Goliath’s and Garmins and Good Times—Oh My!
Love is in the water, and the goliath groupers are heading to Jupiter to spawn! This annual aggregation draws divers from around the globe—and Jupiter Dive Center has dedicated day and night goliath charters! This is also a great time to take stock of your equipment needs, and if you’re looking for a dive computer. Jupiter Dive Center has plenty of options to help you plan and manage this and all your bucket-list dives!
First, a bit about goliath groupers
Like their name suggests, goliaths are big. In fact, they are the largest of their species and can stretch up to 8’ and weigh as much as a whopping 800 pounds! You’ll often hear them first—a deep bark that resonates through your body. The good news is they’re docile and pay little attention to divers. Opportunistic eaters, they’re ambush predators, swooping in, opening their large mouths, and swallowing their prey whole.
They usually eat crabs and small fish and will be happy to eat any castoff lionfish left by divers. On night dives, they’ll let your flashlight beam find them their next morsel, which is something to be aware of because, despite their size, they can materialize out of the darkness with surprising speed.
Diving with one goliath is an experience. Encountering upwards of sixty of them at one time is astounding, and that’s what can occur during aggregation when they congregate along the Wreck Trek.
If you are more interested in diving reefs rather than wrecks, consider Tunnels, a spectacular and very popular reef dive. Goliaths like to hang out by the first of the three tunnels, while several more can be found under a substantial ledge that you’ll encounter near the 25-minute mark of your dive. And for the truly adventurous, join us on one of our full moon dives!
Regardless of your charter, plan to make the most of it with one of Jupiter Dive Center’s current array of dive computers!
The Perfect Dive Computer—for you!
Dive computers come in all kinds of configurations and at a variety of prices to suit any budget. One that’s generating a lot of buzz is the Garmin Descent X50i premium dive computer—and with plenty of good reasons! It sports a vibrantly colored 3-inch touchscreen display for easy reading of multiple dive modes, plus color maps with depth contours and dive sites. It’s dive rated to 20 ATM, making it great for tech and aspiring tech divers.
Oh, yeah, and in the event you lose sight of your buddy, as long as you’re within 30 meters of each other, you can message your wayward friend using a sonar-based messaging system. That same system can also monitor tank pressure, depth, and distance for up to 8 divers within a range of 10 meters. The Descent X40i pairs with Descent T2 transceivers (sold separately) for up to 8 tanks for complete air integration. The Descent features dual elastic bands to secure the computer to your forearm for instant access to all your data. It’s truly buzz-worthy!
Looking for something you can wear above and below the water? The Garmin Descent MK3i offers an advanced watch-style dive computer with either a 1.2” or 1.4“ display with a scratch-resistant sapphire lens. Depth rated to 200 meters with metal leakproof inductive buttons, this computer has dive modes for recreational, technical, and free divers!
Like the X50i, the MK3i uses SubWave sonar technology for diver-to-diver communication, air integration, and the ability to monitor the pressures, depth, and distance of up to eight of your buddies if they’re also using Descent T2 transceivers. Various-sized models even have a built-in LED flashlight. The hardest decision you’ll need to make is whether to buy the bronze, carbon gray with a rubber watchband, or the super snazzy carbon gray DLC titanium with the DLC titanium band.
Another quality company to consider is Shearwater. If you’re new to air integration, consider the Tern TX Swift combo that contains both a wrist dive computer and transmitter. Great for recreational divers, the display offers high contrast, a tilt-compensated digital compass, vibration alerts, and more. If you’re not ready for air integration, you can opt for the wrist computer on its own.
For a larger display, consider the Shearwater Peregrine TX. This, too, can be purchased either individually or in combination with the X Swift Transmitter. The Peregrine is worn on the forearm and has a full-color, easy-to-read screen that offers modes for air, Nitrox, tri-mix, and gauge. It features a decompression feature, can connect with up to 4 compatible transmitters, has a 3-axis, tilt-compensated digital compass, and more. It’s a great value.
Last, but certainly not least, let’s explore Scubapro’s Options. First up: G2 wrist and console options. Scubapro prides itself on offering “a blend of advanced technology and user-friendly functionality.” Exactly what divers need deep down. The G2 computers have a large color screen, real-time data, no-decompression limits, and recreational, technical, and gauge modes.
This last one is often selected when using one computer as a backup to another (and in this mode, it will not record no-decompression limits). They also have Bluetooth connectivity, making for easy downloads and syncing of your dive data to other devices. Available in both wrist, console, and combination options, the G2 is a solid choice.
The Scubapro Galileo 3 offers classic analog watch styling topside, and shifts into a computer with advanced dive technology underwater, making it a great choice for the diver who wants one piece of equipment to do dual duty. The Galileo 3 is operated by three control buttons that easily navigate through the menus, settings, and review options.
It has a bright, full-color display, optional wireless air integration, 3D tilt-compensated digital compass, modes that include scuba, freediving, gauge, and CCR—all in a sleek package.
When it comes to dive computers, there are a lot of nuances between models. You’ll have questions, and our shop’s professional staff has the answers you’ll need to feel good about the choice you make.
Book Your Bucket-List Dive!
Join us on one of our many goliath dives throughout the aggregation season or reserve your spot now on one of our three upcoming goliath night dives scheduled on August 22nd and 23rd, and September 20th!
And after you realize just how amazing goliaths are to dive with, consider taking Jupiter Dive Center’s exclusive Goliath Grouper Specialty course, where you will learn more about goliath grouper identification, habitat, range, diet, and role in the marine ecosystem.
What are you waiting for? Grab your gear, strap on your new computer, and book your dive with Jupiter Dive Center or call 561-745-7807 today. Your adventure awaits!
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