Posts Tagged ‘Goliath Grouper’
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010
Hello everyone.
Saturday, February 6th finds the Video Dude aboard the “Island Magic” with members of the South Florida Spearfishing Club heading out on a beautiful day to do some spearfishing and hunting for lobsters (except me – I was shooting video of course!). “Island Magic” is a wonderful boat carrying 6 divers with plenty of space, a covered cabin, shower and marine head, and even a couple of berths down below. Captain Jim is very laid back and makes everyone feel at home. Check out their website at: http://island-magic.com/boatchrt.php
After leaving the dock, we have about a 20 minute ride up the Intracoastal Waterway, then another 15-20 minutes to our first dive site, a reef called “The Mounds”. I am buddied up with Lance, one of the club members, and we jump in and head down to about 90ft looking for stuff to hunt/video. As soon as we hit the bottom, Lance is circled by 3 Remoras checking him out closely. Meanwhile, I am looking for their ‘ride’ in case they were attached to something big that might be sneaking up on us! We drift along the reef without seeing very much for either of us to shoot, so we’re relaxing and having a good time. Then it’s up to do safety stops and back on the boat, where we discover that one of our group, Maureen, has speared about a 13-14lb Mutton Snapper! She was VERY happy about that.
During our surface interval, Captain Jim takes us in towards shore to a calmer area so we can all relax and swap stories a bit. After about an hour or so, we head off to our next dive site, the “Pompano Trench”. I have never done this site before, so it was pretty cool to see all the stuff down there. Lance and I came across 3 Lobsters (he caught 2 of them) and a Lionfish just before hitting the Trench, then we entered the Trench itself and followed it for a while. I felt like a bug in the Grand Canyon it was so huge. There was a nice Anenome on the bottom, and in one section, there were old cement trucks (the round part that carried the cement) that had been placed on the bottom with holes cut in them for reefs. Lots of Glassy Sweepers inside most of them and supposedly there were Goliath Grouper as well, but we didn’t see them. There also a lot of tires on the bottom, not deliberately placed there, that apparently drifted over from other areas. Soon we have to come up to our safety stops again, and back on the boat.
Lots of fun on a new boat with friends and good times here in Paradise.
Doug the Video Dude.
Tags: Anenome, drift dive, Glassy Sweepers, Goliath Grouper, Intracoastal Waterway, Island Magic, Lionfish, Lobster, Mutton Snapper, Pompano Trench, reef, Remoras, South Florida Spearfishing Club, The Mounds, Video Dude
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Thursday, February 4th, 2010
Hello everyone!
February 2nd finds the Video Dude donning his Divemaster hat and working aboard Parrot Island Scuba’s “Fathoms O’ Fun” for the day. It was a beautiful day for diving with partly cloudy skies, mild temperatures and flat seas.
The morning trip had 6 divers aboard and was headed for a popular wreck site, the “RSB-1″ and “Razzle Dazzle Reef”. After getting everyone’s gear aboard and handing out whatever rental gear was needed, we get underway. Captain George gets us out to the site in no time, and I am jumping in to tie off the descent line to the wreck. Very little current on the bottom made for a nice dive for everyone and reports came back that there were lots of Barracuda and a couple of Goliath Grouper. While the divers are down, George and I begin to notice what would be the omen for the afternoon, Man o’ War jellyfish are starting to show up. Carefully, I jump in and retrieve the descent line and we head off to our next dive site.
After gear changeovers and surface intervals are complete, I get the divers divided into groups and ready to jump in for their drift dives. George positions us over the reef and the divers jump in for a nice leisurely drift along the reef. After about 40 minutes bottom time, the groups begin coming to the surface and I assist everyone back onboard. Reports of Lobster, Green Morays, and schools of various fish pass between the divers as we head back to the dock.
The afternoon trip is headed out for the “Sea Emperor” and “Lighthouse Ledge” reef. This trip has a family of 4 aboard and they are all very excited about seeing the wreck and reef. I get everyone’s gear aboard and make sure they have everything they need, then it’s off the our first dive site. Captain George gets us out to the wreck in good time and I jump in to tie off the wreck line. It’s gonna be a good dive for the family as conditions were good down below. Just as everyone began jumping in, a Man o’ War jelly got caught on the descent line and 2 of the divers caught a tentacle across the hand. The whole group proceeded with their dives, and while they were down, I was making sure the jellyfish didn’t get caught on the ladders or the dive line. Just as I had the line cleared, 2 of the divers came up and another jellyfish got caught on the line. This time the other 2 divers got minor stings. After everyone was onboard and gear secured, I administered some first aid for everyone and they began to feel the stings less.
