Flower Gardens Info

[Ramon6249]

Will try to make this short with out getting into many details..

I am getting dive fever from coming back from Bahamas dive...first in a while...The flower gardens has always been on my to-do list for sure!

just briefly started my research and talking to a few people I am getting mixed information...I'm looking for some personal experience and information for this site.

Average cost of the weekend trip...I know this can vary..I'm just wondering average..200-300, 500-600..., 1k+

Conditions...Again I know this can vary..is there are hard current there? calm? charter depths on average?

Charter information...I have been told ( which usually means its wrong ) the dive operations out there is not much for guidance...the diver is on there own out there.

And number of dives? I have seen weekend trips advertise....not sure if that means 2 tanks a day...1 tank a day....as many as you want..


Again Sorry if this has been explained 100 times, but any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Wookie]

Will try to make this short with out getting into many details..

I am getting dive fever from coming back from Bahamas dive...first in a while...The flower gardens has always been on my to-do list for sure!

just briefly started my research and talking to a few people I am getting mixed information...I'm looking for some personal experience and information for this site.

Average cost of the weekend trip...I know this can vary..I'm just wondering average..200-300, 500-600..., 1k+

A 2 day weekend Flower Gardens trip will cost you $570 PP on the Fling booked through Houston Scuba Academy. Sea Sports hads more trips available, but their website is down. You may book direct on some trips with Fling Charters, but I don't know the procedure, and it isn't any less expensive than going through a dive shop.

Conditions...Again I know this can vary..is there are hard current there? calm? charter depths on average?

Current ranges from slack to undivable. If it's undivable on one bank, you can usually dive the other.

Charter information...I have been told ( which usually means its wrong ) the dive operations out there is not much for guidance...the diver is on there own out there.

The charter boat's insurance company discourages divemasters getting in the water with the divers. Besides, when you have 30 divers on the boat, the deck staff is doing all they can just to keep track of them all. Each shop sends a "Trip Leader", whose job is to manage their group in the water. It's unfortunate when a trip leader wants to take pictures, that isn't what they are there for.

And number of dives? I have seen weekend trips advertise....not sure if that means 2 tanks a day...1 tank a day....as many as you want..

A weekend charter includes 7 dives, 5 the first day, 2 on the way back in.

Again Sorry if this has been explained 100 times, but any help would be greatly appreciated.

I likely captained more charters to the Flower Gardens than any other Captain, although I'm sure Bland (Captain of the Fling) is catching up fast. If you have any other questions, be sure to ask. I do not speak for the Fling, but I know most of the answers.

 

[RaginCajun]

Wookie and the Fling are top notch. Do everything they say and you'll have a great time. I did the FG as my 3rd open water dive. I did it back in the day if cheaper fuel and took advantage of the weekday price break. It's really nice to set up your gear once and just leave it.

Another plus is that if conditions are right you may get a rig dive in.

Time for me to make it back. ..... Soon

 

[drrich2]

Last year Chrpai starting a thread asking about what info. one needed preparing for a Flower Gardens trip. I don't know whether I'll ever be close enough to make that trip compare favorably with my other options (I hope to someday, though), but if memory serves, it was a really good thread with a lot of food for thought.

Here's a link to it.

Richard.

 

[diversteve]

http://www.flingcharters.com/pdf/faq.pdf answers most of your questions.

Lone Star Scuba in Dallas also books the Fling. For the same $570.

 

[Foster]

For the price, its 650 for the two day trip with nitrox and taxes. I was supposed to be diving Aug 17 and 18th but they cancelled, 9 foot seas. I was depressed all weeked. Im going to definitely try to get out there sooner or later.

 

[Texasguy]

5 dives on the first day? Boy, how do people not get tired? I don't think I'd have strength to do the second day the other 2 dives. How do people cope?

 

[Sushi Boy]

Dive, eat, sleep. Repeat.

There's plenty of time for between-dive naps, and being a liveaboard, there's not much fiddling with gear. Set it up once, return to the same seat after each dive and the nitrox (or air) fairies have magically filled your tank when you're ready to suit up for the next one.

I do find that I sleep REALLY well on Flower Gardens trips.

 

[GaryBDavis]

The combination of nitrox, the dive/eat/sleep routine and lack of gear hauling/loading/unloading will leave you feeling like superman. You don't have to be a man of steel to do the routine and you can always opt out of the night dive and drink a cold beer.

 

[Desert_Pirate]

I know this is an old thread, but what are you using for an exposure suit in end of July? Some friends are going down and not sure what to pack... also have been told that it is aggressive diving? What does this mean? Thanks for any help