Dive Review of Jim Abernathy's Aquasports in
The Continental USA/West Palm Beach, Fl

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Jim Abernathy's Aquasports, Aug, 2003, by Joseph Gallagher, IN, US A ( Reviewer 5 reports with 3 Helpful votes). Report 810.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Diving off of West Palm Beach is adventurous due to proximity of Gulf Current to Florida Coast at this bend on the Eastern side of the Floridian Peninsula. Jim Abernathy's boats accomodate experienced divers by going to sites North of the West Palm Beach/Riveria Fl Inlet where sites are deep and currents strong. But these sites contain the best marine life. Barracuda, sharks, and turtles are plentiful as well as spiny lobsters and rays. Caribbean reef fish to include many large morays live off the reef shelfs which line the sea bottom at depths of 60-80 feet. Breaks in the reefs provide respite from the currents and allow for exploration and photography. The skill of the boat captain is critical in setting up divers on top of the reefs. If set up incorrectly the currents may carry divers off the reefs before they reach bottom providing a dive tour of sandy bottoms. North dive sites, which include wrecks and a site referred to as Shark Alley, are best left to experienced divers, those with at least advanced diver qualification and several drift dives. South dive sites off of West Palm beach are shallower and currents are not so strong, thus more accomodating for the less experienced. Of the many boats which operate out of the West Palm Beach area, Jim Abernathy's is the best run operation and the best at accomodating experineced divers. A plus feature is normally the presence of local divers very experienced in diving the reefs who are more than willing to provide advice and insights on the best method of diving the many sites.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Philippines, Australia, Gloucester, MA
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	0-70°F / -18-21°C	Wetsuit Thickness	0
Water Visibility	40-60 Ft/ 12-18 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	Those with computers could dive no longer than 60 minutes which wasn't a restriction since depths were from 60-80 feet
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	Schools	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	Ride to dive site is from 30 min to 1 hour. During that time the boat is large enough to set up camerica equipment although bench space is not plentiful. There normally a bucket in which to place cameras prior to entering water. Dives are drift dives with strong current, best to enter water with cameras or fight to stay with boat to be handed cameras.

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Dive Review of Jim Abernathy's Aquasports in The Continental USA/West Palm Beach, Fl

Jim Abernathy's Aquasports, Aug, 2003,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of Jim Abernathy's Aquasports in
The Continental USA/West Palm Beach, Fl