Surface intervals done and gear changed over, George takes us out to “Lighthouse Ledge” for a drift dive along the reef. Wary of the jellyfish this time, the family jumps in and starts their dive. While they are diving, I am sitting on the dive platform with a pair of tweezers and a magnifying glass picking tentacles off of the dive line, so the next person to use it won’t get stung. No incidents of stings this time as they get back on the boat, and they were all excited to report the things they saw. The family had a great time on their dives and they are planning to come back again.
Divemasterin’ the days away here in Paradise,
Doug the Video Dude
Tags: Barracuda, Divemaster, Fathoms O' Fun, Goliath Grouper, Green Morays, Lighthouse Ledge, Lobster, Man o' War jellyfish, Parrot Island Scuba, Razzle Dazzle Reef, RSB-1, Sea Emperor, Video Dude
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Monday, January 4th, 2010
Hello everyone!
Starting the New Year right by doing a dive trip, the Video Dude finds himself aboard Parrot Island Scuba‘s “Fathoms O’ Fun” , along with a group from ScubaBoard, headed out to the “Captain Dan” and “Grouper Bend” Reef. A great day to be out on the water and though the air was a bit chilly, the sun was out.
Captain Jerry and Divemaster Keith get us underway and off to our first dive site with their usual skill, and in no time we are there. After Keith jumps in and ties off the descent line and comes back with a report on conditions, we all jump in and head down the line. Visibility at the bottom was about 50ft, but it was a bit dark at 110fsw. Had to use my video lights for most of the dive. Lots of divers were doing penetrations and looking for Goliath Groupers and there were lots of the usual fish types on the wreck. After a 35 minute bottom time, it’s time to head back to the line, our safety stops, and ultimately the boat.
After gear changeover and our surface interval, we arrive at our second dive site and jump in to start our drift dive of the reef. Most of the group were hunting for Lobster and I, of course, was shooting video. I found a large King Helmet shell, and the rest of the group caught about 2-3 Lobster each. Grouper Bend is always an interesting reef and today was no different. With the sun out, the colors really “popped”.
A great day of diving with friends here in Paradise!
Doug the Video Dude
Tags: Captain Dan, Fathoms O' Fun, Goliath Grouper, Grouper Bend, King Helmet, Lobster, Parrot Island Scuba, ScubaBoard, Video Dude, wreck
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Monday, September 21st, 2009
Hello everyone.
September 20th finds the Video Dude diving in Jupiter, FL with some of the gang from ScubaBoard. We’re diving with Jupiter Dive Center and heading out to catch the Goliath Grouper Aggregation. Captain Mike and Divemaster Chris get us all settled aboard the “Republic IV” and we head out in search of some of the largest fish around. Skies were beautiful, seas were calm and there was a great deal of excitement aboard the boat. I was diving with a couple of friends of mine, Paul and Thora, and everyone was looking forward to the dives.
In very short time, Captain Mike has us all out on “Bonnie’s Reef” where many Goliath Grouper have been recently spotted. We get geared up and ready to jump in with Divemaster Chris leading the way. Almost immediately, we see a big Green Moray who thrilled us all by free-swimming along with us for most of the dive. Additionally, during the combination of both dives we came across a Lionfish, a huge Hawksbill Turtle, several more Green Morays, a giant Burrfish and ultimately our goal for the day, the Goliath Grouper. Although the number wasn’t quite what we wanted, there were 5 or 6 swimming around together, each surrounded by their own “bait ball” of fish. It was an awesome sight to watch!
All too soon the dives were done and we had to retreat back to our dive boat. Everyone was in full chatter mode on the way back to the dock, marveling at everything we saw today. It truly was a spectacular day of diving! Thanks to Jupiter Dive Center, Captain Mike, Divemaster Chris and my dive buddies Paul and Thora for a great day of diving here in Paradise!!
The Video Dude
Below are some still shots from the video, which is now available for purchase (see link at bottom of post).
Tags: bait ball, Bonnie's Reef, Burrfish, Florida, Goliath Grouper, Goliath Grouper Aggregation, Green Moray, Hawksbill Turtle, Jupiter, Jupiter Dive Center, ScubaBoard, Video Dude
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