Dive Review of Texas Caribbean Charters in
The Continental USA/Texas

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Texas Caribbean Charters: "Thriving corals, lots of fish at Flower Gardens Reefs", Aug, 2023, by Mary K Wicksten, TX, US ( Contributor 19 reports with 10 Helpful votes). Report 12511 has 1 Helpful vote.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	It's tough to plan visits to the Flower Gardens Banks in the northern Gulf of Mexico. There is no shelter from any sort of wind or storm. The company "calls" the trip on or by noon of the day of departure. You may go back early too if it gets rough. We got lucky--some swell but doable. Easy to jump into the water but getting back on a "bucking" boat and ladder can be a hairy experience. Top of the reef is about 62 feet, so no snorkeling here. We hoped to see coral spawning and did indeed see some but not a major event. What we saw were huge,healthy brain and star corals and lots of reef fish; cute jawfish in sand, whopping big loggerhead sea turtle on the reefs, distant sharks. We dived an oil platform twice and had marvelous visibility. The beams were coated with corals and oysters, home to feisty damselfish, hawkfish and other reef fishes. Big schools of jacks and chubs swirled nearby. Great opportunities for long-distance photography! The boat "Fling" is not a luxury vessel. Bunk spaces are small. Steps and ladders can be hard to see, especially at night. There are only 3 heads, one of which only takes "number one". Food is fresh cooked and hearty. Dive guides lay out lines to follow--a good idea since it's easy to get lost. There is no rental gear so make sure your gear is ready to go. Unless you charter your own boat, the "Fling" is the only way to get out to these distant, clean dive sites.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Bahamas, Costa Rica, Galapagos, western Mexico, California, Hawaii, Fiji, Palau, Yap, Australia, New Guinea, Florida springs
Closest Airport	Houston	Getting There	Drive from airport to Freeport--no public transportation.
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	choppy
Water Temp	82-84°F / 28-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness	2
Water Visibility	60-80 Ft/ 18-24 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Come up with at least 500 psi
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	Boat has dedicated camera table. Charging area can be cluttered. There are dedicated camera lines at the boat.

Report currently has 1 Helpful vote

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Dive Review of Texas Caribbean Charters in The Continental USA/Texas

Texas Caribbean Charters: "Thriving corals, lots of fish at Flower Gardens Reefs", Aug, 2023,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Texas Caribbean Charters in
The Continental USA/Texas