Jupiter Dive Report 10/8 - New boat, Emerald Charters!

Johnoly · 10-08-2006, 06:30 PM

Last Wednesday the wave models were saying 4-6 foot waves for today. I am happy they got it dead wrong. Their was a strong cold front that produced some tornados in Orlando last night, but the front stalled a little south of O-town, and Jupiter/WPB ended up with one of the best dive days I have ever seen. It turned out to be just glass flat.

Today’s dives were with a new dive boat! Chuckitall, Amazz, Doug and myself had the entire Emerald Dive Charters’ boat to ourselves! Emerald Dive Charters is the new boat run by Randy Jordan in conjunction with and docked at the Jupiter Dive Center. This now gives JDC, 2 strong dive boats. The Emerald dive boat is geared towards hitting those farther out special dive sites and typically doing 3 tanks instead of 2.

On today’s dives the boat was wide open and we had enough room to put a bowling alley down the middle. Dive seats are wide and equipped with roll control tank racks and a unique bungee system that doesn't go over your valve but rather hugs your whole BCD and holds everything tight and in front.

Since we could pick where we wanted to go, we said let's hit the Loran Tower reef system. Our first dive was on a ledge called Nine Steps. It has a series of ever increasing ledges that finally platteau to the top of the reef then fall off on the other side. 8 out of 10 times the Loran Tower has viz of less than 10 feet and it’s a gamble to try it. As soon as we dropped down, we could see some of the best viz that I have ever seen here, with an easy 50 feet. As I can clearly see the bottom coming up to me, I notice there is almost no current.

I look at the first ledge as I near the bottom and its monster bug city!! Their legs are as long as their antennas! They're monsters, and they are walking out of their holes because they want to show how tough they are. I grab a full bag of them, and keep moving down the reef system.

All the sudden I see this big southern stingray buried in the sand and it's not moving even an inch. With the whole Steve Irwin event, I took a couple of minutes to closely examine the barb on its tail. This one looked every bit of a full size 8" long spike and it was easy to see that it could kill you instantly.

Since our dives were so good, we decided to barely overlap and repeat the tail end of where we got out and back dive the rest of the reef. Again, just bugs all over the place. Again, the bag's full after 15 minutes into the dive and we’re done lobstering for the day.

We see the sister boat, Republic IV and swing close to drop off some lunch for Capt Mike and Ms Heather. The divers on their boat are asking us how it’s going , and we tell them we’re done and just playing around.

Our last dive is not really a named dive site, it’s kind of between a couple of places. I headed east and everyone else headed west. I don’t have any lobster tools with me at all just a gun. I shoot a nice sheeps head. I shoot another sheeps and hit a nice mutt. Back up top, Chuckitall has shot a nice Mutton. He picked up a couple of really nice fish along with a great yellow tail and we managed to pretty much fill up the cooler with dinner.

Jupiter is my home turf but it still continues to just amaze me at everything it offers. Another great day on the water!!

dagodiver · 10-08-2006, 06:41 PM

Great report.!
I really need to get back over that way.

Dago.

SpearMax · 10-08-2006, 06:42 PM

Nice report! Say hello to Randy!

StabbinBoy · 10-08-2006, 07:07 PM

Excellent reportage again Johnoly. Today was indeed one of the best dive days I've ever seen. Petra and I took my boy to Shark Canyon in area 51 and had well over 100' vis. 82 degrees and the gentlest of current.

How much does the new JDC boat cost for a 2 or 3 tank dive?

Johnoly · 10-08-2006, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StabbinBoy

How much does the new JDC boat cost for a 2 or 3 tank dive?

Unbelievable top to bottom viz today, just blue, blue, water everywhere we drove the boat. Really glad you guys got out to have a great day on the water.

JDC and Emerald are still working on the dive trip prices and finishing up the schedules. It's best to call the JDC shop to find out what they have. But the Emerald will run long trips to the deep wrecks. The nice thing is that JDC now has 2 strong spearfishing boats with more local knowledge on what's producing and what's been worked over. Jupiter/Juno is becoming a great East Coast hunting location.

We're hoping this holds out for the dreaded unlucky Friday the 13th, chainsaw masacre and the battle Royale with the Patrick's Airforce guys coming in to JDC to drop bunker busters on us locals. We'll try to kick their butts shooting fish and catching bugs. But I may have to suck it up bigtime and carry tanks to their cars if they catch more bugs than me!! More reports to follow next Friday!!

