Flower Garden depth

[Spencermm]

Can someone tell me the depth ranges at the Texas Flower Garden?
Thanks,
Spencer

 

[RTRski]

One of the two banks tops out around mid-60 fsw if I remember right (East bank). They'll generally try to stop there first if they think they have a lot of new or less experienced divers. The other tops out probably more in the 70s. And Stetson's peaks are closer to the high 90s to 100s fsw, IIRC.

There's a pretty good map linked on Spree's site:

http://www.spreeexpeditions.com/PDF/Flower_Gardens_NMS_map.pdf

...but unfortunately only demarked in 10 meter topo increments. There are also maps on the updated FGNMS website in the document library:

http://flowergarden.noaa.gov/document_library/documents.html

...those are at least topo colorcoded to 4 meter intervals.

Depending on where you are on all 3 of the banks (there are multiple moorings, and only one or two 'high points' each) you can easily exceed 130' depth within the boundaries of all three.

 

[Jay_SMART_Diver]

Gulf-Diving limits the first dive of the day to 130' and 100' for subsequent dives with a 2.5 hour mandatory surface interval (unless you're on a special Tech charter). Last Spring I went and my depth averaged 75' feet on most of the dives and we saw plenty of marine life.

 

[Texass]

I've been out there a number of times. Most of the Flower Banks reefs we've hit are around 85'.

Stetson is a bit deeper. The ledge is around 90'+, but you can drop over the ledge and easily hit 130+. You have a slight chance of seeing larger critters there, but the ledge is where you'll see the most life. It's an absolute eel haven - I'm talking upwards of 10 sightings of huge eels on a dive, not to mention the abundant Angels, Damsels, Wrasse, Grouper, Drums (a personal favorite), Trunk, Scorpion, Frog (OK there's only the one), Lobsters, etc.

You'll also probably get to do a Rig, which is a fantastic dive. My one and only Whale Shark sighting was on the way back to the boat on a Rig dive.

OK, I'm partial to Stetson. Given my druthers I'd be happy just going there, but the Gardens are cool, too. The vis has almost always been well over 100'.

 

[Spencermm]

I've been out there a number of times. Most of the Flower Banks reefs we've hit are around 85'.

Stetson is a bit deeper. The ledge is around 90'+, but you can drop over the ledge and easily hit 130+. You have a slight chance of seeing larger critters there, but the ledge is where you'll see the most life. It's an absolute eel haven - I'm talking upwards of 10 sightings of huge eels on a dive, not to mention the abundant Angels, Damsels, Wrasse, Grouper, Drums (a personal favorite), Trunk, Scorpion, Frog (OK there's only the one), Lobsters, etc.

You'll also probably get to do a Rig, which is a fantastic dive. My one and only Whale Shark sighting was on the way back to the boat on a Rig dive.

OK, I'm partial to Stetson. Given my druthers I'd be happy just going there, but the Gardens are cool, too. The vis has almost always been well over 100'.

I know the Gardens are about 8 hours out. How far out are the rigs?

 

[Hemlon]

The ones we went to on my two rigs trips have been about 2 hours off-coast.

 

[Spencermm]

The ones we went to on my two rigs trips have been about 2 hours off-coast.

Hey Hemlon, did you hire someone to take you to the rigs? If so, who(what company)?

 

[Hemlon]

We went on Mike Miglini's boat, The Orion.

It's a first-class dive op.

The only drawback (to some) is that they allow spearfishing. It didn't bother me...as a matter of fact, I enjoyed watching it.

 

[RTRski]

...Depending on where you are on all 3 of the banks (there are multiple moorings, and only one or two 'high points' each) you can easily exceed 130' depth within the boundaries of all three.

I should clarify, just in case it wasn't obvious, I was saying that the actual reef structure bottom at all 3 banks drops to that depth, not that your charter and/or liveaboard operator will necessarily permit you do do so.

Sorry for any confusion. Jay's posting of the max depths allowed by boat rules matches my experience as well as what is posted on both Gulf-diving.com and Spree Expeditions' website(s).

 

[Guba]

Jay hit it dead on. The very shallowest dive is about 65 feet...buoy 4 on FG East, if my memory serves correctly (and that is sometimes suspect, I assure you). However, most dives average about 85 feet or so. First dive of the day is still 130', with all subsequent dives no deeper than 100'. They WILL cancel your dives if you break the floor depths (at least Captain Ken, of the Fling, will), so monitor your depth carefully. Also, if you're on the three day trip, be particularly careful to watch your nitrogen load. Many folks find their computers screaming somewhere along that eleventh dive.