This Week’s Dive Report
Conditions this past week? Why don’t we just talk about Saturday; it was great! We had unbelievable “viz” or visibility. If you don’t believe me, look at how crystal clear the water was! From the deck, we could see straight to the bottom; that means, it was insane below the surface.
We had a large group of active military divers visiting with South Georgia Scuba. They hit numerous reefs and wrecks and even took home a couple of our famous Keys lobsters. As a note, lobster seekers only have about a month left before the season closes on March 31st.
A little bit more about “viz.” Divers will often talk about the “viz” and ask each other how it’s been. As I noted above, viz is dive slang for visibility or how clear the water is. Obviously, for divers, the clearer the water is, the better the dive generally is.
There are many factors that can influence visibility. These include particulate in teh water, like sand, mud, clay or other sediments that can make the water appear cloudy or milky. This behaves similarly to how fog does on land, making everything a little bit hazy. Wind also plays a big roll in visibility because it controls wave action. This is particularly true on shallow dive sites. Finally, we also sometimes deal with “organic particles” like bacteria or algae whose blooms can disturb visibility quite dramatically. Think of red and green tide.
Near to the coast, there are other factorst to consider like “thermocline shimmers” and “salinity gradients.” These both affect viz.
As a diver, you can help keep viz optimal by practicing good buoyancy and following proper dive protocols. Don’t kick up the bottom, especially if you are in a silty area. This can result in a “silt out.” Keep your fin tips up and control your descent so you don’t hit the bottom.
Next Week’s Dive Report
Conditions this upcoming week look much more favorable than last week, if you don’t count Saturday, which was legendary. We can look forward to medium winds and more great visibility. The water is still fresh and cool, so make sure you bring a proper exposure suit to fully enjoy your dive.
Conservation Update
Did you make it out to the I.CARE Full Moon Party at the Sandbar at Whale Harbor? There were tons of prizes and lots of good community fun. As ocean lovers generally and as partners in this effort to save our reefs, we’re very grateful to everyone who supports these efforts. Despite the rain, it was a great time spent for a good cause.
This Saturday, I.CARE will be planting endangered corals with Key Dives in Bud N Mary’s Marina. Join them to make a difference with your own hands. If you can’t, please consider supporting them with a donation, even if its small. Each of these adds up to allow I.CARE to continue changing our reef’s future.
Conservation Tip
Reducing runoff from land and improving water quality can greatly improve “viz” while diving.
I.CARE Tip
I.CARE recently hit 3,000 planted corals in their first year! What a major milestone!