OceanEd · 10-08-2006, 08:06 PM

John:

Who told you we were bringing "bunker busters" down with us??? Not true at all. It's just Tony and me and a couple of others who are coming down for a fun day with you and Chuck. I am not bringning any classes or students. Of course, if we happen to develop a little friendly rivalry on the boat, I am always happy to let you carry my equipment off the boat!

I wanted to do one last Hole in the Wall trip before leaving for the Bahamas at the end of the month, so when I heard you would be on the trip I rounded up the usual suspects.

See you Friday.

diverik · 10-09-2006, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OceanEd

John:

Who told you we were bringing "bunker busters" down with us??? Not true at all. It's just Tony and me and a couple of others who are coming down for a fun day with you and Chuck. I am not bringning any classes or students. Of course, if we happen to develop a little friendly rivalry on the boat, I am always happy to let you carry my equipment off the boat!

I wanted to do one last Hole in the Wall trip before leaving for the Bahamas at the end of the month, so when I heard you would be on the trip I rounded up the usual suspects.

See you Friday.

You will be missed Steve. Rick

ObieWan2bWet · 10-09-2006, 09:30 AM

John, as always a great report

... and I'm truly stoked AND jealous you found wonderland conditions and had a great day, congrats. Looks like you have a new VERY nice ride, congrats again. Seas have been angry up here everytime I try and get out for while now, which kind of sucks with a bad back, I just can't handle hard chop without 3 days of recovery and pain.

OceanEd · 10-09-2006, 06:50 PM

Rick:

Where have you been? You have been very quiet lately. It's been the same with Cliff. We have to get both of you out shooting.

DIVERTOM · 10-09-2006, 06:54 PM

Great report Jonoly, sorry I could not make it anyways heres a link to
Randy's boat. http://www.emeraldcharters.com/index.htm

Johnoly · 10-09-2006, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIVERTOM

Great report Jonoly, sorry I could not make it anyways heres a link to
Randy's boat. http://www.emeraldcharters.com/index.htm

Thanks for the the webpage link, I didn't have it from him. We'll catch up with you next trip!

DiveGal · 10-09-2006, 08:40 PM

Yee-Ha!!!!! That's the kind of report I LOVE to read!!!!! Good job.


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10-08-2006, 06:30 PM	#1
Johnoly Big Time Bug Hunter Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Orlando Posts: 2,064	Jupiter Dive Report 10/8 - New boat, Emerald Charters! Last Wednesday the wave models were saying 4-6 foot waves for today. I am happy they got it dead wrong. Their was a strong cold front that produced some tornados in Orlando last night, but the front stalled a little south of O-town, and Jupiter/WPB ended up with one of the best dive days I have ever seen. It turned out to be just glass flat. Today’s dives were with a new dive boat! Chuckitall, Amazz, Doug and myself had the entire Emerald Dive Charters’ boat to ourselves! Emerald Dive Charters is the new boat run by Randy Jordan in conjunction with and docked at the Jupiter Dive Center. This now gives JDC, 2 strong dive boats. The Emerald dive boat is geared towards hitting those farther out special dive sites and typically doing 3 tanks instead of 2. On today’s dives the boat was wide open and we had enough room to put a bowling alley down the middle. Dive seats are wide and equipped with roll control tank racks and a unique bungee system that doesn't go over your valve but rather hugs your whole BCD and holds everything tight and in front. Since we could pick where we wanted to go, we said let's hit the Loran Tower reef system. Our first dive was on a ledge called Nine Steps. It has a series of ever increasing ledges that finally platteau to the top of the reef then fall off on the other side. 8 out of 10 times the Loran Tower has viz of less than 10 feet and it’s a gamble to try it. As soon as we dropped down, we could see some of the best viz that I have ever seen here, with an easy 50 feet. As I can clearly see the bottom coming up to me, I notice there is almost no current. I look at the first ledge as I near the bottom and its monster bug city!! Their legs are as long as their antennas! They're monsters, and they are walking out of their holes because they want to show how tough they are. I grab a full bag of them, and keep moving down the reef system. All the sudden I see this big southern stingray buried in the sand and it's not moving even an inch. With the whole Steve Irwin event, I took a couple of minutes to closely examine the barb on its tail. This one looked every bit of a full size 8" long spike and it was easy to see that it could kill you instantly. Since our dives were so good, we decided to barely overlap and repeat the tail end of where we got out and back dive the rest of the reef. Again, just bugs all over the place. Again, the bag's full after 15 minutes into the dive and we’re done lobstering for the day. We see the sister boat, Republic IV and swing close to drop off some lunch for Capt Mike and Ms Heather. The divers on their boat are asking us how it’s going , and we tell them we’re done and just playing around. Our last dive is not really a named dive site, it’s kind of between a couple of places. I headed east and everyone else headed west. I don’t have any lobster tools with me at all just a gun. I shoot a nice sheeps head. I shoot another sheeps and hit a nice mutt. Back up top, Chuckitall has shot a nice Mutton. He picked up a couple of really nice fish along with a great yellow tail and we managed to pretty much fill up the cooler with dinner. Jupiter is my home turf but it still continues to just amaze me at everything it offers. Another great day on the water!! __________________ 1st shot is the only shot!

