I was lOoking on YouTube and saw som guys diving about 60 miles out side south la in the gulf on an old oil platform and I was shocked at the life there and want to do this. So i contacted my dive buddy and he said that he thinks you have to go out with someone with a captains cert to be able to bring dive tanks out into the gulf. Is this true? I really want to do some spear fishing there is there any special licenses i need to make this trip happen. Thanks guys
Oil platform diving question
- Thread starter Dmaricle
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
Hetland
Contributor
Anyone with a private boat can go out there and do it. No Captain's license required.
That said, I think you're looking at a 50-mile boat trip, and if you have less than 24 dives, you really, really, really don't need to be spearfishing. I say this because three divers with far more experience than you died spearfishing in the area between Pensacola and Louisiana last year alone (actually within about two months of each other).
I could go into a long boring lecture about divided attention, variable sac rates, nitrogen narcosis, co2 narcosis, and "fish fever", but the short version is that you need more dives under your belt before adding complexity.
I've had my mask knocked sideways (and flooded) twice, and my regulator knocked out of my mouth once by fish I was trying to string. Your reactions to this type of incident needs to be instinctual and immediate.
Get a few more dives under your belt. If you want to "practice", you can always busy yourself with the hardest part of spearfishing, stalking. Practice getting as close as you can to the prey you'll want to take. Grouper in particular, are very wary of divers. Work on your fish ID. learn how to tell the difference between a red snapper, and a grey snapper, which is easy on the boat, but much harder at 100ft. Learn the difference between scamp, gag, and red grouper too. They all, at first glance, look very similar at 100ft. These are the two issues that ALWAYS come up with new spearfishers, what can I shoot? (fish ID), and how do I get close enough to shoot? (stalking)
That said, I think you're looking at a 50-mile boat trip, and if you have less than 24 dives, you really, really, really don't need to be spearfishing. I say this because three divers with far more experience than you died spearfishing in the area between Pensacola and Louisiana last year alone (actually within about two months of each other).
I could go into a long boring lecture about divided attention, variable sac rates, nitrogen narcosis, co2 narcosis, and "fish fever", but the short version is that you need more dives under your belt before adding complexity.
I've had my mask knocked sideways (and flooded) twice, and my regulator knocked out of my mouth once by fish I was trying to string. Your reactions to this type of incident needs to be instinctual and immediate.
Get a few more dives under your belt. If you want to "practice", you can always busy yourself with the hardest part of spearfishing, stalking. Practice getting as close as you can to the prey you'll want to take. Grouper in particular, are very wary of divers. Work on your fish ID. learn how to tell the difference between a red snapper, and a grey snapper, which is easy on the boat, but much harder at 100ft. Learn the difference between scamp, gag, and red grouper too. They all, at first glance, look very similar at 100ft. These are the two issues that ALWAYS come up with new spearfishers, what can I shoot? (fish ID), and how do I get close enough to shoot? (stalking)
Deep South Divers
Contributor
No. You need a boat, fuel, good weather, and lots of time, that's all.
As an interesting note, State waters generally reach out three miles from the shoreline. Federal waters go out 10. Anything more, and you're in international waters, and so... There is no governing agency to "certify" anyone for anything.
I can tell you, however, that going offshore even a few miles typically requires quite a bit of skill from the pilot... There's a lot to know and a lot can go wrong in a hurry. If you are asking this question about whether or not someone has to be a licensed captain to go 60 miles out, then... Well... Clearly you SHOULD go with someone who has some expertise on the subject... And a professional captain is a good place to start.
...Now, that's not saying that all captains are skillful, or that a boat pilot isn't skillful if they don't have a captain's license. I know a lot of people who have no certifications at all, and yet are the best boaters I know.
So to answer what I think you're really asking... No, don't go without someone who has done it before, and yes, 60 miles is a very long way out. Expect a six hour trip each way in most small vessels.
Can you not find a closer oil rig?
I recommend picking up a charter - that's the easiest way I know of to make your dream a reality.
As an interesting note, State waters generally reach out three miles from the shoreline. Federal waters go out 10. Anything more, and you're in international waters, and so... There is no governing agency to "certify" anyone for anything.
I can tell you, however, that going offshore even a few miles typically requires quite a bit of skill from the pilot... There's a lot to know and a lot can go wrong in a hurry. If you are asking this question about whether or not someone has to be a licensed captain to go 60 miles out, then... Well... Clearly you SHOULD go with someone who has some expertise on the subject... And a professional captain is a good place to start.
...Now, that's not saying that all captains are skillful, or that a boat pilot isn't skillful if they don't have a captain's license. I know a lot of people who have no certifications at all, and yet are the best boaters I know.
