I’ve been to Pura Vida Divers in Palm Beach many times—but always for work. Three separate professional-level trainings. Two Instructor Development Courses. Countless hours of demos, evaluations, logistics, and mentoring.

And somehow… never once a fun dive.

So when I headed to Florida for DEMA this year, I made one promise to myself:
We are getting on that boat and doing actual fun diving—no slates, no skills, no evaluations… just pure underwater joy.

And that’s exactly what we did.

Gathering the Crew

I rounded up two of my favorite dive buddies, including our incredible Assistant Instructor Tim and the amazing Divemaster Becky, and we booked a morning on Pura Vida’s deep boat. For once, we weren’t there to staff, assist, or evaluate. Just float, breathe, drift, and enjoy.

One of the reasons I always come back to PVD is their professionalism and warmth. Their team makes divers feel safe, supported, and welcome from the moment you step onboard.

Two Epic Drift Dives with Captain Dean

Our trip was captained by the legendary Captain Dean, whose effortless precision makes drift diving feel like second nature. From perfectly timed drops to smooth pickups, he set the tone for a perfect day on the water.

Palm Beach delivered its classic magic:
🌊 Clear, blue water
🪸 Gorgeous reef structure
⚓️ Cool wrecks
🌬️ Ideal drift speed
🌴 That iconic South Florida energy

You can’t beat the feeling of flying over the reef in a gentle current—it’s one of the closest things to weightless meditation.

Guided by Braden and Ambar: The Dream Team

Our dive guides, Braden and Ambar, were phenomenal.

For me, diving with Braden was a special full-circle moment. When I first staffed an IDC at PVD, he was an instructor candidate in that very course. I watched him grow, push himself, and step fully into leadership.

Seeing him now—working full-time as an instructor, owning his space, guiding divers with confidence—was one of those proud instructor moments that hits you right in the heart.

Ambar’s calm presence, sharp eyes, and ability to find the coolest critters made the dives smooth, relaxed, and exciting from start to finish. Together, they were the perfect team.

The Diving: Sharks, Giants, and Pure Florida Magic

Palm Beach always delivers… but this day was something special.

During our two drift dives, we were treated to an incredible lineup of marine life, including:

Nurse sharks cruising gracefully along the bottom
Lemon sharks slipping through the clear blue
Bull sharks making powerful passes in the current
Three massive Goliath groupers—each one absolutely breathtaking

Being in the water with sharks of three different species and multiple Goliath groupers in a single morning felt like winning the underwater lottery. These giants are awe-inspiring and humbling all at once.

It was one of those rare Florida dive days where everything just… aligned. Perfect conditions, the right guides, the right buddy team, and wildlife that left us absolutely buzzing.

Why This Day Meant So Much

As a PADI Master Instructor, I spend a lot of my dive days teaching, mentoring, staffing, and evaluating—and I truly love that work. But sometimes, my own “fun diving” gets pushed aside.

This day reminded me why we fall in love with diving in the first place:
the calm, the weightlessness, the wildlife, the community, and the joy of just being underwater with your friends.

Sharing it with Tim and my dive buddy crew made it even better.

Huge Thank You to the PVD Crew

To Captain Dean, Braden, and Ambar—thank you for an unforgettable day. Your professionalism, passion, and hospitality make Pura Vida one of the best dive operations in Florida.

I’ll be back—and next time, it’s definitely going to be for even more fun diving.

Dive safe, explore passionately, and remember…