N00b diving the flower gardens this weekend - any last minute tips?

[Kaiser442]

A friend of mine offered me a spot on a boat out to the flower gardens this weekend and I'm IN!

I wish I had time for a quickie refresher dive before the trip - I haven't been in the water in a year and I haven't done a big (deep) dive in two... but there just isn't time.

The guys at Scubaland Adventures (my profile may be out of date... I live in Austin now) said I could dive their pool to check out my gear and practice a few skills... I was going to pass on that (it's not like I've forgotten how the stuff works) but I'm starting to think it's something I need to do just to make sure everything is in order. I think I'll put my stuff in the truck and see if I can go down there at lunch tomorrow...

Anyway - back on topic - any last minute advice on the flower gardens specifically? What are the conditions like? Is it a high current dive?

I haven't been diving with these guys before - but I know the guy who invited me has been out there dozens of times and that they know what they're doing... just trying to prepare myself a bit since I know it'll be a deep 70-100 foot dive.

They only plan to do two dives - so nitrogen load shouldn't be a huge issue - gotta make sure the battery is good in my computer...

 

[RTRski]

Well if you're only doing two dives I guess you're not going out on the liveaboard (Spree or Fling)? There can be current, and there can be limiting visibility (in terms of 40-50', e.g. less than from the bottom to the surface, to where the 'boat' can disappear if you get out of sight of the mooring lines). If you're going down with others who have dove it before, make sure you get a good briefing from them of what everyone's expectations are for things like turnaround time (1/3 air rule, whatever), who is buddying with who, how you're going to plan your navigation, etc. Don't let them say "just follow us, you'll be fine". Make them explain it to your satisfaction before you go under. That's my 0.02.

For the record, I have been down there only twice myself, but both for 3 day liveaboard trips doing 9 or so out of 11 possible dives. The advantage of that is the boat divemasters give a good briefing of the mooring for each dive, although you are still 'on your own' in buddy teams once you enter the water. And you know you have a crew on the boat to chase you if you happen to need to surface far away from the boat, downcurrent (luckily I never took advantage of this fact, but others on the same trips did). I don't know what your situation will be by comparison.

Do a forum search for Flower Gardens. There are a number of threads on this forum about advice for diving them. Definitely dive computer if you got it, and watch your ascent rates - these are pretty 'flat bottom' dive profiles.

 

[Kaiser442]

Thanks... there are 8 of us going out on a private sailboat. They average about 6 knots - so it'll take a long time to get out there and back. The plan is to sail out all day Friday, dive Saturday morning, and then start back pretty much immediately.

In the future, I'd like to go out on one of the professional liveaboards to get the full experience... but in this case I think the primary point of the trip (for them) is the sailing and the diving is kind of secondary.

 

[RTRski]

Any chance this is the Windfreak?

 

[Guba]

