Info Flower Gardens, TX, highly recommend it!

[Wookie]

Can people share what dive operator they booked with? I'm interested but unclear on the logistics. I believe it's accessed by liveaboard? Please share any feedback about the boat you were on as well.

Fling Charters, also, Texas Caribbean Charters.

Same company, but some weird ass ownership issues.

 

[Wookie]

If you are flying in from DC to dive the Flower Gardens, pick second half of July, all of August, and first half of September.

Don't try for a spring or fall weekend. You're just wasting your time. Or, have alternate plans to visit your Aunt Katie in Katy, or go eat BBQ in Austin.

 

[rx7diver]

If you are flying in from DC to dive the Flower Gardens, pick second half of July, all of August, and first half of September.

Don't try for a spring or fall weekend. You're just wasting your time. Or, have alternate plans to visit your Aunt Katie in Katy, or go eat BBQ in Austin.

@Wookie,

Did you used to run trips there when you owned your charter boat?

rx7diver

 

[Wookie]

@Wookie,

Did you used to run trips there when you owned your charter boat?

rx7diver

That's where I started in the US, and bought the boat out of the Flower Gardens.

I actually used to own both boats 50%.

 

[chaad]

Can people share what dive operator they booked with? I'm interested but unclear on the logistics. I believe it's accessed by liveaboard? Please share any feedback about the boat you were on as well.

Fling Charters, also, Texas Caribbean Charters.

Same company, but some weird ass ownership issues.

To be clear, @also_anon_dc, the one Wookie points out is the only regularly scheduled charter that goes to Flower Garden Banks.

Texas Caribbean Charters | Texas Gulf Coast Scuba Diving

Book a private deep sea fishing trip with Texas Caribbean Charters. Conveniently located for Galveston and Texas Gulf Coast departures.

texascaribbean.com

 

[also_anon_dc]

Thanks all!

Don't try for a spring or fall weekend. You're just wasting your time. Or, have alternate plans to visit your Aunt Katie in Katy, or go eat BBQ in Austin.

Yes I have family in Waco so it would be an add-on to visiting family.

 

[Scratch_Monkey]

Can people share what dive operator they booked with? I'm interested but unclear on the logistics. I believe it's accessed by liveaboard? Please share any feedback about the boat you were on as well.

I just posted my trip report from the weekend of September 12th. I'm happy to answer any questions about the logistics.

Trip Report Thread 'Flower Gardens September 12 - 14'

Sep 22, 2025

My wife and a couple of friends just did our first trip to the Flower Gardens off the coast of Texas. To sum it up, I felt it was a well-run operation, the crew was super nice/helpful, the food was plentiful, and the diving had a lot of potential. However, due to no Nitrox on this trip and bad visibility, the actual diving was just okay.

Having said that, we still had a good time and we'll probably go again earlier in the summer to see if we can experience those sites under better circumstances.

One of my concerns (as a diver who's only done recreational diving with a DM in the water...

• Scratch_Monkey
• Replies: 9
• Forum: Texas

• 
• 

The boat was fine. I would not call it luxurious but it was perfectly adequate. The bunks were comfortable and you had enough room for your stuff inside your cabin and for your gear outside (under cover).

It's got an upper deck for lounging (and you can sleep out there if you really wanted to), the main outdoor (covered) deck area for the gear/tanks, etc..., a cabin inside with tables where they server you food, and the bunks are all downstairs.

They have several trip options but we did the Weekend Flower Gardens trip so spent Friday night and Saturday night on the boat. Assuming you live in the area, you don't even need to take off work (but maybe you will have to leave early on Friday).

 

[chaad]

I just posted my trip report from the weekend of September 12th. I'm happy to answer any questions about the logistics.

Trip Report Thread 'Flower Gardens September 12 - 14'

Sep 22, 2025

My wife and a couple of friends just did our first trip to the Flower Gardens off the coast of Texas. To sum it up, I felt it was a well-run operation, the crew was super nice/helpful, the food was plentiful, and the diving had a lot of potential. However, due to no Nitrox on this trip and bad visibility, the actual diving was just okay.

Having said that, we still had a good time and we'll probably go again earlier in the summer to see if we can experience those sites under better circumstances.

One of my concerns (as a diver who's only done recreational diving with a DM in the water...

• Scratch_Monkey
• Replies: 9
• Forum: Texas

• 
• 

The boat was fine. I would not call it luxurious but it was perfectly adequate. The bunks were comfortable and you had enough room for your stuff inside your cabin and for your gear outside (under cover).

It's got an upper deck for lounging (and you can sleep out there if you really wanted to), the main outdoor (covered) deck area for the gear/tanks, etc..., a cabin inside with tables where they server you food, and the bunks are all downstairs.

They have several trip options but we did the Weekend Flower Gardens trip so spent Friday night and Saturday night on the boat. Assuming you live in the area, you don't even need to take off work (but maybe you will have to leave early on Friday).

Thanks for the report! I've now been cancelled on by this charter three times this year. Apparently they had a better than average year for not cancelling; I just happened to be booked on all three trips they had to cancel. I'll get out there eventually!

 

[Allen-1]

If you are flying in from DC to dive the Flower Gardens, pick second half of July, all of August, and first half of September.

Don't try for a spring or fall weekend. You're just wasting your time. Or, have alternate plans to visit your Aunt Katie in Katy, or go eat BBQ in Austin.

@Wookie

Thinking about this. It's a serious drive from Savannah, not really doable over a weekend - so looking at flying in. Is there an airport closer than IAH? If not, any thoughts about how to travel between the airport and dock? Rental car?

 

[Scratch_Monkey]

@Wookie

Thinking about this. It's a serious drive from Savannah, not really doable over a weekend - so looking at flying in. Is there an airport closer than IAH? If not, any thoughts about how to travel between the airport and dock? Rental car?

Hobby Airport (served by Southwest mainly) is about an hour away from the dock. You could probably take an Uber or rent a car. If you were going to arrive on Friday and leave on Sunday night, maybe an Uber or something like that would work.

If you were going to spend more time in the Houston area, you will certainly need a car and a rental car for the weekend may be cheaper than an Uber anyways.

Just thinking this through as if I were planning it, I would probably plan on flying in on Friday earlier in the day (just in case there is a flight delay). If you were renting a car, I'd get the car and go to a restaurant near the Fling, get dinner (we ate at "On the River" and it was fine), and wait until 7pm.

If you were taking an Uber, you'd want to time it so you got the Uber around 5:30 to try and time your arrival at the boat as close to 7 as possible. There is no place to hang out at the boat before they let you board so if an Uber dropped you off early, you'd just be standing around, outside, waiting.

The more I think about it, if it's not crazy expensive, I'd just rent a car as it gives you a lot more flexibility or at least a place to wait in air conditioning if you are early at the dock.