Rig Diving???

[chumline]

I was talking with a few friends about running a short trip to the gulf sometime this winter; and the topic of rig diving came up. I've done some poking around the internet (and I really like the looks of some of the posts here), but I haven't found anything specific about the "oil rig diving season" or charters that run regular trips.

Are there rig trips in the winter (December - March)? Can anyone recommend a good dive shop or charter?...all info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
-chumline-
PADI AOW+Nitrox
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Wherever...

 

[MichaelBaranows]

I don't know of any charters that run regular trips to rigs. THe problem with the winter is that the seas are very unpredictable.

Here is a link to a rig dive:
http://scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=161969&highlight=texas+rig+diving

You might also try searching scubaboard.com for "Texas Rig Dives" for a few more post.

Most people that I know that dive rigs do so in private boats.

 

[shaggie]

I've been out on the Orion a couple of times. Mike Miglini, the operator of Out to Sea Adventures has told me he would run out to rigs any time there is enough interest to charter the boat-seas permitting. His boat holds 6 divers plus one dive master, if you want to bring your own.
From what I've been told, winter is not a particularly good time to go out diving in the gulf. The weather and seas are unpredictable and the vis is not very good-even 30miles out.

 

[daniel f aleman]

You can always hire a private boat, from anywhere on the coast, to take you out to a rig - just make sure that your captain has done this many times. Also, it's totally weather dependent whether you can go out on a specific day, stay flexible.

Here's an example trip report: http://www.diveatlas.com/travel/texas7.asp

 

[Cap335]

You can call Sport Diver's 281-338-1611 we will run all winter with 3 or more divers

Randy