Going Big at Jupiter Florida
by Mike Phelan
Looking to go big for your next dive vacation? Jupiter, Florida located in northern Palm Beach County in Southeast Florida offers some of the most diverse and big encounters that you can imagine.
The off-shore reefs of Jupiter maintain a year-round population of Goliath groupers. In late summer, several artificial reefs (sunken ships) host spawning aggregations and 60 or more Goliath groupers congregate during the months of August through October. Some of the larger adult Goliaths are seven to eight feet in length and weigh more than 500 pounds. The Goliath is the biggest seabass/grouper in the entire Atlantic Ocean. Divers often experience the signature low frequency bellowing of the Goliath groupers. The booming sound can be often heard and even felt by nearby divers. A unique experience. The Jupiter aggregation dive is very special. The Goliath grouper aggregation is the only documented spawning site for this protected species on the US Atlantic coast. This is a must dive for you eco-divers.
For the winter divers looking to get away from the snow and ice of the colder cities, Jupiter has an annual aggregation of Lemon sharks during the months of January and February. Lemon sharks are big sharks averaging five to eight feet in length. The shark aggregations typically occur near ships sunken as artificial reefs enhancing the photographic opportunities when Mr. Big swims by with a ship in the background. The Lemon shark dives are the real deal. Witnessing these large animals cruise the wrecks can be a national geographic moment.
Spring and early summer bring large numbers of big sea turtles to Jupiter for mating and later “beach crawling” to lay their eggs. The first to arrive in March are the giant Leatherback sea turtles, the largest of all eight species of sea turtles. Then, large numbers of Loggerhead sea turtles begin to arrive in April. Jupiter and the surrounding communities is the second largest nesting site in the world for this species. Diving among these ancient giants is a real treat. They can be very photogenic. Later in early summer, Green sea turtles arrive on the Jupiter reefs to mate and lay eggs on the nearby beaches. Hawksbill sea turtles with their golden brown translucent shells can be seen year-round on the off-shore reefs too. It is entirely possible to see four of the eight species of sea turtles during a one week dive vacation to Jupiter.
The Reef Environmental and Education Foundation (REEF) has been recording fish species sightings and abundance levels for over a decade. The reef track beginning at Jupiter and extending south to the Biscayne National Park near Miami, according to REEF, is the most species rich area in the entire western Atlantic and Caribbean. A total of 507 species of fish have been reported by the REEF volunteers making the area an outstanding dive location to see and photograph both large and small fish. Jupiter’s reefs are uniquely situated at the convergence of the semi-tropical and temperate eco-zones and representative fish species of both zones can be seen in one dive. Additionally, the warm Gulf Stream current flows just miles off-shore bringing migratory big species such as Hammerhead and Whale sharks onto the reefs occasionally.
Palm Beach County Florida reefs have an abundance of tropical and temperate water hard corals, sponges, and other reef creatures. Nourishment and warm water temperatures from the Gulf Stream allow the reefs of SE Florida to flourish despite its relatively northern latitude. The recently protected Staghorn coral has been documented in Palm Beach County and just miles away to the north, the temperature water Oculina coral thrives. Jupiter can be a great dive location to add to your fish and coral species life-list.
Another must dive location in Palm Beach County is the Blue Heron bridge, 25 minutes south of Jupiter inlet by car. The site is a shore dive and is only 15 feet deep. It is an ideal location to do check-out dives, skill reviews, and see some of the most unusual fish species anywhere in the Caribbean. Blue Heron Bridge is a big fish diversity hot spot that rivals Indonesia muck diving for the weird and unusual. Bring your camera and you may see the Polka-dot bat fish, Bluewing Sea Robin, Frogfish, Sea Horses, Pipefish, Flying Gunnards, Spotted Eagle Rays, and even a Manatee. REEF lists Blue Heron Bridge among its top 10 species rich dive sites in the entire Tropical Western Atlantic with 298 different species of fish. Maybe you can make it 299.
Jupiter diving is year-round. Summer water temperatures are 76-82 and, winter temperatures are typically 68-72 degrees. The off-shore reefs of Jupiter are a 25 minute boat ride from Jupiter inlet. Most Jupiter dives are drift dives. The Gulf Stream current does all of the work. Divers simply float along the reef line or into a wreck following the dive guide. The dive guide pulls a float ball with a diver-down flag. The dive boat follows the float ball and picks up divers when they ascend. Most off-shore reef and wreck dives are in the 65 to 80 foot range. Air transportation options to Jupiter are great. West Palm Beach airport is 25 minutes drive and Fort Lauderdale airport is 50 minutes away by car. International travelers have the option to fly into Miami or Orlando. Both are two hour driving distance. Most dive shop operators offer a dive trip-room package.
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