COVID June at the Blue Heron Bridge

I spent the last two weeks of June in West Palm Beach mostly to do some Blackwater Diving, but I did see a handful of nudibranchs at Blue Heron Bridge and on the reef with Pura Vida Divers.  We wore "gaitors" on the boat to make sure everyone was safe from the disease. 

Here are the nudis I saw:

1 - Cratena cf. peregrina (juvenile) or Cratena minor (juvenile)

Blue Heron Bridge

2 - Doto uva

This was right next to the first nudi but I didn't even notice it until I reviewed the photos!

3 - Dondice occidentalis

Blue Heron Bridge

4 - Doto varaderoensis

On the wreck!  Found it again two days later on the same wreck, same spot!

5 - Cratena cf. peregrina or Cratena minor

Blue Heron Bridge

6 - Coryphellina marcusorum

 I found this one on the reef during a boat dive.  I was all alone and it was sortof a slow dive until I found this!

Unfortunately, I did not see the pelagic nudibranch on the Blackwater Dives.  Almost every night others did.  Grrr...  I guess that means I will have to come back and do it again.

What am I doing in Chicago?

After three months of COVID lockdown in Chicago, I was dying for some bottom time... or at least a summer!  The pool and sundeck in my building is closed as is the beach on Lake Michigan. 

I have been helping Mike Bartick of Crystal Blue Resort to run a couple of series of speakers.  One about Nudibranchers and one about Blackwater Diving.

On Sunday June 7th, I heard Linda Iannello talk about Blackwater Diving.  I didn't think much about it, assuming she was doing it in International locations that I couldn't get to right now.  But it turns out, she was doing it right here in West Palm Beach Florida and that they were having an outstanding May!  Whoa.  I wondered why I wasn't in a car RIGHT NOW driving down to Florida!!!

So I put the "wheels in motion" and that is exactly what I did!  On 6/13 I started driving and by 6/15 I was in the water.  Unfortunately my first Blackwater dive was canceled due to weather.  I have four more possible tries though so I am confident I can make it happen.  My expectations are really low.  If I can just bring home a few images, that would be cool.

I'm also excited about diving Blue Heron Bridge as THAT is where the Nudis are.  :)

I have several of those dives scheduled as well.

I'm staying in a cute Air B&B and diving with Pura Vida Dive Shop.