Kapalua Bay Beach
I consider this beach to be one of the best snorkel spots that I have ever enjoyed. I often see more fish here than anywhere else that I have snorkeled.
I have been here several times. Most recently 12/29/2018
Talking Rocks and Ladders in Maui, HI
12/29/2018 – Dove at “Talking Rocks” and “Ladders” in Maui.
Ladders: N: 20deg46.369 W:156deg32.355
Talking Rocks: N:20 deg 47.062 W:156deg33.206
Dive company:
Maui Dive Shop
https://mauidiveshop.com
Maalaea Harbor
101 Maalaea Rd., Slip 66
Wailuku, HI 96793
Advanced Open Water certification
8 dives on October 6 & 7, 2018 to receive my Advanced Open Water certification.
The first 6 dives were very short dives as they were basically individual exercises to pass one of the “tests” that were part of the certification. The 6 dives in total took only 2 tanks and they were are all beach access.
All 8 dives and the certification was done by Aqua Action Dive Center located at Secret Harbour Beach Resorts. I have dived and snorkeled with this group before and it is an excellent place.
https://www.secretharbourvi.com/
https://www.aadivers.com/
July 3&6, 2017 Cozumel area
Dove in Mexico on vacation. The July 3 dive was on the Playa del Carmen side of the strait. The July 6 dive was in Cozumel.
The two dives on Playa del Carmen were Moc Che Shallow and Pared Verde (Green Wall).
Pared Verde, meaning “green wall”, is a wall dive that is broken up into two sections. The sections of the wall are separated by a sloping sandy bottom. The top of the wall starts at 75ft/24m and bottoms out in sand at 100ft/30m. The current here is moderate and the visibility ranges from 75-100ft (24-30m). There is a chimney style swim thru towards the end of the dive. It is best to stay at the lip of the wall where the coral growth is the most abundant. Here you can see turtles, stingrays, barracudas, large moray eels, and the occasional spotted eagle ray or manta.
Moc-Che Shallow is a winding reef that gently slopes down to sand. There are numerous coral formations providing a home to sea life. The top of the reef is in 25ft/8m and bottoms out in sand at 40ft/14m. There is a light to moderate current with visibility ranging from 40-50ft (15m). Here you can find small and large rays and in spring spotted eagle rays schooling around toward the end of the site. The highlight of the dive is a beautiful arch covered in coral which is the home to a very large green moray eel. Seahorses, pipefish and pipehorses have been spotted here as well.
The two dives on Cozumel were Tormentos and Paradise.
Tomentos Healthy reef with a rich coral environment, overhangs, and marine life. Dive is divided into two sections. Start on the Southernmost section, this section has piles of old queen Conch shells at about 50 Ft. as you drift along, take some time to see the overhangs and the abundance of fish and numerous cleaning stations. As the reef becomes rockier, continue on as the second section mini wall appears soon.
Paradise Reef is actually two reefs, north and south, which is divided into four sections. Paraiso North is near the shore and because of its shallow depth (30’) and slow currents, it is a great place for the beginners. Paradise South is just south of the International Pier and is just a bit deeper. Both sides have excellent visibility and are abundant with marine life!
SCUBA PLAYA Dive Shop
Calle 10 Norte entre 1 y 5 Ave. Col. Centro
Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, 77710
March 7 & 9, 2017 Dive Aruba
Dove the Antilla Wreck on March 7 with Dive Aruba in Aruba. (http://divearuba.com/).
Antilla Wreck
This is the largest shipwreck in the Caribbean that covers over 400 feet long. The German freighter was scampered in shallow water off Aruba in 1940 during WWII. The dive site is appropriate for both beginners and experienced divers and the best diving retro is from December to May.
Sitting on the port side, the wreck breaks the surface from a max depth of about 60 feet. At the stern of the boat, multitudes of blue tangs will eat bread out of your hands. There is plenty of flamboyant fish on coral than on any other reef.
On March 9 I dove the Jane Sea with Dive Aruba in Aruba. (http://divearuba.com/).
Jane Sea
Jane Sea is among the best and exciting dives ever experienced. It is a 250 feet/76 meters long freighter sitting on 90 feet underwater with depths of about 50 to 90 feet. The site is faced by a coral reef and has huge cargo grips that attract divers.
Jane Sea is recommended for advanced divers. If you are a novice diver but want to give this spot a shot, however, make sure to perfect the ropes of scuba diving like breathing and diving better, maintaining your buoyancy control, and such things that will keep you safe underwater.
