Loggerheads with Loggerhead

Our dive club enjoyed an adventurous two-tank boat trip with Loggerhead Dive Charters on Sunday afternoon, June 22, 2025. The air temperature was in the low 90s, and the seas were a bit challenging, with 3–5 foot waves making for a lively ride. Despite the rough conditions, Capt Jim expertly navigated the channel, ensuring a safe and smooth journey for everyone on board. Dive Master Paul was outstanding—he went above and beyond to assist divers getting on and off the boat, providing encouragement and hands-on help whenever needed. The entire Loggerhead team was fantastic, making the day enjoyable and safe for all participants. Our group of seven divers—Amber Laureano (SO), Aaron Brooks (SOC), Amy Shea, Jay Abbazia, Leah Bamford, Roger Bach, and Tosha Grantham—appreciated the professionalism and support throughout the trip.

Dive 1: Boynton Ledges

Our first dive took place at Boynton Ledges, where we enjoyed visibility of 40–50 feet and a warm water temperature of 85°F. There was a swift northern surface current and a mild current on the bottom, but conditions were manageable. We reached a maximum depth of 65 feet, with a total dive time of 60 minutes. The site was teeming with life: we spotted at least six sea turtles, including several large loggerheads and a hawksbill seen feeding on the reef at the end of the dive. Large schools of common reef fish surrounded us, and a sizable Atlantic squid made a memorable appearance. The coral here looked healthy and vibrant, with no signs of bleaching or damage. A particularly fun moment was watching a hog fish and a trumpet fish swimming closely together, almost as if they were dancing. Boynton Ledges is highly recommended for its beautiful and abundant sea life.

Dive 2: Tumbled Rocks

Our second dive was at Tumbled Rocks, where visibility dropped to about 30 feet as the tide changed, but the water remained a comfortable 85°F. There was less current on this dive, making for a more relaxed experience. We again reached a maximum depth of 65 feet and enjoyed a full hour underwater. This site featured lots of smaller fish, including trumpetfish, smooth trunkfish, several cowfish, and hogfish. The highlight of the dive was an exciting and rare sighting of a large bull shark right as the divers descended—a thrilling moment for the whole group! It was also fun to spot two very large porcupine fish at the end of the dive. The reef here is more scattered than at the ledge, but still beautiful and healthy. Overall, Tumbled Rocks offered a peaceful and slow-paced dive, making it a beautiful spot well worth visiting.

Underwater photos by Active Diver Leah Bamford.