All Blog Entries by Amanda Hicks

There are currently 122 blog entries published by Amanda Hicks.

      This Labor Day, habitants and beach goers on Singer Island got to witness a rare weather event. A waterspout formed at 10 a.m. and lasted about 10 minutes followed by another one that dissipated in even less time. A waterspout is a spiraling column of air and mist over the ocean. They are 18,000-20,000 feet high and classified as either tornadic or fair weather. Tornadic waterspouts are similar to land tornadoes and associated with bad storms, high wind, and hail. Fair weather waterspouts, like the one spotted on Singer Island, are not associated with storms, form with little wind, and are much more common. Interestingly, while tornadic spouts drop from the sky, fair weather spouts develop on the surface of the water and form upward. By the…
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  Living the lux life in a south Florida condo is a dream many people share. While there are a number of unit options in Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties, chosing one on Singer Island is not only a smart choice, but also one that'll make you the happiest. Here's why:   Key word: Waterfront. Market trends show that condos with waterfront views are selling for up to double of the cost of an identical one with a city view. Recent research conducted by the Ross100 Condo Index of Miami shows that buyers in the south Florida area are willing to pay anywhere between 38-101 percent more for a front view of the ocean rather than the city. The more dramatic difference in price takes place in the Miami area however, which is understandable considering…
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  The Singer Island Outdoor Center is hosting five LightSUP tours this September. For those who don't know, SUP is an acronym for Stand Up Paddleboarding. Paddleboards are long, very buoyant boards that you can stand up and paddle around on or sit on and paddle, if you're still getting used to balancing. The SUP trend has taken over south Florida waterways because it is easy, fun, and good exercise, and anyone can do it. While taking a paddleboard out on a sunny day is a relaxing and leisurely, taking one out at night is a new and very cool experience. The lights under the board are bright enough for you to see straight through the clear water near the island and they also help attract nocturnal marine life which you can see swim right underneath…
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  Singer Island has been a home for sea turtles to nest for as long as the island existed. It is a famous spot for the Loggerhead sea turtle and that is why many local organizations include the name in their title, like the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, for example. The small island is a sanctuary to more than 5 percent of the entire world's population of the Loggerhead. But the species has been declining for the past 19 years and the turtles have been listed as engangered since 1978- almost 40 years ago. Around the world, their eggs are consumed, their migratory forages are intercepted by industrial fishing nets, plastic and floating debris entraps them or is consumed by them, and their nesting habitats are destroyed by humans.   However many…
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Florida is the #3 state in the country for most registered boats, with almost 1 million residents owning a vessel. While boating allows many amenities to be enjoyed, probably one of every boater’s favorite activities is offshore fishing.

There’s nothing like a sunny day, boating on the big blue ocean and casting out a line. As you listen for the reel to spin, you’ll find your adrenaline building for your line to take off! The Atlantic coast has massive fish that are sure to put up a battle. The fish you’ll find deep sea fishing off of Singer Island and the surrounding areas include Dolphin (Mahi Mahi), Tuna, Sailfish, and Blue Marlin. Some of these fish can weigh over a thousand pounds!  Once you finally reel ‘em in, you will feel a strong

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Palm Beach County is well-known for big game fish like Marlin, Sailfish, Dolphin, and Grouper. Fishermen from all over the country come to participate in world-famous tournaments that take place right here in our backyard.

The first crews arrived in small skiff boats at the dawn of the 20th century. Word spread quickly of the successful ventures of the small crews. Larger boats and more men started coming to the area to catch Swordfish, Tuna, and other big game fish. Soon, Palm Beach would find that it was a central point for trophy fishing.

There came a point in the 40s where locals realized it was time to establish dockage for the new mass of fishermen. The dock was built on Singer Island, the perfect spot for a fisherman’s haven.

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Is sailing on your bucketlist? Try Hobie Cat sailing on Singer Island! Hobie Cats (“cat” being short for “catamaran”) are small boats about  14 to 16 feet long. The difference between catamarans and traditional sailboats is that catamarans are balanced on two hulls rather than just one. This makes them faster and more stable and they are also superior to traditional boats in shallow water. Large cat vessels can have a cockpit and main cabin in the middle just like a regular boat, while smaller cats have netting to sit on.

Hobie Cats are a sailboat class of their own. No steering wheel, no cabin, just a sail and a net. Invented by notorious surfer Hobie Alter in the 1960s, Hobie Cats are small boats designed so that a single person can carry

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Singer Island and North Palm Beach are home to some of the most populated sea turtle nesting sites in the world. Last year, in the 10-mile stretch from north Singer Island to south Jupiter Island, the Loggerhead Marinelife Center recorded a total of 16,000 sea turtle nests, a record-breaking number. Since it's the middle of the season, you'll surely come across a nest, maybe even a sea turtle. It's important to protect the nests of these creatures as many species, like the loggerhead, are declining. Here is a list of things you can do to help preserve the turtles:

Do:

  • Throw away debris left on the beach
  • Fill in holes in the sand, knock down sand castles, and move objects that could obstruct a sea turtle’s path to and from the ocean
  • If
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  Singer Island is recognized as one of the most important beaches in the country for loggerhead sea turtle nesting. It is also a nesting habitat for green sea turtles and leatherbacks. While the latter two have seen a population increase in recent years, loggerhead sea turtle nesting has had a general decline since 1998.    Loggerhead sea turtles get their name for their large heads and powerful jaws, allowing them to crush hard-shelled prey like clams and mussels. They can reach 4 feet in length and weigh 400 pounds. Internationally, loggerheads are listed as endangered, but in the U.S. they are listed as threatened as opposed to endangered, thanks to room to nest on clean beaches like Singer Island and other area beaches. The Loggerhead…
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Singer Island is known for its picturesque beaches, luxury condos, and million-dollar views. But just over a hundred years ago, the island hadn't a single brick of infrastructure. Palm Beach County locals may recognize names like Mizner and MacArthur from community parks and theatres, but may not know is the historical impact of these public figures. Here's some history about the development of Singer Island.

1900 

The first recorded settlement was in 1906, consisting of fishermen and squatters from the Bahamas and Riviera Beach. The fishermen, who called the island "Inlet City," stayed there and stretched their large nets out to dry. They were fishing the Gulf Stream; a warm Atlantic Ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico,

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