April 2016 Fort Lauderdale Florida
Dove with American Dream Dive Charters
http://www.scubafortlauderdale.com/index.htm
Wreck of the Robert Edminster
http://www.scubafortlauderdale.com/
The Robert Edminster is a 95 foot Coast Guard cutter that was built in 1953 in Curtis Bay, Maryland. She was originally the Patrol Boat CG-954304, in 1964 she was named Cape Gull USCG. The cape class patrol boats were steel hull with aluminum superstructures. They were unnamed until 1964 when they acquired names of US capes of land. They were originally designed for anti-submarine warfare. The Cape Gull USCG was sold at auction to a Ft Lauderdale businessman who renamed her Robert Edminster after a friend and associate who had passed away. She was sunk on December 11, 1989. The Robert Edminster went down in 36 seconds after being set off with five eight-pound dynamite charges. She now forms part of the Broward County Artificial Reef Program, sitting upright in 70 feet of water 1000 feet due south of the Jay Scutti wreck. The wreck of the Robert Edminster has a 100-foot cable attached to the stern that leads to the wreck of the Wendy Rossheim.
The Caves / Twin Ledges and Oakland Ridge Moorings
Waypoint: CAVTLM Latitude Longitude
Degrees/Minutes N 26 7.750 W 80 5.460
Degrees/Minutes/Seconds N 26 7 45.000 W 80 5 27.600
If you’re looking to bring home more than just some sick scuba selfies or sweet GoPro videos, the Fort Lauderdale ledges are an ideal spot to score some dinner. Great for novice divers and/or snorkelers, the series of ledges located two to three miles north of the Port Everglades inlet are a great place to enjoy a casual, underwater expedition. With the hogfish and yellowtail populations, spearfishing is popular here and lobsters are also abundant. Depth ranges from an easy 15 to 20 feet and visibility is typically good, from 15 to 25 feet.
March 30, 2016 – Cozumel
Dove with an excursion of the cruise ship. I don’t know the name of the dive operator.
Tormentos
Depth 50′-60′
Experience level. Beginner – Intermediate
Experience level. Intermediate. This Cozumel Underwater Diving is usually done as a second dive. It can be started by going to Yucab first and drifting to Tormentos, if your air consumption is good.
Cozumel Tormentos Reefs is one of the healthy Reefs of Cozumel that usually experiences a strong current. The reef heads are 20-30′ tall surrounded by sandy areas. There are nice tunnels and overhangs that contain large schools of French Grunts and snappers.
You can find Nurse Sharks, Black Grouper, Turtles, and angelfish. Under the ledges and in holes, you can find lobster, Splendid Toadfish, and an occasional Spotted Moray eel.
Paradise
Paradise Reef is actually a series of three separate reefs running parallel to shore approximately 200 yards out. The maximum depth is 45 feet. All 3 sections are abundant with marine life of every size, color, and description. Expect to see crab, lobster and a plethora of multicolored tropical fish.
July 9, 2015 St. Lucia
The Anse Chastanet Reef
Voted one of the ‘top five’ shore dives in the Caribbean by Rodale’s Scuba Diving Magazine and just feet away from the dive center is the Anse Chastanet Reef, one of St. Lucia’s top dive sites, located in the heart of St. Lucia’s world-renowned Marine Park, the SOUFRIERE MARINE MANAGEMENT AREA (SMMA).
The Anse Chastanet reef, which is home to more than 150 different species of fish, is comprised of a marine plateau and dramatic slopes that fall away to a depth of more than 140ft.
- 50 feet visibility
Superman’s Flight
Situated at the base of the Petit Piton where the cliff face was used in the filming of Superman II. The steep slope is covered by many soft corals and there is a great profusion of fish life. Another fantastic drift dive.
July 6, 2015 – My second ocean dive – Aqua Action Dive St. Thomas
Ledges of Little St James
There is no hiding why this site is called the Ledges of Little St. James. Located on the west side of the island, Little St. James, the sand has drifted away from under the coral ridges and outcroppings, leaving amazing formations to explore. The ledges run along the island at two depths, so you can dive along the reef at 45 feet out and 25 feet back, making for a long visit with schools of French grunt, Spanish lobster, spotted eagle rays and the occasional nurse shark that call this site home.
- 70 ft visibility
- 16 pounds of weight
- 82 degrees
- 42 feet for 45 minutes
Stragglers Reef
Stragglers Reef is a combination of healthy reef and large boulders that are covered in life. Start this dive by making your way out to the reef in search of snappers, grouper, lobster condos, and eels! As the tour continues, prepare to navigate in between large cracks and crevices filled with colorful tropical fish.
- 70 ft visibility
- 16 pounds of weight
- 82 degrees
- 38 feet for 48 minutes
I took my class and pool work in Ohio but wanted to rush my open water dives (plus avoid the dark and cold waters of Ohio’s quarries). I was on a cruise so I did my first two dives in Puerto Rico and then did dives 3 & 4 in with Aqua Action. The boat was great and my instructor/guide was fantastic. We did my required skills and then I got to enjoy the undersea world of 2 dive locations. I had a great time and my daughter (already certified) also was able to dive the reefs. Highly recommended and they were very friendly and extremely helpful. I look forward to visiting them again in the future and doing more dives!
6501 Red Hook Plz # 80
Secret Harbour Beach Resort, 00802-1373, St. Thomas