Anyone for a Tx Flower Garden trip?

Life appears to be placing me in Houston at the end of May. Considering a Tx flower garden trip the weekend of May 30-31. Wondering if anyone has taken a trip on the Fling in the past few yrs and what it was like.

I will be going solo for the dive trip, anyone find themselves in the Houston area during that time and looking for a dive/photo trip?

dave

Dave:

I've been on both the Spree and the Fling in the FG, total of 3 trips so far (got weathered out of our 4th and 5th both last year) between 2005 and 2007. Of the two I "preferred" the Spree, but it was a fairly minor difference based on the Spree having a slight remodel with a dive-deck freshwater shower that was really convenient, that and Frank and Melanie somehow seem more 'personal'. None of which is to say anything bad about the Fling - just didn't really seem to get to know the captain as socially, but the DMs and mess crew were all great. And anyway the Spree is no longer an option for the FG, by May of this year.

Don't worry about getting buddied up; whichever shop you sign with should handle that - usually on the Fling there's 2 to 3 shops that "resell" the seats for the FG trip, so they have 9 - 15 positions per trip, and their "trip leader" DM can always be your buddy if all else fails and they can't find you another singleton or add you to a 2fer to make a triple. I'd recommend Tom's Dive and Scuba in Austin, only because I've bought Fling trips thru them before and had no troubles.

If there's any way you could make it down the weekend earlier, my wife and I are scheduled for the Memorial day trip, which is Friday departure for Sat/Sun/Mon diving. The 3 day trips are a bit better value in terms of dives for the cost, but don't flinch away from a 2 dayer especially if you're as close as Houston. May is still a bit dicey weather-wise - trips get the go/no-go call at noon - 1pm or so on date of departure, but if you're right there in Houston you're only an hour or so drive away. Its a bit tighter for me leaving from DFW - we usually get a jump on the call by an hour or so just in case of bad traffic on the way down (and once never got the darn call, since they left the no-go message on my WORK phone line, but that was the dive shop's issue not the Fling's fault specifically). So make sure whoever you book with has a good mobile contact number.

I'll probably flesh this out later tonight with more details but here's a few top of the head (and as much as I can get away with posting from work) perceptions:

1. Dive-dive-dive! Don't miss a single one if you can help it (barring exhaustion, cold, deco trouble, or blockage, of course...safety first). Basically don't skip one just because "its the same mooring" or "just wanna work on my pics".

2. Diving is spectacular considering it's just a skip off the TX coast. VERY good coral coverage upward of 70% in many places. But it may be different than you're used to - depth and winter temps mean no soft corals at all, only stony corals and sponges. (Stetson being a clay bank generally has only sponges). Fish life is plentiful, varied, to include a chance of pelagics. I've only personally seen a couple of reef sharks, but tigers and silkies have been spotted, hammers in the earlier spring. I've also seen eagle, southern sting, and manta rays, and mobulas and whalesharks are also possible. At least one large turtle sighting is practically guaranteed, as are a large grouper or two (largest I've seen was about 3 foot, but hear there may be bigger ranging into the gardens). Rig dives are cool - angelfish as big as platters and schools of sportfish (jacks, ambers, etc) in great viz, plus all the tiny stuff on the rig legs.

3. Viz overall is good to excellent - 50 foot is the worst I've seen at depth - unless the current kicks up at Stetson - and 80 is probably the best I've seen. Not likely to hit a gin-clear 100 like the Bahamas though, but this is definitely not freshwater diving.

4. There can be current, and it can be quite significant, especially crossing thru from safety stop to surface levels. You and your buddy are navigating your own dives!! This is not a guided tour, so take nav seriously, or you'll be riding the dinghy of shame. There can be high swells making egress to the ladder a bit sporty sometimes. Oh, and the boat crossing from port and back can get rough - plan accordingly if you have motion sickness. (Fortunately I don't.)

5. Nitrox is HIGHLY recommended to get the most out of your dive time. If you want to dive a steel tank they have them but usually upcharge...check with the dive shop for the details.

6. Highly recommend downloading the "FAQ" from the Fling's website and reading it thoroughly. They are NOT kidding about their dive rules (130 fsw max first dive, 100 thereafter, no deco, out of air = SIT OUT THE TRIP). I know the Spree recognized solo divers with proper rig and cert, not sure about the Fling.

7. "Cabins" are incredibly spartan - basically a bunk and a curtain so you can change without mooning the hall. Don't worry, you won't spend any time downstairs that you aren't asleep or in your bunk reading. There's plenty of outlets at the galley tables for processing, battery recharge, etc and someone's always up there. The mess crew generally are quite pleasant and love to chitchat or will leave you alone if you want to bury your face in a book.

