Flower Gardens

[mcc2318]

A bunch of friends are planning a trip to the texas flower gardens? Is it worth the $450?

[texdiveguy]

Originally Posted by mcc2318

A bunch of friends are planning a trip to the texas flower gardens? Is it worth the $450?

Its a great mini live aboard experience and good diving. I suggest the M.V. Spree/Capt. Frank for your charter. Summer are the best months for smooth seas and much less chance of getting the trip canceled. This is some of the best diving off the Tx. GoM .... but now with the reefing of the Texas Clipper it will have to share the spotlight for awhile probably. This is a dive setting better suited for 'experienced' o/w divers comfortable in ocean diving and proficant in their diving skills. It is worth the $ IMO, at least to do once.

[moosicman]

my biology professor does all of his research at the flower gardens and he raves about diving there....he's gonna take me once i get my nitox cert. i've seen some video and pictures and it does look amazing

[Hugh McPherson]

My dive buddy and I drove down to Freeport, TX to board the M/V Fling at 2000 on Friday night. We left port at 2130 while receiving the boat briefing then slept until our arrival and wake-up at 0600 on Saturday. We returned to port on Sunday afternoon about 1630. First on board, first pick of bunks; have your buddy pick your gear locations on deck while you go below deck and pick the bunks (4 per room in tight quarters but you only sleep there and the A/C is great).

We did not see it in perfect conditions as there were tropical storms (one blew through 24 hours before the trip and the trip departing on Monday after our return was canceled. In spite of that we had great diving and 60 to 80 feet of visibility at depth; only 20-30 feet viz between surface and 30 at times. I took dramamine 2 (1 on day before, 2 on Friday, 1 on Sat) and had no problems.

It is a great mini liveaboard experience. It is structured (when the dive gate closes, no more divers in the water) but very well run. Limit is 100 feet which is more than enough as all the things to see are between 60 and 80 feet. Mandatory 2.5 hour SIs are enforced but you have plenty of food and snoozetime. We dove 5 times (first in at 0700, last in at 2100); dives 1 and 4 allow for seeing the shift change of day and night life. There is a great variety of fish to see and oftentimes spectacular stuff. We saw many great barracuda (our buddies), sea turtle and 2 silkies off an oil rig (the rig is special, only if conditions allow), a 5 foot spotted moray during the nite dive, and a spanish lobster.

You and your dive buddy are logged on the boat roster for each dive and you must plan your own dive (including navigation). If you are a large group, pair up in teams of two and dive the same plan. If one must surface all the buddies must surface; teams of two minimize the heartbreak of early surfacing.

There is usually a ton of experience aboard. For starters, you must book your trip through a dive shop and the shop usually send a DM along. However, the DM is not there to guide. Although I always plan my own dive and dive my plan this was the first time my buddy and I were on our own. Don't worry because with two dozen divers in the water you don't feel alone.

Stetson Bank on Sunda was my favorite site because of its unusual mix of rocks and sponges. East and West Banks have more coral and present the best opportunity for cameo appearances of whale sharks etc (no cameos on our trip).

The Fling and Spree are the way to go. If you consider travel (130 miles to the first site), 3 meals plus food/snacks 24 hours, 5 dives on Saturday and 2 on Sunday morning, plus room you have a great deal. In Hawaii (just got back) the avg cost per tank is $45. At that rate 7 dives run $315 then add room/board plus travel and the $450 is less daunting.

I for one am returning.

[Hugh McPherson]

My dive buddy and I drove down to Freeport, TX to board the M/V Fling at 2000 on Friday night. We left port at 2130 while receiving the boat briefing then slept until our arrival and wake-up at 0600 on Saturday. We returned to port on Sunday afternoon about 1630. First on board, first pick of bunks; have your buddy pick your gear locations on deck while you go below deck and pick the bunks (4 per room in tight quarters but you only sleep there and the A/C is great).

We did not see it in perfect conditions as there were tropical storms (one blew through 24 hours before the trip and the trip departing on Monday after our return was canceled. In spite of that we had great diving and 60 to 80 feet of visibility at depth; only 20-30 feet viz between surface and 30 at times. I took dramamine 2 (1 on day before, 2 on Friday, 1 on Sat) and had no problems.

It is a great mini liveaboard experience. It is structured (when the dive gate closes, no more divers in the water) but very well run. Limit is 100 feet which is more than enough as all the things to see are between 60 and 80 feet. Mandatory 2.5 hour SIs are enforced but you have plenty of food and snoozetime. We dove 5 times (first in at 0700, last in at 2100); dives 1 and 4 allow for seeing the shift change of day and night life. There is a great variety of fish to see and oftentimes spectacular stuff. We saw many great barracuda (our buddies), sea turtle and 2 silkies off an oil rig (the rig is special, only if conditions allow), a 5 foot spotted moray during the nite dive, and a spanish lobster.

You and your dive buddy are logged on the boat roster for each dive and you must plan your own dive (including navigation). If you are a large group, pair up in teams of two and dive the same plan. If one must surface all the buddies must surface; teams of two minimize the heartbreak of early surfacing. Dive gate opens for the first dive at 0700. Plan to be ready to jump 5-10 minutes prior if your gear is set up; a delay on your part may mean you miss a dive. Our approach was suited and ready 10 minutes prior, dive, prep gear for next dive. Note that your BCD is never unhooked from the tank but you have to take off and reattach your reg to allow the crew to fill 'er up. 30 minutes before dive time we checked our gear, attached our regs then returned 15 minutes prior to get ready to dive.

There is usually a ton of experience aboard. For starters, you must book your trip through a dive shop and the shop usually send a DM along. However, the DM is not there to guide. Although I always plan my own dive and dive my plan this was the first time my buddy and I were on our own. Don't worry because with two dozen divers in the water you don't feel alone. Another thought: Your save-a-dive kit is critical. Critical things like a computer (mine died on the first dive) must be considered. Me and my buddy will rent a third computer as a backup in the future. I was SAVED by a diver who, apart from being an instructor, happened to have an extra computer; needless to say Curtis from International Scuba allowed me and my buddy to multi-level that weekend.

Stetson Bank on Sunday was my favorite site because of its unusual mix of rocks and sponges. East and West Banks have more coral and present the best opportunity for cameo appearances of whale sharks etc (no cameos on our trip).

The Fling and Spree are the way to go. If you consider travel (130 miles to the first site), 3 meals plus food/snacks 24 hours, 5 dives on Saturday and 2 on Sunday morning, plus room you have a great deal. In Hawaii (just got back) the avg cost per tank is $45. At that rate 7 dives run $315 then add room/board plus travel and the $450 is less daunting.

I for one am returning.

[Soonerwink]

I have been on the MV Spree twice and plan on making a third trip next summer. I think it is the best diving for the money. Either boat is a great dive the Spree just has 10 fewer divers and price includes nitrox. Here is a link to their website, be sure and check out the videos, but only if you're sure you want to go. Gulf Diving LLC - Welcome! Here are some pictures I took on our latest trip. Flickr: Photos from soonerscubadiver This was the first time using camera and I don't have a strobe.

[Defman]

Does the Sea Searcher II still go out? Website is hit or miss, most links don't work..

[Soonerwink]

Originally Posted by Defman

Does the Sea Searcher II still go out? Website is hit or miss, most links don't work..

I thought they still made weekend trips to Stetson Banks, but I might be wrong. I haven't checked with them in quite awhile.