planning a trip to flower gardens

[swimboyy]

Ok I am interested in this trip please PM me with the details so I can see if I will be able to attend. It sounds like a fun trip. How is the diving out there??? currents, tides, visibility, etc??

[ReefHound]

Sometimes a current, usually not strong on the bottom. You have ascent lines, sidelines, and drift lines. Viz is usually 80 foot at least, worst I've seen is about 40'. No tides, you are 110 miles offshore. Depths at mooring bolt are about 70-80' and you have plenty of area 100' or less but can head to the walls for deeper waters.

[ianr33]

What kind of shocked me the first time I went to the gardens is that all you can see from the boat is ocean (and a few oil rigs) Its the only place I have ever dived where you can not see land at all. The operators are experienced at sending out an inflatable chase boat to pick up divers that miss the boat but it can still be intimidating. probably best to stay in sight of the anchor line on the first dive or 2.

Its a pretty good drop from the boat into the water,around 6 feet.Hold onto your gear (especially weightbelts!) and bite firmly onto your reg on the way down.

If you are at all prone to seasickness start taking meds before the boat leaves shore!!! It can get rough out there and I have seen a few people be totally miserable for 2 whole days .

[UofTOrange]

Originally Posted by shawnwill36

flower gardens is a live aboard. price should be around 550. includes bunk, food, 7 dives on saturday and two on sunday. be gone 2 nights

Wow, 7 dives in one day? I guess everyone just naps in between?

[cowgirldiver]

If you look at the Fling website, you'll see that the 7 dives are the total for a 2 day trip-five on day one and 2 on day 2. For a 3 day trip, you can get up to 11 dives.

[chinacat46]

Yeah that sounded like it was out of whack. I've done 6 in day and that was to much. Five is about the max I like to do in one day.

[cowgirldiver]

I was trying to think how you could fit 7 dives into one day with all the required surface intervals/nitrogen load. I guess if you were really shallow all the time but I think most of these dives are 60 ft minimum. Plus, I'm (hopefully if it doesn't get canceled) going on a trip there at the end of July and couldn't remember reading about that many dives in the info.

[Smoochy]

They run a great schedule of eat sleep dive....eat sleep dive...etc.

Unfortunately for me, all 3 trips that I signed up for on the Spree were canceled. I may be interested in a trip on the Fling at some point, but definitely can't commit right now.

[navyhmc]

Originally Posted by Smoochy

They run a great schedule of eat sleep dive....eat sleep dive...etc.

Unfortunately for me, all 3 trips that I signed up for on the Spree were canceled. I may be interested in a trip on the Fling at some point, but definitely can't commit right now.

You weren't booked on the ill-fated LAbor Day Trip of '08 were you smoochy? I was in the middle of that mess, which was too badf, I was really looking forward to diving the flower gardens

All that I read and researched ahead of time tells me that this trip is well worth the time if you can go. But go in the June-July time frame, less chance of hurricane cancellations.

[ReefHound]

It so happens that CHUM is currently trying to fill the boat on short notice after a dive shop cancellation. Let's go have some fun and help save a trip for the last remaining charter op to the Flower Gardens.

Early Summer Fling

When: weekend of June 6/7 (board Fri at 8:00pm, dive Saturday and Sunday, return Sun around 6pm)

Where: Flower Gardens, Stetson Bank
7 dives typical - 5 Saturday (inc. night dive), 2 Sunday.

Cost: $510.00 (add $65 for nitrox)

Deposit: $100 to sign up

online enrollment for everyone is OPEN

For those who have only been on the Spree, the Fling is a sister ship that is very similar in layout with a few minor differences. If you have been on the Spree, you will be familiar with the Fling.

If anyone is interested in joining us, post or pm me. Or register and post on the official CHUM trip thread.