Through a shimmering mass of silver baitfish, a dark shadow slowly emerges. A huge, turned down mouth and burly, speckled brown body glides slowly forward. A thick, rounded tail fin sways back and forth in long, languid strokes. A gentle giant is approaching. This is a Goliath Grouper, and its story, once melancholy, is finally emerging from the dark.
During our dive, we often see marine animals like fish, eels, lobster and rays. We may even encounter dolphins swimming alongside the boat, or Goliath Grouper gathered around a wreck. Occasionally, we spot a seahorse or an octopus nestled under the Blue Heron Bridge, one of our favorite shore diving spots. Sometimes, however, divers meet an animal even more rare (and much larger) as they drift over the reef. If you have observed a bull shark cruising along in the sea, consider yourself lucky!
You are gliding over the reef, your eyes scanning beautiful flashes of brightly colored fish and corals. Then suddenly you spot a shadow swimming towards you from the distance. Adrenaline rushes through your body, and you turn to signal your buddy with a hand sticking up on the top of your head. There is only one thing this means: shark! If you are anything like us, this is a feeling you crave.
When summer is in full swing, SCUBA divers aren’t the only ones enjoying our warm local waters. This week, it seemed as if a diver out of every group stopped by the shop with a warning; the moon jellies are out! Summertime tends to be the peak of moon jellyfish season, but there are simple ways to avoid these stingy critters.
For South Florida divers, the beginning of August means that Lobster Fever is now in full effect! From novices to old pros, divers across the state are gearing up with their tools-of-choice (tickle sticks, snares or nets) and heading out with high hopes of bringing home a few of these tasty tails.