Nine divers headed to the Magic City for an afternoon dive with Divers Paradise on the Belcher Barge and Neptune Memorial Reef.
Top Left: Active Divers Group Top Right: Trevor Ward, Hilda Balbi, Leah Bamford Middle Right: Rudy Lopez and Juan Merino Bottom Left: Shelbie and Bill Jordan Bottom Right: Steve Moore and his grandson Nicolas Rivera.
Welcome to Trevor making his first dive with the club. We hope to see you on many more dives in the future!
Dive 1 -Belcher Barge: The day kicked off with an adrenaline-charged drop onto the Belcher Wreck Trek, where a hard current and 77-degree water made for a fast-paced, skill-testing dive. Divers hugged the wreck’s structure to stay grounded as the Belcher Barge came into view at 60 feet, with a chain of nearby wrecks connected by rebar stretching across the sand like an underwater trail. Those who pushed onward were rewarded with a massive Goliath Grouper posted up on the edge of a wreck, while all around, schools of fish surged through the water alongside hogfish, porkfish, parrotfish, goatfish, and the ever-present cast of reef life—an action-packed dive that left everyone wanting more bottom time.
Photos by Rudy Lopez
Dive 2 - Neptune Memorial Reef: Like the Blue Heron Bridge, the Neptune Memorial Reef feels magical. Descending into 43 feet of water, divers are met with towering columns and silent lion statues rising from the sand, an eerie, Atlantis-like columbarium holding the remains of over 1,500 souls. But this isn’t just a place of reflection—it’s alive. Stingrays glide through the shadows, barracuda patrol the blue, and porkfish, pufferfish, parrotfish and angelfish swirl around the structures. Then come the moments that spike your pulse: one group caught sight of a bull shark circling just beyond the reef, while others stumbled upon the elusive “ugly” batfish—rarely seen outside of the Blue Heron Bridge—making an unexpected appearance. It’s the kind of dive where mystery, history, and raw ocean energy collide.
Photos by Bill Jordan
Photos by Rudy Lopez
Photos by Leah Bamford