10-08-2006, 06:41 PM	#2
dagodiver Wreck Diver Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: north port fl. Age: 44 Posts: 2,880	Re: Jupiter Dive Report 10/8 - New boat, Emerald Charters! Great report.! I really need to get back over that way. Dago. __________________ "Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages. Bitter cold. Long months of complete darkness. Constant danger.Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success." ~ERNEST SHACKLETON~

10-08-2006, 06:42 PM	#3
SpearMax Forum Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Location: North Palm Beach, Florida USA Posts: 7,365	Re: Jupiter Dive Report 10/8 - New boat, Emerald Charters! Nice report! Say hello to Randy! __________________ Spearing is the path to enlightenment. --- Lao Tzu

10-08-2006, 07:07 PM	#4
StabbinBoy A good view on life Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Palm Beach Florida Age: 46 Posts: 1,320	Re: Jupiter Dive Report 10/8 - New boat, Emerald Charters! Excellent reportage again Johnoly. Today was indeed one of the best dive days I've ever seen. Petra and I took my boy to Shark Canyon in area 51 and had well over 100' vis. 82 degrees and the gentlest of current. How much does the new JDC boat cost for a 2 or 3 tank dive?

10-08-2006, 08:06 PM	#6
OceanEd Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Melbourne, Fl. Age: 62 Posts: 3,801	Re: Jupiter Dive Report 10/8 - New boat, Emerald Charters! John: Who told you we were bringing "bunker busters" down with us??? Not true at all. It's just Tony and me and a couple of others who are coming down for a fun day with you and Chuck. I am not bringning any classes or students. Of course, if we happen to develop a little friendly rivalry on the boat, I am always happy to let you carry my equipment off the boat! I wanted to do one last Hole in the Wall trip before leaving for the Bahamas at the end of the month, so when I heard you would be on the trip I rounded up the usual suspects. See you Friday.

10-09-2006, 09:30 AM	#8
ObieWan2bWet Stupid should hurt Join Date: May 2006 Location: Port Orange, FL Posts: 1,202	Re: Jupiter Dive Report 10/8 - New boat, Emerald Charters! John, as always a great report ... and I'm truly stoked AND jealous you found wonderland conditions and had a great day, congrats. Looks like you have a new VERY nice ride, congrats again. Seas have been angry up here everytime I try and get out for while now, which kind of sucks with a bad back, I just can't handle hard chop without 3 days of recovery and pain. __________________ Mike A HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE WILL REMAIN IN PLACE, EAST WINDS 5 KNOTS. SEAS 1 FOOT. INTRACOASTAL WATERS SMOOTH.

10-09-2006, 06:50 PM	#9
OceanEd Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Melbourne, Fl. Age: 62 Posts: 3,801	Re: Jupiter Dive Report 10/8 - New boat, Emerald Charters! Rick: Where have you been? You have been very quiet lately. It's been the same with Cliff. We have to get both of you out shooting.

10-09-2006, 06:54 PM	#10
DIVERTOM Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Cape Canaveral Posts: 1,246	Re: Jupiter Dive Report 10/8 - New boat, Emerald Charters! Great report Jonoly, sorry I could not make it anyways heres a link to Randy's boat. http://www.emeraldcharters.com/index.htm

10-09-2006, 08:40 PM	#12
DiveGal Today's the day! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Melbourne, FL but wish it was Jupiter Posts: 2,805	Re: Jupiter Dive Report 10/8 - New boat, Emerald Charters! Yee-Ha!!!!! That's the kind of report I LOVE to read!!!!! Good job. __________________ Last edited by DiveGal; 10-09-2006 at 09:00 PM.

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