just looking for some information, maybe some leads or some ideas as to
the odd water temperature and visibility we're seeing in south florida
right now. For the last few days, water temperatures on the 1st and
second reef have been in their low-mid 70s, and in the low 60s past the
third reef. Visibility from the 1st to the 3rd reefs is absolutely
horrible(less than 10')

The morning dive was on the 1st reef, pompano mooring
balls(copenhagen). On top of the ledge, the temperature was in the
mid-high 80s and visibility was about par for the 1st reef(35' or so).
But there was a sharp thermocline at about 15' and the visibility went
to about 10-15' with lots of suspended junk(algae?) in the water, and
the temperature dropped to the mid-70s. We had a decent south current
(.5-1mph) tide was incoming for at least an hour. 2nd dive was very
near the first one, with similar conditions.

Afternoon 1st dive was the rodeo 25( appx 127feet to the sand).
Visibility on the surface was about 20' and water temperature was in
the mid 80s. at about 15' there was a thermocline, and the temperature
dropped to the high 60s and visibility went to nil with the same
conditions as the 1st reef, just suspended crap in the water. At about
100', the visibility cleared up to about 30', but the water temperature
was 61 degrees. We had a slight north current on the surface, almost no
current at depth. I didn't go on the second dive, so I don't have any
current or temperature reports, but they reported the visibility to be
less than 10'. The 2nd dive was a mixture of 2nd and 3rd reef drifts.

I know it was like this on friday too, I'll report on sunday. 3rd reef
wreck and drifts are planned.

Any ideas, theories, as to what is going on with the currents that
would cause this? Maybe a strange eddie in the gulf stream causing one
of the colder south-flowing deepwater currents to rise up? The captain
of the dive boat said something about them draining lake okeechobee,
but I have a hard time believing that small amount of water could
affect something as massive as the gulf stream. On top of that, with
the warm weather we've had and the shallowness of the lake, I doubt the
water being drained would be 61 degrees.

daniel