Jay_SMART_Diver
Contributor
Well I got to make the first Flower Gardens trip of the year this past weekend (March 25-26) on the M/V Fling from Gulf-Diving. Every trip up till now has been cancelled due to weather, but we lucked out this weekend. Although it was a little chilly at night the weather couldnt have been better, the skies were as clear and blue as the water, the seas were mostly a flat 2, and the temp was in the mid-70s both days.
Friday Night: We boarded at around 8:30 and there was, of course, the customary mad rush for bunks and gear spots. I headed to the forward cabin and secured bunk 5 and 6 for me and my buddy, while he carried some gear on to secure our gear spots on the dive deck. I highly recommend the forward cabin on the Fling we were in a 4 bunk cabin away from everything, and Head #1 with the shower was right outside our cabin (no having to climb stairs in the middle of the night to pee). While everyone else was scrambling out on the dive deck to assemble their gear I avoided the crowd and got my bunk made up (not something to be tried when youre underway) then headed to the dive deck. Up on the dive deck the melee had subsided so I was able to get tank/BC/Reg set and stow my bag under the bench.
Side-note rant: When on a boat if you bring a humongous rolling travel gear bag that wont fit under the bench, please unpack what you need and move the steamer trunk in your cabin under your bunk!
We got underway around 9 pm and everyone compacted into the salon for the briefing. The crew was all very nice although a little rusty having not done a trip since late last year but the briefing was very terse and informative. Everyone milled around and I hit my bunk before we were past the Jetties.
Friday Night: We boarded at around 8:30 and there was, of course, the customary mad rush for bunks and gear spots. I headed to the forward cabin and secured bunk 5 and 6 for me and my buddy, while he carried some gear on to secure our gear spots on the dive deck. I highly recommend the forward cabin on the Fling we were in a 4 bunk cabin away from everything, and Head #1 with the shower was right outside our cabin (no having to climb stairs in the middle of the night to pee). While everyone else was scrambling out on the dive deck to assemble their gear I avoided the crowd and got my bunk made up (not something to be tried when youre underway) then headed to the dive deck. Up on the dive deck the melee had subsided so I was able to get tank/BC/Reg set and stow my bag under the bench.
Side-note rant: When on a boat if you bring a humongous rolling travel gear bag that wont fit under the bench, please unpack what you need and move the steamer trunk in your cabin under your bunk!
We got underway around 9 pm and everyone compacted into the salon for the briefing. The crew was all very nice although a little rusty having not done a trip since late last year but the briefing was very terse and informative. Everyone milled around and I hit my bunk before we were past the Jetties.