What you and your friends are doing is far removed from anything I've ever done on the FG. I'm a volunteer for the FGBNMS, but we've always been out there aboard the Fling, even when we were part of science diver excursions. Therefore, it's hard to say what the procedures will be for your situation. Where are you going (Flower Garden East, Flower Garden West, or Stetson Banks)? I'm a bit concerned about the fact that you haven't been diving in a while and I also notice that your profile indicates you are fairly inexperienced. The FG is usually regarded as an "intermediate" dive, and that means a certain level of experience. For example, you are OW certifified, yet there are NO dives in the FG shallower than 65 feet, thus exceeding the recommended depth for someone of your training. Also, you could be fortunate and the sea be flat with no current at all. Under those conditions, just about anyone can dive the FG. However, it could (some would say it is probable) be much different with ripping currents and heavy swells. I'm not trying to outright talk you out of going...I'm just providing the facts as I see them. However, if you should decide to go, I do have some general suggestions:
Have your sea-sickness meds up to date (that means start them early on, don't wait until you're ill to begin taking them). Conditions out there can change literally in minutes. Glasslike seas can be four feet before you know it. In the same way, currents can change in seconds. I'm not kidding. I watched the Fling swing 180 degrees on the mooring line and the current triple in less than 90 seconds (we were at the buckle of the mooring line while we watched this...pretty interesting experience).
Wear gloves. Not for touching the coral, of course, but the mooring lines are covered with lots of critters you don't want to slide your hand over...and you very likely will NEED to hang on that line (see above for currents). By all means, you MUST have a safety sausage, whistle or noisemaker, and probably a relector/light on you at all times. This is open ocean diving, and you need to be prepared. If you guys don't use a long "uh-oh line" (one that trails a couple hundred feet down current with a high vis float), you might want to think about rigging one.
Watch your gauges carefully. These are all fairly deep dives, and conditions tend to suck air out of your tank pretty quickly, especially if you haven't been diving in a while. My suggestion for almost everyone who goes there for the first time is to stay pretty close to the buckle. In fact, I'd even suggest you keep it in sight all the time. If vis is "normal", you'll be able to see a whole lot of territory with the mooring line in sight. Don't venture off too far...it's not worth it on the first time out.
Finally, go check out your gear with a trained professional. I'm relatively certain that I'm not going to be able to talk you out of going to the FG, but in my opinion (which is relatively valueless...I'm no expert) it's only smart to re-familiarize yourself with your gear and you really need to check it out to see if it's still functioning properly after not being used in so long.
Fare well, and be careful. My final word is this...be smart. Don't hesitate to thumb the dive (or even dives) if ANYTHING makes you feel uneasy. The FG is no place to have a problem--you're a Loooong way from help, and playing macho will only get you into trouble.
Let us know how it goes.

 

[ianr33]

Anyway - back on topic - any last minute advice on the flower gardens specifically? What are the conditions like? Is it a high current dive?

It can be a very high current dive,or it can be a no current dive,sometimes it can be both on the same dive.Waves can get big as well.

The FG are a LONG way offshore and a bad place to get hurt even when diving off a large boat. Can a helicopter lift you off the sailboat? Be careful.

 

[RumBum]

A little taste of the current in the FG. Check out my bubbles!

 

[Debraw]

Great photo! I have been out there in current like that. Hung off a rig one time. It looked like the swirling jets of an Aquarium filter, fish, current, everything was moving!

 

[Kaiser442]

Thanks for the info, everyone.

RTRSki - I'm not even sure of the name of the boat... it's a bunch of guys from the Lavon Yacht Club - some I know - some I don't.

I recognize that there are several out of the ordinary risk factors here... I'm determined to go - but also to be as careful as I can be to minimize the danger.

Guba: I am still relatively inexperienced (22 dives - half bluewater half local parks) - but I've been to 90 feet several times already (The Cozumel trip was with a PADI instructor who signed me off on the deep and drift dives toward my advanced) and it wasn't an issue (Palancar Bricks and the Santa Rosa Wall in Coz, and two dives on the RMS Rhone in BVI were all 80+).

Good idea on the seasickness meds. I never get sick sailing on inland waters - but the slow swells of the ocean have gotten to me in the past.

I've got gloves - I'll make sure to wear them. I have a 3/2 full wetsuit - I'd prefer not to wear it if the water temp allows (looks like it's 85 degrees from the bouy info) but I can if there are other safety reasons to do so.

I have a small safety sausage and a whistle... I might go ahead and drop the $$ on one of those LP hose noisemakers when I go pick up my extra tank today.

I'll keep an eye on the SPG for sure - though historically I've been a very light air user. I believe my dive buddy-to-be is a bit of a hoover.

 

[ianr33]

That photo brings up another point.
What is your plan if a diver misses the upline in current and surfaces maybe 1/2 mile from the boat? Do you have a fast chase boat?? Will there be someone on the boat looking for divers surfacing down current? An air horn would be a good idea.
Not trying to put you off (too much!) but there are some things that need to be thought about before the dive