Monday, March 16, 2026
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY — Strong cold front arriving tonight. Conditions deteriorate through the afternoon. Dive early or stay home.
1 / Conditions Headline
A strong cold front pushes through South Florida tonight. S winds are running 20 kt with gusts to 25 kt from Jupiter to Miami, with seas at 4–5 ft north of Deerfield and 2–4 ft south to Miami. Key Largo is the only region with confirmed good conditions today — Captain Jim reported 50 ft vis at Eagle Ray Alley at 3:19 PM with SE winds at 11 kt and 2–3 ft seas.
BHB has two tide windows — 7:14 AM and 7:31 PM. Morning window only. The evening tide puts you in the water as the front arrives. Skip it.
2 / Daily Data
Observed | Predicted | Not reported |
Visibility methodology: Offshore sites (Jupiter, Ft. Laud., Miami) baseline 40–80 ft, penalised for seas and rain. Inshore / nearshore sites (BHB, Palm Beach, Deerfield) baseline 20–50 ft, penalised more aggressively. Key Largo: same-day observed report used directly.
Region | Call | Vis | Temp | Seas | Wind / Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jupiter / Tequesta | NO-GO | ~20–30 ft (P) | ~75–76 °F (P) | 4–5 ft | S 20 kt / gusts 25 kt |
Blue Heron Bridge | MARGINAL | ~15–25 ft (P) | ~77–78 °F (P) | Protected | High tide: 7:14 AM / 7:31 PM |
Palm Beach / Singer Is. | NO-GO | ~20–30 ft (P) | ~75–76 °F (P) | 4–5 ft | S 20 kt / gusts 25 kt |
Deerfield / Pompano | NO-GO | ~20–35 ft (P) | ~76–77 °F (P) | 2–4 ft | S 15–20 kt / gusts 25 kt |
Fort Lauderdale | NO-GO | ~20–35 ft (P) | ~76–77 °F (P) | 2–4 ft | S 15–20 kt / gusts 25 kt |
Miami / Key Biscayne | NO-GO | ~20–35 ft (P) | ~77–78 °F (P) | 2–4 ft | S 15–20 kt / gusts 25 kt |
Key Largo / Upper Keys | GO | 50 ft | ~78 °F | 2–3 ft | SE 11 kt |
Sources: NOAA AMZ650 issued 3:56 AM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026 (Small Craft Advisory, Jupiter–Deerfield). NOAA AMZ651 same issuance (Small Craft Advisory, Deerfield–Miami). Key Largo: Rainbow Reef live reef report, Captain Jim, Eagle Ray Alley, 3:19 PM Mon Mar 16 2026. BHB tides: Port of Palm Beach, Mar 16 2026. Water temps: Captain Hook's operator log Mar 15 2026 + climatology. Vis for all regions except Key Largo is predicted using sea state, wind, and precip penalty model — not a same-day dive log.
3 / Marine Life Sighting Alert
Confirmed — Key Largo, today
Key Largo — Eagle Ray Alley (3:19 PM today, observed): Captain Jim reports quiet conditions with the whole reef to themselves. Rainbow Reef's Mar 15 report from the same site logged good vis at 45 ft with turtles and moderate NE current.
Blue Heron Bridge (typical): Rays, seahorses, octopus, frogfish, and macro critters are typical at high tide. Morning window is your only realistic shot today.
Jupiter (typical): Sharks, grouper, and rays on ledges — consistent with this time of year. Seas are too rough to confirm a dive report today.
4 / Daily Safety Tip
Cold front + thunderstorm risk — get out before noon
NWS Miami flags scattered thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts and quarter-sized hail possible this afternoon ahead of the front. Six regions are NO-GO today. If you are on a boat north of Key Largo, be docked before noon.
Blue Heron Bridge: your window is 6:44–7:44 AM. The 7:31 PM evening high tide is a no-go today. Squall activity peaks at that exact time window.
Key Largo is your dive today. Get in the water before noon and watch for the front pushing south. Confirm a go or no-go with your captain before launch. Never dive alone.
The Florida Flow | Daily scuba conditions, Southeast Florida | Published every morning
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