurred with rain. There was a big wave approximately 8-9 foot high. Needless to say the Fathoms O' Fun (i.e. the entire ship) went airborne for approximately 1-2 seconds. The Dive Leader indicated to hold on tight. The only one injured was the Captain with a slight 1 inch cut in his right leg but he was able to easily continue piloting the ship. Eventually the bad waves subsided and we performed the next dive when they were at a more acceptable level.
Dive 87 Sunday 1-17-2010. Morning. 4-6 foot waves. Surface Temperature 82. Water Temperature 73. Nitrox 31%. Drift Dive: Lighthouse Ledge. Aluminum 80 Tank used. Maximum Depth: 83 feet. Time 25 minutes. Observed many fish and coral and fans, etc. The boat was rocking left to right The ECD LLC Boat Diving Course taken in my past helped me with the entry and exit for this dive.
http://www.parrotislandscuba.com/reefs/lighthouseledge.html
As we returned to Hillsboro Inlet Marina after Dive 87, the rain subsided and the waves became approximately 2-4 feet in height for the dives performed in the afternoon. We had a 2 hour surface interval between Dive 87 & Dive 88.
Dive 88 Sunday 1-17-2010. Afternoon. Clear Skies. Surface Temperature 75. Water Temperature 73. Nitrox 32%. Wreck Dive: The Rebel. Aluminum 80 Tank used. Maximum Depth: 95 feet. Time: 25 minutes. Observed another Nurse Shark.
http://www.parrotislandscuba.com/wrecks/rebel.html
Dive 89 Sunday 1-17-2010. Afternoon. Clear Skies. Surface Temperature 75 degrees. Water Temperature 73 degrees. Nitrox 36%. Drift Dive: Razzle Dazzle Reef. Aluminum 80 Tank used. Maximum Depth: 52 feet. Tim: 45 minutes. On this drift dive I was able to carry the dive flag which allowed the surface boat to keep track of the divers. Randy was attempting to catch a lobster.
http://www.parrotislandscuba.com/reefs/razzle.html
Overall impression: This American Dive Center is an excellent place to come to participate in as many different dives (i.e. recreational, beach, technical, etc.) as possible. In addition, American Dive Center typically uses Parrot Island Scuba as the charter for their divers. Both the staff at American Dive Center and Parrot Island Scuba were friendly, competent, and knowledgeable. This is definitely another place to come to participate in real world diving as many times as possible and or to obtain your basic check out dives for OW or for Certivaction opportunities. This is also a good way to have your dive logbook increase in the number of dives with real world diving opportunities (i.e. as opposed to quarries located close to our area of the US) in a warmer climate all times of the year and at a cheaper cost than going to the Caribbean, repeatedly.
I recommend it because it is easy to get to from Hagerstown by air and then easy driving in Florida, hotels and motels near the site, a short boat ride to wrecks or reefs which is GREAT!, compared to some other experiences I have had in the past. The short boat ride allows for 4 dives a day using the Parrot Island Scuba charter boat. The dive cost is considerably cheaper because the boat doesn’t have to go miles offshore. So consider making a couple trips a year to this location."
Ralph
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