8. Only really "weird" thing about the trip to me is the boarding cattle-call. Basically you'll fill out all papers at the dock (TAKE REPELLANT - the mosquitos on the river are the size of small dogs, and twice as viscious!!), then when they give you the 'all aboard' brief and say go for it, you either book for a bunk claim (drop your clothes bag on one) or for a spot along the dive benches (reserve with gear bag). Me, I'd prefer getting a good dive spot (avoid the middle row under the wetsuit hangings) and just grab one of the bunks under the 'stairs' vs. fighting for a cabin - they're actually quite comfortable unless you're extremely light/noise sensitive when sleeping.

9. Remember you're 100 miles from shore. Bring backup o-rings, straps, batteries. For clothing keep it simple - shorts/t-shirts/tevas/skivvies, maybe a sweatshirt or warm hat for the spring if you chill easily (they do keep the belowdecks pretty cool as well).

Botom line, I highly recommend it. For about $500 for meals/bunk/7 dives for a 2-day trip, or $740 for a 3-day (nitrox included) w/ 11 dives, the price is pretty reasonable as compared to the usual $80-100 for 2-dives at nearer-to-shore locations. And it really is an impressive dive locale, with a couple hundred acres overall in sport diving range that's extremely lively and healthy. Of course I haven't seen it since this past fall's hurricane season, but reports I heard were that there was some sanding-over and a few of the larger (VW bus sized) brain coral heads had tipped where they were all bioeroded underneath, but that's been obviously going on there for centuries.

Thanks for the posting and the info. This is what I was after. I would be interested in more info about the differences in gear setup location vs bunk selection. I have never seen the boat so I do not understand what the differences are, etc. On dive boats, I usually try for the end of the boat for gear. I am usually first in and last out so this avoids passing people, etc. But those are ~40 ft boats with one row on each side.

How is the fling set up?

This will be my first liveaboard trip. Testing it for a 2 day before signing on for a week trip somewhere.

I already use nitrox so that works.

I would love to match up with you the weekend before but I think I would have family rebellion. My daughter is graduating from Baylor college of medicine that week and a big family group will be there for the 3 day weekend. If I go off diving the last weekend of May, then everyone including the wife will have gone home and I am free to go dive but I will ask her about it... carefully.

Also not certain if the 3 day trip has openings still.

Any suggestions for wetsuit selection for end of May?

I read a trip report about last yr during the first of June and they stated the surface temp was about 80 but it was 71-73 degrees at 90 ft.

Is that your experience as well?

I figure for constant diving, I will want to be very warm and comfy so I want to bring along pleny of neoprene. Just not certain what PLENTY will be for that time.

thanks again for the info and your time.

I have been to the FG a dozen times or so too. End of May I'd recommend a 5 mil and bring a hood just in case. It will be colder at Stetson than the FG.

End of may the weather can still kick up. There is always a chance your trip can be canceled. If you do go and it's rough, be prepared.

Have fun and enjoy! You'll probably have great weather and great dives but you can't be too careful when you're 100 miles offshore.

Cheers

James

thanks for the additional info, James.

I will have to look into a 5 mil. Probably try to rent one either at home or Tx.

I have a full 3mil. Do you think putting a 3 mil shorty over it would be sufficient? I tried that at BHB in 72F water and it was not enough with a beanie. Needed the full hood and gloves at least.

I had always intended to do the spawning dive at FG but since I will already be there the Wed before, it saves the airfare to do it end of May.

Would be my luck to stay, then have it cancelled.

Dave

diver dave:

Sorry I never got back on until now. Actually had a date night with the wife Friday after I got home from work (we'd not seen much of each other all week due to our respective work schedules) and today had my drysuit open water dives.

I'd second James on the 5 mil minimum for May. I've actually had a 7 mil recommended as well unless the 5 is a pretty 'semi-dry' 5, but I checked the buoy data from NOAA and it looks like a 5 mil is a good bet. Nearest buoy is off Freeport and considerably closer in, but is linked here: http://seaboard.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=42019. I did a search on the station in 2008 and there weren't any recorded events in all of May below 23 C (about 73F) at all, so even with the repeat diving I think a 5 or 5/4 would be fine:

http://seaboard.ndbc.noaa.gov/histsearch.p...p;t3b=&v3b=

Of course that is surface temps (about 1 meter down)...use 24 in the search field and about 1/4 of the listings in May start to pop up. Of course 2008 was a warm year, but I don't suspect it varies that much. In the later summer and fall the surface to depth variation is only about 2 degrees, but it might still be higher this time of year. I'm just planning on the 5/4, but I will be bringing a hood too and 3mm gloves vs my usual 'rash guard' gloves just in case. Wife will have a Waterproof 5 mm, which everyone says is more like a 6 mm from anyone else. (BTW, gloves are permitted for lines and such, but the FG is a sanctuary so no touchy. On one of the trips I was one someone else apparently got a bit feely and they did tell us no more gloves as a 'punishment'/reminder - tucked mine in the BCD pocket as just-in-case. Barnacles seem to like the way I taste as much as mosquitos do.... <sigh>