So to answer what I think you're really asking... No, don't go without someone who has done it before, and yes, 60 miles is a very long way out. Expect a six hour trip each way in most small vessels.
Can you not find a closer oil rig?
I recommend picking up a charter - that's the easiest way I know of to make your dream a reality.
paulwall
Contributor
I'll chime in here, because I actually have dived the oil rigs out of Louisiana (not spearfishing). You don't need to go out 50 miles, just as far as the blue water (generally 20-30 miles in the fall, when the Mississippi is down. The boat trip takes at least 3 hours, but depending on from where you are coming, the drive to Port Fourchon or Empire might take 2-3 hours.
It's an all-day exhausting trip. Currents on the surface might be different than currents at 15ft. There are lots of crossbeams to hit your head, and navigation through the structure can be confusing. Combine this with a bottom that's way beyond recreational range, and you had better make sure you have your act together. This is no place to have buoyancy or equipment issues.
That being said, the variety of life is amazing. Each of the cross-pieces is a micro-environment and the biology changes with depth. It's beautiful, and fascinating, but challenging. Go on a few boat trips to deeper sites (like the Tenneco Towers in Pensacola, or the Avocet in Pensacola) in different weather conditions. Talk to the captains.
I would never go out to the rigs to dive with a pilot who hasn't done it several times before. The hook-in is critical, as is communications with the people on the rig and the dive has to be well-planned, including emergencies. Make sure you have all of the regular dive safety equipment (flag, tagline and current line) and an excellent marine radio (cell phones may not work out there).
It's an all-day exhausting trip. Currents on the surface might be different than currents at 15ft. There are lots of crossbeams to hit your head, and navigation through the structure can be confusing. Combine this with a bottom that's way beyond recreational range, and you had better make sure you have your act together. This is no place to have buoyancy or equipment issues.
That being said, the variety of life is amazing. Each of the cross-pieces is a micro-environment and the biology changes with depth. It's beautiful, and fascinating, but challenging. Go on a few boat trips to deeper sites (like the Tenneco Towers in Pensacola, or the Avocet in Pensacola) in different weather conditions. Talk to the captains.
I would never go out to the rigs to dive with a pilot who hasn't done it several times before. The hook-in is critical, as is communications with the people on the rig and the dive has to be well-planned, including emergencies. Make sure you have all of the regular dive safety equipment (flag, tagline and current line) and an excellent marine radio (cell phones may not work out there).
Just a clarification: In the Gulf of Mexico, state waters extend to 9 miles vs. the Atlantic Coast state waters end at 3miles.
Also in Florida the FWC (Fish and Wildlife) have authority to enforce FEDERAL fishing rules....so be careful!
Also in Florida the FWC (Fish and Wildlife) have authority to enforce FEDERAL fishing rules....so be careful!
Deep South Divers
Contributor
Whoops! Well, there ya go...
The rules change by location. Sorry for the misinformation!The correct answer, when asked, Dmaricle, is, "I found that 11 miles offshore, officer."
Not trying to pick on you "Deep South Divers", but Federal Water acts differently in the Gulf of Mexico as well....
For example: (Florida)
State Waters out to 9 miles
Federal water extend 200 Miles from State Water!
Source: Regulations Matrix
For example: (Florida)
State Waters out to 9 miles
Federal water extend 200 Miles from State Water!
Source: Regulations Matrix
"This brief summary of regulations governs the taking of species in the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico for personal use. Federal waters begin where state waters end and extend 200 miles."
So it's best not to shoot the wrong thing in the Gulf....
So it's best not to shoot the wrong thing in the Gulf....
Deep South Divers
Contributor
Good Lord!!
"I found this 210 miles out, officer."
"I found this 210 miles out, officer."
Scubadude_LA
Contributor
- Messages
- 344
- Reaction score
- 69
- # of dives
- I just don't log dives
Look me up if you ever want to try it. Always looking for a good crew to go offshore with us on my boat.
WARNING!! It is addictive!
State waters here end on a demarction line that varies, but is generally 3 miles offshore or where the barrier reefs once were before being raped to put oyster shells on the side of the highways (unlike in FL, 9mi)
Doesn't really matter when diving. Respecting the platform operators and workboats and mother nature is the most important thing out there.
WARNING!! It is addictive!
State waters here end on a demarction line that varies, but is generally 3 miles offshore or where the barrier reefs once were before being raped to put oyster shells on the side of the highways (unlike in FL, 9mi)
Doesn't really matter when diving. Respecting the platform operators and workboats and mother nature is the most important thing out there.
Similar threads
