For 2024, Blue Friday was celebrated by more folks in more places worldwide, from Australia’s Coral Sea and Hawaii’s Big Island to Southern California and the Western Caribbean.
New York
Ken Carter, “It was miserable and rainy. The temperature felt like 25 degrees F. But I’ve planned a dive in Monterey over Christmas week.”
California
Unfortunately, most of the regular Blue Friday MSC divers who originally planned on diving on the Beachhopper II were all out of town.
However, Mike Smith – a new MSC member –– and 16 Sea Divers Scuba Dive Club members in Redondo Beach were aboard the Peace Dive Boat, Ventura, to the Channel Islands. “We went to San Miguel Island on Saturday, November 30 and conditions were exceptional.” (See the story at the bottom of this page with photos.)
And Jami Leslie Feldman, a past MSC presenter from San Diego, wrote, “Cool concept! This was taken at La Jolla Shores, shore dive, 55 degrees at depth, viz was a rare 40-50 ft with blue water, small waves, Male cabezon guarding his eggs. Epic diving conditions this weekend, I even crammed in a last-minute dive this morning before work because it’s been so good!”
Her Instagram account: #UnderwaterPaparazzi featured multiple posts and videos throughout the weekend.
#underwaterpaparazzi #cabezon #lajollashores #coldwaterdiving #underwaterphotographer
Watch Kerwin’s Blue Friday Video
Kerwin Louis, a MSC Member, did a two-tanker with 12 divers through Blue Wilderness Dive Adventures on Friday, 11/29. He reported, “I booked solo. My regular peeps couldn’t join me and I was the only local. Vis was not good. Maybe 50’. Water temp 78°. Turtle cleaning station, big white tip reef shark that I pissed off, frogfish, reef octopus.
Sun Divers Roatan: Facebook Video about Blue Friday & Debris Clean-Up: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1759747998190825
It focused on “Changing Black Friday to Blue Friday.
Swap the shallowness of shopping for something deeper.”
Co-owner Natalie Shuman wrote: “Due to wave conditions we kept the dive
close to Half Moon Bay. Water temp was 82… We didn’t find a single piece of debris, BUT we did find a hammerhead! It was a quick fly by so we didn’t get a great shot.”
Meanwhile, Heiko Goetze, Amigos Del Mar, Mahahual, Mexico – Banco Chinchorro (Nov 29 & 30), Mahahual Reef (Dec 1) added: “Water temp was 84 F. Viz was 50-100 feet. Saw nurse sharks, eagle rays, turtles, and lots of tropical fish.”
Terry and Cathie Cummins, Dive Queensland
“Spent Blue Friday in the Coral Seas, Australia. Just returned from another wonderful trip on Mike Ball Dive Expeditions’ Spoilsport to Ashmore Reef and Raine Island – just a few happy snaps for you. Enjoy. Perfect diving conditions. With Cathie Cummins.
Watch their terrific video:
https://www.facebook.com/terry.cummins.56/videos/1139536387831230/?rdid=rqjTPFWpMCQcSuML#
David McGuire, Marin Scuba Club member, Shark Stewards, CA – Took a plunge into S.F. Bay at Point Richmond. “I swim around the Bay and ocean since I don’t have time to dive much. Water temp was 54 F. and I swam two miles (no wetsuit) on an ebb tide with East Bay Open Water Swimmers.”
Blue Friday 2024: Channel Islands –– Blue, Bluer and Bluest.
Chris Cervellone wrote:
“On November 29, 2024 the Sea Divers Scuba Dive Club (www.Seadivers.org) ventured out to the Channel Islands just north of Los Angeles, California. Our desired destination was the underwater pinnacles just off the westerly most Island named San Miguel.
“We dove on the Premier Dive Boat named the Peace out of Ventura CA. This boat is frequented by diver’s from both north and southern California and other nearby states. It has a long reputation of a fine crew and the hot water Jacuzzi on board is an added bonus especially in between cold water dives.
“We left Ventura Harbor just before midnight on Blue Friday for a multi day dive trip. The weather has to be just about perfect to dive the pinnacles. The six+-hour trip to San Miguel Island proved to be unusually calm. The sea winds cooperated and the ocean waters were super glassy.
“Just before 7 AM on Bluer Saturday we woke up to an amazing sunrise that simulated fire on the water from the sky’s reflection. One diver asked ‘What was that large island to the east ?’ The answer was the mainland. The above water visibility was unbelievable. We were 60 miles offshore and could even see the mountains behind the mainland. We could easily see the other Channel Islands and even pick out several landmarks on the mainland like Point Conception.
“The first dive was at Wilson rock. Our group of 17 experienced divers observed an assortment of multicolored anemones and metridium ( both senile and farcimen) that literally carpeted the rock surfaces of this underwater mountain. There were many rock scallops hidden amongst the rock crevices. Water visibility was approximately 40 to 60 feet and the temperature at depth was a brisk 54°. A few Red Vermilion Rock fish were spotted at a depth of 90 feet. Our next Dive was at a nearby pinnacle named Oil Springs. Similar conditions were found with the addition of a few lingcod.
“For our next few dives, we made our way to the actual island of San Miguel in shallower water. Here we found the typical channel islands rocky terrain with many purple and red sea urchins, scallops and the welcomed return of several large starfish. Many different types of rockfish, a few calico bass, horn sharks, red abalone were also spotted. Several lobsters were seen on these dives and a few big ones came aboard. Pictures were taken of a 7 pound female that was soon returned to the ocean.
“After a wonderful dinner, we were treated to another beautiful sky show. The sunsets and sunrises on the water seem to be consistently more beautiful than viewing from land (maybe because of the unobstructed views and water reflections.) A few divers braved the cold, dark seas, and made the night dive close to the shore near Castle Rock. A few smaller lobsters and some small sleeping sharks were spotted. The remaining divers that stayed on board, enjoyed adult beverages and the hot water Jacuzzi on the boat.
“On Bluest Sunday, we made it back to dive offshore to one more pinnacle. Water temps were similar to the day before but visibility was a little less(40+ feet). Several larger lingcods, some large SheepHead and more scallops were seen on this dive. The conditions started to change quickly. The wind and swell started picking up and a fairly strong current pushed us east to make our next dive at Santa Cruz Island several hours away.
“After a fine lunch, we made our second dive at the west end of Santa Cruz Island. Water temperature was 1 or 2° warmer, but not noticeable. Several lobsters and smaller fish were seen in the rock crevices close to the shore. Visibility was 25 to 35 feet. Our last dive on Bluest Sunday was at Delmar Cove with similar sightings as the previous Dive. The author of this write up was fortunate enough to see his son catch his first lobster on this dive.
“The trip back to the harbor was a relatively smooth one with the wind at our back. Everyone on board enjoyed our two day dive adventure on the Peace Dive Boat, and each of us discussed when we were diving on this boat again in the near future.
“The Sea Divers look forward to continuing this new tradition of diving on the weekend following Thanksgiving in honor of Blue Friday. Go Diving, Not Shopping!”