Two day trip to the Texas Flower Gardens (leaves Friday). $520 at Scubaland.
I definitely down for this one.
I definitely down for this one.
Last edited:
Texas Flower Gardens Jun 19-20
- Thread starter ryanpublic
- Start date
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Check your calendar, Ryan. Looks like a Friday departure for the weekend to me.
diver 85
Contributor
going out on the 9th, 10th & 11th--will be sure & keep the heads and galley area clean----can't promise about the reef.......
anyone else on that trip????
Geckotek
Contributor
What other expenses are expected? Is a hotel stay usually necessary? Trying to decide if this is a good alternative to Cozumel.
Also, I usually hear this is an advanced dive. So I'm assuming it would be a bad idea to bring a new a new OW diver certified in May (my roommate)?
Also, I usually hear this is an advanced dive. So I'm assuming it would be a bad idea to bring a new a new OW diver certified in May (my roommate)?
halocline
Contributor
If you can drive from home and get to Freeport in the late afternoon/early evening, and if you don't mind driving home after docking in the late afternoon, then you won't need a hotel stay. The only expenses other than the cost of the charter are tips and beer, and of course gas from your home.
I would categorize the FGB as a medium-advanced dive site. In good conditions it's not too challenging, but it's easy for conditions to change. This can make entries/exits a challenge and there are changing currents. Personally I would not do a trip without nitrox certification. Five air dives to 80-90 ft with a relatively square profile in one day is a lot of nitrogen.
It's probably not the best place for a newly certified diver.
diver 85
Contributor
I dive air only & have no problems.....
EDIT:..also depends on the 'new' diver..I know the diveshop we dive with a lot brings out newly certified divers, but as Matt said , it can change to a bugger bear out there---in a heartbeat & a LONG way from home...
EDIT:..also depends on the 'new' diver..I know the diveshop we dive with a lot brings out newly certified divers, but as Matt said , it can change to a bugger bear out there---in a heartbeat & a LONG way from home...
scubafanatic
Contributor
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about bringing a new diver to FG...how new are talking about ? I mean, how many dives ? How deep ? Blue water or quarry dives ? Also, how confortable in the water is this diver ? Any known 'issues' ? (mask clearing / bouyancy / panic / etc. ) Some peope are 'naturals', they pick up diving very quickly and aren't scared of the water....if your bud meets these requirements, then it might be OK to 'do' the FG...it's great way to pick up a lot of good blue water experience in a short time at a very affordable price
...assuming it's a road trip (no airfare expenses/hotel expenses) it comes to $ 100/dive (including meals/tips/nitrox) for a weekender 7 dives typical trip. Conditions at FG/Stetson/oil rigs can vary widely....from dead calm to crazy, if you go in the summer you likely won't have to worry about high seas (unless it's a hurricane)...currents are always a variable, as is visibility. Remember, you can always hang out near/under the boat and take it easy until everyones comfortable, take it step-by-step and see how 'bud' does. Also, you can bring your own tanks, I bring my own larger tanks to FG...more bottom time/safety reserve....make sure 'bud' knows how to read his dive computer....be self sufficient on gear, the boat doesn't offer rental or repairs, so bring whatever redundant/extra gear you need.....and pool/lake test things out prior to the trip...FG isn't a good place to discover gear 'issues'. As a blanket statement, FG wouldn't be my first choice for an average new diver, but I'd be OK with an exception if he meets the requirements above.
FG doesn't offer guided DM dives, but the boat DM's will do good pre-dive briefings on the conditions (currents/animals sighted/etc.) before each dive so you'll know what to expect, and you can sit out any dive that's sounds like it might be a bit too challenging, also you can likely tag along with a group trip leader if you want a guide.
also, it's WAY cheaper than Cozumel....real world pricing for a 7 dive FG package is $ 100/dive.....by comparison, I've got 3 different local dive shops offering 'weekend' dive trips to Cozumel, (4 dives) and when you include airfare/tips/transportation/nitrox/meals/etc., the prices are more like $ 300/dive !
also, I'm gonna HIGHLY suggest NITROX.....I used to dive FG on SPREE and SPREE offers FREE NITROX to all divers, as they consider it so vital to safety...FLING is the only boat now permanently servicing FG, FLING sells NITROX for $ 65 extra, but it's worth it.
...assuming it's a road trip (no airfare expenses/hotel expenses) it comes to $ 100/dive (including meals/tips/nitrox) for a weekender 7 dives typical trip. Conditions at FG/Stetson/oil rigs can vary widely....from dead calm to crazy, if you go in the summer you likely won't have to worry about high seas (unless it's a hurricane)...currents are always a variable, as is visibility. Remember, you can always hang out near/under the boat and take it easy until everyones comfortable, take it step-by-step and see how 'bud' does. Also, you can bring your own tanks, I bring my own larger tanks to FG...more bottom time/safety reserve....make sure 'bud' knows how to read his dive computer....be self sufficient on gear, the boat doesn't offer rental or repairs, so bring whatever redundant/extra gear you need.....and pool/lake test things out prior to the trip...FG isn't a good place to discover gear 'issues'. As a blanket statement, FG wouldn't be my first choice for an average new diver, but I'd be OK with an exception if he meets the requirements above.