Fling dive deck layout is here: http://www.flingcharters.com/info.asp There's also kind of a 'sun deck' above the dive deck, that's not mapped, but you can see it in the pictures of the boat. On the dive deck, they show only one 'row' of benches in the middle, but it's actually two, back-to-back, so you can imagine two fore to aft aisles with divers to either side of it gearing up. Most of the wetsuits hang from a pipe above the middle row (both sides), so that's the less desirable gear-up position. BUT if you get an outboard position, there are stanchions and the like supporting the upper deck (those angled things that show in the boat's profile shot), so sometimes there's a little limitations to a given spot's room. Overall it's not bad though, wherever you get.

Don't try for "back of the boat" on this one. The dive entry is all at the FRONT of the dive deck, to left or right depending on currents and wind, and is giant stride entry from about 6' above water surface. Sounds worse than it is, just be sure to hold all appropriate gear (including in my case my octo, which is always popping out of its holder on impact if I don't). Cameras are lowered to you by crew member on a rope and shackle after you're in the drink (on egress, you clip to a downline - the one with the SMALL 5 lbs or so of weight, not the ones with 20+ lbs of weight, or they get annoyed!! ). They'll get it to you after you're up, give them your time and depth for their record, and tell them there's a camera to grab. (They're also pretty good about not dropping it in the dunk tank for you if you request to just have it handed to you). Oh, and if you ascend and find the camera line already occupied, just hang out on one of the other downlines and wait. One of them has a long hose reg as well, in case of low air. I usually prefer to do my safety stop on the downlines vs. on the mooring line and sideline as they recommend, since the sidelines get crowded and one diver with poor control can raise or lower the whole gaggle - except for the rig dive (do NOT vary from their rules, as boat is live during the whole dive) or if current is such I don't feel I could safely do a horizontal swim from the sideline to the downline for the SS.

Then dive exit is up a ladder (2 actually, either side of the stern) to a water-level platform at the stern, and then up a few more steps to the dive deck. If I recall correctly where the map shows "shower" there's actually two - one to either side of the ladder up to the top deck. These are freshwater, so great to just stand under and give your first stage a rinsedown while still geared up, before toddling forward to a bench to drop your gear. (Also suitable for an al fresco shower between dives if you don't mind leaving a swimsuit on and just sudsing underneath.) And that's the other reason I don't recommend the backmost gearing positions - you're always in someone's shower spray to one side or the other, dependent on wind. Then again, the frontmost spots might be right in front of the line that forms to the jump point, so if you're not quick to gear up, those might not be the best spots to get either. I usually shoot for outboard preferrably, and if I can't get that, then as far forward in the middle as possible.

If seas do get rough, the ladder egress can be a bit sporty - they use a trailing line so you doff fins and put straps on wrist, then haul ass on the line while the ladder is heading DOWN in the hopes you get hands and feet planted before it surges back UP. Again, not that tough, but can be scary the first time. I've got the coordination of a one-legged, blind, syphalitic mule, but somehow I managed not to get under the ladder and hull. My instabuddy on the one trip I took without the wife wasn't so lucky and took a pretty good beating on one exit.

Spawning would be awesome to see but it fills up waaay in advance - probably more so this year what with only the Fling being in the market.

Sorry to hear you won't make the earlier weekend - understand completely though. Family thing ain't worth missing.

Keep in mind that the FG is considered at least intermediate level diving (sometimes I'm surprised they allow me onboard ) so there are a lot of highly skilled folks there - almost everyone else wants to be "first in, last out" too. I remember one guy who was just diving on an AL80, and looked like a squirrelly dude, but he just sipped air and outlasted those on HP steel tanks...he said he hadn't been air-limited vs. nitrogen-limited on a dive in about 5 years. Me, I'm in the other category, 35-45 minutes for me is a pretty good dive, including ascent and safety stop. Which my wife never fails to remind me. There will be the occasional diver even shorter than me - those on tables or air vs. nitrox especially, hence the earlier computer and EANx certification recommendation.

Bottom line again, HIGHLY recommended. I doubt there's better diving to be had off the U.S. part of the gulf coast, until you get all the way out to the FL keys which isn't really "gulf coast" anymore, is it? If this is your first liveaboard, I'd say a 2 - 3 dayer is a good way to start. The gulf can be a bit rough especially this time of year still, and there's not much to do but eat, sleep, chitchat or postprocess between dives - that far from shore there sure ain't no sightseeing! But if the degree of diving isn't outside your comfort level (and again, if I can do it, it ain't THAT tough - I'm sure a lot of members here who go to the real boonies dive in conditions I'd not even dip my toe into!), I'd say its a must do when in town and weather permits!

