Headed to the Flower Gardens (Texas Gulf Coast)

[Rick Murchison]

The Rinn boats used to have you bring your own Nitrox tanks, but got nervous about a year ago and decided to get their own so they could better control them. (don't know if they've officially made the switch yet or not - last time I went we used our own tanks) For me personally I don't like that since now I'll have to carry more weight with their AL tanks vice my steel ones, but I can understand it as there are folks out there who just slap a Nitrox band on anything without proper prep.
I don't think "guided dives" are in the mix unless the guide is provided by your (or another) shop. I'm not sure about this since for my bunch I'm the guide...
Have fun.
Rick

 

[Corsair]

They advertise on their website that they are pumping nitrox on both boats. Also, the information I just got in the mail from the dive shop says not to bring NitrOx tanks, they will be provided. They do say to bring one full tank of air, though.

TexasMike, have you gotten your intinerary/maps/suggested gear checklist yet? If not, I could email you a copy of some of the info they sent me. I wouldn't have minded having it a bit more in advance, since we're leaving on the 15th and I got it last night. I've still got a couple of things to pick up before we go.

 

[TexasMike]

Our trip leader has been on this boat a few times and provided a good list of what to bring.

One quick suggestion for you for the night dive is to invest in one of the $15 "laser lights" (or what ever they are called) to replace the chem light stick for your tank. And be sure to have both a primary and secondary light source.

(went on a recent night dive at Athens with a friend who had one of the Dive Right HID canister lights. Damn thing blew my little 4 D-cell light right out of the water. And everytime he moved it back and forth, I kept expecting to hear the Star Wars lightsaber sound effects. And my topside friends said it looked like a WWII searchlight moving underwater)

 

[Dee]

Yes, Rinn provides the tank if you're diving Nitrox. They had some problems with people bringing tanks that weren't O2 cleaned so they decided to control that aspect themselves. There is 2 banks of gas on board, air and Nitrox. My last trip I got consistant 33% and 34% EAN fills.

The head DM will give you a dive briefing at every site. Rinn's DM's don't normally get in the water with you but most shops send along a DM of their own who are experienced in diving the Flower Gardens. You and your buddy can do your own thing. The ship is moored and you are expected to return to the anchor line on your own. There is so much to see, you really don't have to get out of site of the anchor line plus the viz is usually 90ft+.

Rinn enforces a 100ft depth limit and they check your air and depth when you get back on board. But it once and you sit out the next dive. Bust it twice and your diving is over! At 100 miles out, access to the chamber is several hours away and that's if the Coast Guard will come get you. Since their budget has been cut, they no longer just send a helicopter for you. Most of the reefs start at 70ft so depth won't be a problem.

 

[TexasMike]

Dee...Thanks for the info on the EAN fills. I was wondering what percentage they would be filling the tank.

Whooo...I'm going to have lots of experiences this trip...Nitrox (first time), camera, big fish, oh my!

 

[Natasha]

Excellent, Dee. Lots of good info.
I also Thank you.
:sunny:

 

[TexasMike]

Anyone know the link the NOAA bouy in the Flower Gardens? Trip is coming up in less than 7 days and I want to start monitoring the weather...

 

[herman]

Mike,

Give this web site a try. Scroll down twards the bottom of the page, it's fairly long and I think you can find what you are looking for. http://www.marineweather.com/FrameGulfCoast.html

 

[Rick Murchison]

There is no NOAA buoy right at the FG.
Here are the two closest:
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.phtml?$station=42035
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.phtml?$station=42019
Have fun...
Rick

 

[TwoBitTxn]

Which bouy is it? One of the bouys got hit by a ship and is now non functional, but that may have been too far out. The info from the others is neat.

Tom