The diving off of the Commercial Blvd beach is astounding.
by Mike Rosenfield
Beginners
Park the car on the north side of the pier, don your equipment and walk into the water. Just 50 yards off the beach, the ocean brims with life. Coral mounds jut up from the sandy bottom; angelfish glide around the corals and Jacks pass by overhead.
From just off the beach to the eastern edge of the pier, is beginner’s territory. Remember to use the pier as a measuring tool, but stay at least 50 yards (north or south) away from it.
Starting from 60 yards offshore, the sandy ocean base gives way to a solid mass of pockmarked limestone. Round holes in the limestone provide homes to brilliantly colored fishes and hiding places for lobsters (delicious –during Lobster Season with license). The depth of this area is 15-20 feet.
Advanced: further east
Continue swimming east, past the eastern most point of the pier and then twice that length. Through that distance, at first, the sea floor becomes sandy again and depth increases to just over 20 feet. It’s a quiet eerie zone (especially at night) not many reef fish occupy this area but rather schooling pelagic fish, manta rays and sting rays do.
The sandy sea floor eventually gives way to a rocky bottom followed by limestone. Over the corals, life returns in abundance, Pork fish, Yellow Tails.
Triggers and Tangs are easy to spot. Eventually the horizon grows darker; an infinite dark blue haze appears which then resolves into a 6-foot ledge. The ledge is the highlight of the dive; it faces east and runs for many miles north and south. 7000-year-old, limestone boulders the size of cars, tabular in shape, lay broken along the reef ledge. The ledge is the most densely populated region of the reef. The corals hide millions of fish and occasionally a shark’s tail can be seen protruding out of the boulders. Needless to say keep your distance, keep calm and swim away. Sharks are usually timid around divers.
Expert: even further east
East of the ledge a sandy floor resumes, the light dims and the ocean depth increases (25-30 feet). For 10-15 minutes, nothing but sand ripples are visible. Continue east. In the water, at a distance, things are not visually resolvable; they form eerie shapes. From a distance, the west facing limestone wall appears as a white fortress in the distance. As it becomes focused, caverns and limestone arches appear. Many natural tunnels come into view; some look large enough to swim through (Do Not!) Peering into them reveal communities of sea life. Large caves house cities of lobsters and millions of tiny fish swim in and out of the white rock. Massive Snook and Groupers seem to rest in the current flowing around the reef, Barracudas show off their sharp teeth, and Triggers follow divers very closely. Green Morey eels poke their heads out of holes, open and close their mouths to the beat of their gills and inspect the world around them. Everything happening at once, as it does in nature, submerged in it, is awe-inspiring.
Remember:
- Always dive with a buddy
- Begin the dive into the current, and end the dive with the current.
- Take a dive flag, compass, and gloves
- Make sure your equipment is properly serviced
- Dive to your abilities
- Dive in seas two feet or less.
- Use air wisely, end the dive with 500psi
- Be aware of boaters
Tips
- Larger tanks are good for beach dives