FG doesn't offer guided DM dives, but the boat DM's will do good pre-dive briefings on the conditions (currents/animals sighted/etc.) before each dive so you'll know what to expect, and you can sit out any dive that's sounds like it might be a bit too challenging, also you can likely tag along with a group trip leader if you want a guide.
also, it's WAY cheaper than Cozumel....real world pricing for a 7 dive FG package is $ 100/dive.....by comparison, I've got 3 different local dive shops offering 'weekend' dive trips to Cozumel, (4 dives) and when you include airfare/tips/transportation/nitrox/meals/etc., the prices are more like $ 300/dive !
also, I'm gonna HIGHLY suggest NITROX.....I used to dive FG on SPREE and SPREE offers FREE NITROX to all divers, as they consider it so vital to safety...FLING is the only boat now permanently servicing FG, FLING sells NITROX for $ 65 extra, but it's worth it.
halocline
Contributor
This is true for a weekend trip at one of the bigger resorts, but once you consider a week in Cozumel with a good deal on airfare ($300) and a smaller hotel/dive op you can usually find a way to get the price down to $100/dive, sometimes less. I also don't use nitrox in Cozumel, the profiles are more multi-level and (for me anyhow) rarely the number of dives/day as on a FG trip.
Your comments about the new divers at the FG are very accurate IMO; there are some new divers that would do well there and others that would have problems.
BTW, diver 85, I'm sure you can do the FG without nitrox, but I wouldn't want to. It's the perfect place for nitrox, and if I'm not mistaken you can usually take a nitrox class as part of the trip and dive nitrox all weekend.
OP
There's alot of good advice here for what kind of diver this dive is best for. I thought Matt Boys advise was pretty good. If there is no current and no waves and you're pretty used to diving to 90feet, watching your bottom time, and controlling your buoyancy the FG could be done by a newish diver, but frequently there are currents or coniditions that make it just a little bit harder. If you pay attention to the divebriefings and follow directions well you should have no problem and you might even get a kick out of diving in some of these conditions. If you're more of a nervous nellie then maybe do a few more dives and get comfortable before you sign up, otherwise don't overthink it too much.
This is a really great trip and there are lots of cool things to see. I personally like taking pictures of the fish there. I would love to get the perfect shot of a baby Trunk fish, those things are so cool. I've already gotten some great shots of Parrot Fish, Queen and French Anglefish, Arrow Crabs, adult Trunk Fish, Rays, and trigger fish. I'm also hoping one of these trips I'll get to see/take pictures of a Whale Shark. Usually the second week in july or late fall are the trips for those, so I might sign up for the July trip too.
But this trip is more than just 5 dives, it's like a private cruise for Scubadivers. Sleeping at sea is peaceful to me. I love waking up on the water grabbing a bite between every dive and maybe even seeing a movie or catching up with the other guests. You can read a book or if you like laying out there's a deck above the dive area that is relatively free of traffic. The boat crew refills all the tanks while you eat or log your dives or check your pictures. They have battery charging stations and a place set asside for underwater cameras. Big Rinse buckets and a shower for rinsing yourself.
My favorite dive is the night dive, because when you come up your in that ready for bed but one more snack mode. And nothing makes that better than a hot brownie with chocolate syrup and vanilla ice cream! Other cool memories are watching "Life Aquatic" with Bill Murray between dives. I thought this was so stupid when I watched it at home with my wife but on the boat with other divers it was really pretty funny. I particularly like watching funny or interesting dive related movies. I think it was Neal Baltz who had some videos of some Blennies on my first trip. That was cool.
This is a really great trip and there are lots of cool things to see. I personally like taking pictures of the fish there. I would love to get the perfect shot of a baby Trunk fish, those things are so cool. I've already gotten some great shots of Parrot Fish, Queen and French Anglefish, Arrow Crabs, adult Trunk Fish, Rays, and trigger fish. I'm also hoping one of these trips I'll get to see/take pictures of a Whale Shark. Usually the second week in july or late fall are the trips for those, so I might sign up for the July trip too.
But this trip is more than just 5 dives, it's like a private cruise for Scubadivers. Sleeping at sea is peaceful to me. I love waking up on the water grabbing a bite between every dive and maybe even seeing a movie or catching up with the other guests. You can read a book or if you like laying out there's a deck above the dive area that is relatively free of traffic. The boat crew refills all the tanks while you eat or log your dives or check your pictures. They have battery charging stations and a place set asside for underwater cameras. Big Rinse buckets and a shower for rinsing yourself.
My favorite dive is the night dive, because when you come up your in that ready for bed but one more snack mode. And nothing makes that better than a hot brownie with chocolate syrup and vanilla ice cream! Other cool memories are watching "Life Aquatic" with Bill Murray between dives. I thought this was so stupid when I watched it at home with my wife but on the boat with other divers it was really pretty funny. I particularly like watching funny or interesting dive related movies. I think it was Neal Baltz who had some videos of some Blennies on my first trip. That was cool.
Geckotek
Contributor
Thanks for all the great advice everyone. Seeing my buddy in the pool makes me think he's just not comfortable enough with diving yet. He just seems a bit awkward. (He's been diving in Hawaii once w/ a quickie intro to scuba deal and he's now taking lessons @ University Scuba where I used to be an AI/DM.)
And he made the decision easier by stating he just can't afford a real dive trip until the fall at the earliest. Pretty much counting him out and looking for another dive buddy for now. May go with a guy from Church if his wife let's him get away. But the Flower Gardens will probably be second choice to Cozumel. We'll see.....
And he made the decision easier by stating he just can't afford a real dive trip until the fall at the earliest. Pretty much counting him out and looking for another dive buddy for now. May go with a guy from Church if his wife let's him get away. But the Flower Gardens will probably be second choice to Cozumel. We'll see.....
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