The large, tumbling seas of early and mid January have slowed and given us a calmer Gulf of Mexico. Those behemoths left us with less than a foot of visibility in depths of 35 feet and only 6 feet of visibility in 50 feet.

Even the Florida Middle Grounds, which usually has good visibility year around, had less than 10 feet in most areas. Finally last weekend the grounds improved to 40 feet in most places and waiting on the bottom were plenty of 15-25 pound gag groupers. It will take longer for water directly off our coast to clear. Scuba diving spearfishermen will find better visibility and heavier concentrations of grouper and snapper in 80-100 feet. Free-diving spearfishermen will contend with uncomfortable and unsafe visibility in 40 feet or less. Free-diving in excess of 40 feet is not for the occasional free-diver. Experienced free-divers are finding safer visibility in depths exceeding 60 feet. Hogfish and groupers are being found sporadically in these depths.

Don't forget to look for lobsters. The season for the spiny lobster is open until the end of March and shovelnose lobster season never ends. We caught seven shovelnose on one dive in January and there are plenty more hiding under ledges in the gulf. Use your flashlight and look up in the holes to find these sweet and tasty camouflaged treats.

-- Bill Hardman teaches scuba, spearfishing & free-diving through his dive shop, Aquatic Obsessions Scuba, in St. Petersburg. Call (727) 344-3483.

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