Graduate Student Looking For Help Getting Out To The Rigs

[Max Weber]

Hello. I am a graduate student at Texas A&M Galveston, and I am looking to collect a handful of reef fish species while diving on artificial reefs along the entire gulf coast (Texas to Florida). Funding is tight, but I have been able to find charters in the Florida/Alabama area that I can afford.

Texas has proven difficult, however. Because of AAUS regulations, I am required to bring along another AAUS diver from my school. The charters I have found in Texas are just too expensive to cover the cost of two divers and allow me to sample enough locations.

Is there someone out there who dives the rigs off their own boat that could give me (and a dive buddy) a lift? My collection gear is very compact (a dipnet and some jars). I would be happy to help cover gas, food, etc.

If anyone has suggestion I would greatly appreciate them.

Thank you.

 

[divezonescuba]

Hello Max:

We run to the rigs on a regular basis. For some of the TAMUG courses, I think that you have to collect species under 6 inches long. A lot of the smaller species can be found directly on the horizontal rig legs. Last Thursday I counted 8 or 9 from one spot alone.

When we do advanced and deep certifications we sometimes have extra spots available. When that happens, we sometimes fill out the boat with our regular customers for a fuel, ice, food contribution which is about half of our normal charter rate. You can take a look at out website.

 

[Max Weber]

That would be great. How do I find out about any openings that may arise?

 

[divezonescuba]

Email us and we will put you on the distribution list.

 

[sea_ledford]

Max,

Who are you working with as an advisor? TPWD Artificial Reef Program has a contract with Dr. Rooker and Dr.Wells. I know they do some offshore trips to our nearshore reefs around Galveston. Not great diving obviously.

TAMU-CC is doing work off the Corpus Christi area, and UT Rio Grande Valley is doing work off South Padre up to Pt. Mansfield. Both have diving components and TAMU-CC has AAUS reciprocity, so you might be able to go on your own once the DSOs have LORs and a conversation.

TPWD covers the diving out in the High Island area (Flower Gardens and Stetson area, but none of the actual banks), and I am the one you need to talk to about getting offshore with us.

Are you a current full AAUS diver with TAMUG?

-Chris

 

[Max Weber]

Chris,

Thank you for the reply. My advisor is Ron Eytan.

I will definitely see if I can get anything going with TAMU-CC or UT Rio Valley. Do you know which labs are actively working on projects?

I did my scientific and rescue diving certifications through Texas A&M Galveston and I am currently AAUS certified. I would love to go out with TPWD if there is ever any opportunity to do so. If you are interested I can email or PM you more details about the dive related projects my lab is working on.

Max

 

[sea_ledford]

Ron Eytan has been trying to get out with us to collect for a while now, and it seems to just not have worked out so far. Give me a call or email when you get a chance, I'll PM you my info.

-Chris