One other slightly off-topic thing: if weather cancels on you, there's a new big freshwater site - Mammoth lake - that's basically between Freeport and Houston. So you could still get wet, but it would just be green water diving....

thanks for all the great info. I really needed it all and it was most generous of you to give me so much time to provide the info. I would love to match up with you in May but I can only make the last weekend in May.

I REALLY appreciate all the details you provided.

The entry sounds like Oil Slick at Bonaire. A 6-8 ft giant stride.. wooohoo. Oil slick was fun so I guess this will be as well. If the waves are significant, timing might count there too. Sounds like close to the front, outside will be what I go for in the way of gear placement and accept whatever bunk I get.

I will have to debate whether to go with a 3mil full and a 3 mil shorty over it or a 5 mil full. Never worn a 5 mil. My diving is usually 78 and up, or 50-55 locally so its usually a 3 mil for the warm stuff or a 7 mil farmer john for the cold stuff. As with most photo people, I tend to move slow so I tend to not generate a lot of heat for staying warm.

I have been on a dive when the waves took the boat ladder well above the water. Re-entry was indeed all about the timing for leaping on the ladder, holding on until it dropped again, the scurrying up fast. They cancelled the second dive that day due to those waves.

I was planning on full foot fins so there is no hanging it off your arm. Will that be a problem on re-entry? One that rough boat outing, I had open heel fins so they were indeed hanging off the arm.

I wear 2 mil neoprene socks which keep the tootsies warm in the full foot fins.

Here is a thought. I could take an extra bungee cord in a pocket. When time to exit, I could run it through the fin foot areas and hand it around my arm. That would seem to work about the same as open heel fins. Would that be a good idea or no? Never tried it...just wondering.

I am a nitrox diver and I think I would have no trouble with the interm. requirement.

What pressure do they fill the steel tanks to on the boat?

I usually use AL80's as that is what is provided on most dive trips. I use an Aeris computer which is very generous on time. I tend stay longer at 15 ft to drive the N2 level lower on the computer. I like to exit the water in the 'green' on the barchart. I tend to use less air than average - no idea why but it just seem to work out that way. Maybe yrs of horn playing and lap swimming aid in breathing control.

thanks again for all the information. And thanks for the green water option for a backup.

Perhaps we will match up on a dive in the future.

Dave

Dave:

I confess I don't have any advice on the full-foot fins. Just that the usual egress instructions are fins off - assuming less chop you could probably just toss them to the DM's on the swim deck, but some sort of bungy or way of tethering them to you for safety would seem worthwhile. It would totally suck to have to sit out dives because of being without a fin (and it's happened - I remember loaning my fins out to a guy who'd lost one of his when I decided to sit out a night dive on my first trip out - had never done more than 3 in a day before and after 4 both wife and I decided to hedge our bets). But I bet you wouldn't be the first one with pocket fins.

Regarding wetsuits, layering might work - but sounds like you're used to even thicker neoprene for your local dives, so you certainly wouldn't have any problem wearing a 5/4, if you chose to get one. You know your tolerance far better than I so beyond the link to the weather info and the advice I got when we signed up for May, it's up to you now.

I don't recall the steel tank fills, but they were generous. I think many of the standard AL80 fills were on the high side of 3k as well.

Hope you didn't take my "intermediate" diving comment as judgmental. Just that's what I've been told, and frankly being that far off shore, with that many repetetive dives to typical FG depths, plus possible current and doing your own nav, its definitely not 'resort' diving. I certainly know nothing about your skill or comfort level - so the comment was meant only in the interest of being helpful. You're probably a way better diver than I, but it's hard to tell from a msg board.

And in that vein I did have one last bit of advice: have current DAN insurance. Again, not assuming anything about your skill level etc. But the owner of our local dive shop - the one who instructed us - took an "undeserved" hit while staying inside all her computer limits and diving Nitrox, and had to be helicopter evac-ed by the USCG. No lie. After that, we started adding deep stops to our routine, since my computer is way more forgiving than my wife's (I'm on the old algorithm, and she's on a newer Nemo with the RBGM...) About the only way in which my fast air suckage is beneficial, I guess!!

Let us know what you book...maybe I can talk the wife into back-to-back weekends!

rtrski

Dave: Just saw that May 30-31 is offered by the local shop I'm using for training now, International Scuba in Carrollton. They're good people - although some of the shop help can seem a bit scatterbrained. I don't think there's any difference in "who" you buy the Fling seats through, but just thought I'd pass on that I know that shop and have been satisfied with them. (They're the place I just did my drysuit training through.)

If you do sign up I can talk to them and see if I can find out who the shop's trip leader DM will be.