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Dive Review of Pura Vida Divers in
The Continental USA/Singer Is, Florida

Pura Vida Divers: "Blue Heron Bridge - Shore Dive", Apr, 2018,

by Dorothy McDonald, OH, US (Sr. Contributor Sr. Contributor 22 reports with 12 Helpful votes). Report 10184 has 2 Helpful votes.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations N/A Food N/A
Service and Attitude N/A Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 5 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments The Blue Heron Bridge is a shallow dive, but it is very important to time the dive around Slack High Tide - otherwise the current can be strong and also the visibility will be next to nothing. You enter through a designated swimming area and there are rules about divers not submerging until they are out of that area. Because of the necessity of timing the dive during a fairly narrow window and various rules and hazards, we decided that it would be best to have a guide who knew the area. Pura Vida Divers in Riviera Beach is a 3 minute drive to the dive site and the staff there was very helpful telling us about the dive and arranging a great guide, Carol Woodward, for the two of us. There are also boats and fishing from the bridge, so having someone who "knew the ropes" was very helpful.

Carol planned the dive with us, then the three of us began what would be a delightful dive full of a variety of sea life! During the course of our dive we saw 5' long barracuda, a spotted eagle ray, large school (at least 50) of Atlantic Spade fish - and also juvenile tropical fish - like juvenile high hats and juvenile Atlantic Spadefish. But there were other critters too - a sharp tail eel out hunting - we watched it hunt down and eat several crabs. There were 2 different batfish crawling along the bottom; a decorator crab that at first glance looked like sea weed floating across the sand; bumble bee shrimp hiding under huge yellow starfish; a colorful nudibranch; arrow crabs the size of dinner plates; a horse conch was extended out of its shell eating! All these things and a lot more at 23' and less near an active swimming, snorkeling, boating and fishing area!

Our dive lasted 94 minutes and by the end we could feel the current beginning to kick up and the visibility was dropping rapidly. Back on shore a man approached - getting ready for his dive, and asked my buddy and me how the vis was. We told him the current was starting to pick up and the vis was dropping and that slack high tide had ended and it would not be a good time to go out. He was surprised and didn't know the importance of timing a dive at this location - we pointed him in the direction of our guide, so she could explain things to him.

There are a few picnic tables and benches where you can gear up - but the ground is all sand. It would be a good idea to take something to stand on to help prevent your gear from being covered with sand. A plastic tub or large garbage bags to put wet gear in is also a good idea. There are a couple of outdoor cold showers for rinsing yourself. Near by are public toilets where you can change into dry clothes - but no warm or indoor showers.

We had no idea that this would be such a fun and interesting dive - and we only covered the east side of the area - we plan to go back and dive the west side too! A great experience, especially if you like seeing a variety of "critters", but I do recommend making arrangements for a guide in advance, at least for the first time you dive this site.
Websites Pura Vida Divers   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Philippines, Caribbean, Indonesia, South Pacific, Maldives
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas
Water Temp 75-76°F / 24-24°C Wetsuit Thickness 5
Water Visibility 10-25 Ft/ 3-8 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions [Unspecified]
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals N/A Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics N/A

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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