Alan C Egan: Jupiter, Florida
Jupiter, Florida is in close proximity to the warm life-abundant waters of the Atlantic Gulf Stream, a super highway for migratory species. The current travels at approximately 5 miles per hour and transports more water than the Amazon River. This makes for an amazing array of underwater encounters and photographic opportunities. Recently a party of divers from Mexico City enjoyed seeing eleven species of sharks in four days of diving including a great white (Carcharodon carcharias) and it is also not unusual to see sailfish and marlin whilst drifting on the edge of the stream and on one deep reef there is a family of stout moray eels (Gymnothorax eurostus), which have an anaconda-like appearance and butternut face.
The famous sea turtle nests at Juno beach mean that it is common to see up to twenty turtles on a single dive during the nesting season.
Several operators are available, charging around $70 for a two tank dive and $100 for a three.
Alan C. Egan departed Manchester UK in 1984 to live in Miami Florida, this is where his love affair with the ocean and diving began. He has now done over 7,000 dives in the USA, Central & South America, Caribbean and the Bahamas, providing him with a multitude of breath taking moments.
The impressive Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) with bait ball and invasive cup coral.
Where else in the world do you get tigers sharks with goliath groupers and a wreck as a backdrop? The Esso Bonaire, Jupiter.
Silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis) also show up and are shy compared to the bold dusky sharks, but they are one of my favorite subjects to shoot. Their eyes are beautiful.
The normally shy goliath groupers (Epinephelus itajara) seem to enjoy interaction during spawning season.
Ever swim alongside a living dinosaur ? I have seen as many as four leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) in a year in Jupiter and photographed each of them.
We have enjoyed eleven tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) in Jupiter over the last year and the winter months being better as they leave in the summer for destinations unknown, some have tags from Bimini, Bahamas.
What a photographer's dream! A pod of Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) in the gulf stream. This current is at it’s closest point in Florida at Jupiter.
Great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran) looking for snacks during our regular Lemon Shark dive on the wreck trek Jupiter.
Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis). The Gulf Stream is close to land at Jupiter and thai explains the sightings of so many large pelagic species.
With the close proximity of one of the most successful turtle nesting beaches worldwide means we get to see many species of turtles especially during March and April. Always a pleasure to work with a turtle.
Always smiling for the camera!
Open Wide!
Large pregnany dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus) enjoying the photo shoot with divers above watching.
During the summer months we enjoy visits from dusky sharks (Carcharhinus obscurus) on the Deep Ledge in Jupiter, this is a curious pregnant female. Most sharks we encounter are female.
Every year we are lucky to enjoy the goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) aggregation and numbers can exceed 150 fish at one place.
This lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) always has a keen interest in strobes. She has been seen regularly for about a year. When we first saw her she had a nasty hook in her jaw which was removed.
Lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostriss) are in Jupiter in various numbers all year, they are a great subject and always having cartoon like looks as they come in for a photo. We named this one Snooty as it has a large overbite.
Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara)
Great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran) cruising in for a close encounter on the Esso Bonaire Jupiter.
Bite shot!
Nothing more breathtaking than a tiger (Galeocerdo cuvier) swimming in the blue water with a little sun lighting her up. Safety stop in Jupiter- the three minutes goes fast.
January through April we see the great hammerheads (Sphyrna mokarran) migrate through Jupiter. They often stop in for a photo shoot and compete with the tigers for snacks.
This poor silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) showing his battle wounds with three hooks embedded, but at least he lived to tell the tale. He did enjoy his camera notoriety.