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View Full Version : Calling all divers!!!



Isis
Thu, 20th Jul 2006, 11:08 AM
We are happy to annouce that the dive trip to the Flower Gardens is scheduled and ready to accept reservation for a spot on the boat. The dive trip is scheduled for following MACNA. The boat will begin loading at 8pm in Freeport, Sunday, Sept 24th. Our charter is with Gulf Giving out of Freeport, TX, you can see more info about them at their website www.gulf-diving.com. The boat we are scheduled to go out on is the Fling. There will be approximately 25 divers plus 3 divemasters.

The cost of the trip will be $450 for the entire trip, of which food will be provided, as well as your 80" tanks. You are required to bring your own dive equipment. If you are an out-of-towner and don't want to lug around your equipment, you can rent equipment at any local dive shop here in Houston, or you can contact Aquatic Excursions (979-233-8800), which is across the street from Gulf-Diving. Weight belts can be provided by Gulf Diving for those flying in with their equipment, otherwise they ask if you local to bring your own weight belts since there are a limited amount. If you would like to dive with nitrox, there is a $75 charge for the three days in addition to the $450, which is a total of $525 for the weekend. Payments can me made via paypal thru our MACNA site at this link.. http://www.macnaxviii.com/registration/dive_trip.php . If you would prefer to mail your deposit or full payment, please contact me when you payment is sent so I can reserve your spot until the check is recieved. Final payment MUST be recieved by August 1st, unless something is worked out in advance. If you would like to bring a bottle of wine on the trip, you can, but it must stay in the galley. Beers and sodas will be sold for those who would like one after they are done diving for the day, they are strict about your first (alcoholic) drink is your last dive of the day.

The trip will be a total of 11 dives starting Monday. There will be 5 dives Monday, 4 dives Tuesday and the remaining 2 dives on Wednesday morning. Also, from what I understand, there should be a night dive in there as well. We will return to the dock around 5-6pm that Wednesday for those that need to schedule overnight stay and flights.

We are also in need of a few dive masters, so if you would like to be a part of this trip, please contact me. You must be certified and insured at the time of the trip.

If you have any questions about the trip, please feel free to contact me or Sharon at Gulf Diving.

Kim

TexasTodd
Thu, 20th Jul 2006, 04:42 PM
Anyone from SA going to do this?

Todd

Isis
Thu, 20th Jul 2006, 05:08 PM
Anyone from SA going to do this?

ToddIt is a perfect opportunity to. Also, you don't have to attend MACNA to do this, but we would like it to be fellow reefers.

Shark_Bait
Thu, 20th Jul 2006, 05:11 PM
I would love to do this and would already be sending payment but..... We are going on an exercise for a month mid August to..... they say mid Sept but who knows

Isis
Thu, 20th Jul 2006, 07:00 PM
Well if you want to let me know when you get back if you can make it, I will have room to throw on a few extras if we fill our quota. There is less people going so there will be more room for all. When you get back, let me know if you still want to go.

Shark_Bait
Thu, 20th Jul 2006, 07:03 PM
Thanks Isis I will... I've been waiting for this dive since I came to TX..

matt
Thu, 20th Jul 2006, 08:56 PM
Man it's tempting. It's about the same as a weekend price with more dives. For me the Flower Gardens trip is just a little too close to the cost and time of a Cozumel trip, so I end up going to Coz 2-3 times/year instead. Since this is 3 days it's a better deal. I'll get there eventually, but I'm going to have to reluctantly pass on this one. Seeing as how I have June July and most of August off, I can't justify taking a week off in September.

I'm sure you'll all have a GREAT time!!

Isis
Fri, 21st Jul 2006, 09:07 AM
One of our members went this past weekend, and this is what he said...


I went to the flower gardens this past weekend and it was wonderful. I was on the Fling and the crew on the boat was great and the food was both plentiful, and delicious. The diving was some of the best I have done and the health of the reef was great. I saw the biggest french, queen, blue, and townsend angles I have ever seen, and also got to see a barricuda with a welding rod sticking about 10" out of the top of his head. This trip is well worth the money, and I would recommend this to anyone. I will try to post some pics in the scuba forum this weekend.

Isis
Fri, 21st Jul 2006, 01:40 PM
Here is a nice video to entice you all.

For more information on the Flower Garden Banks visit http://flowergarden.noaa.gov/

http://www.synergy-productions.com/html_files/gulf_diving2.html

AlexKilpatrick
Sun, 23rd Jul 2006, 06:50 PM
How deep do the dives go?

I've heard this trip makes a lot of people seasick. Do you know anything about that?

Isis
Sun, 23rd Jul 2006, 07:25 PM
The dives are around 65 feet from what I am told. I am not sure about the sea sickness, but that is what dramamine is for, especially since I know I will be taking it.

Isis
Thu, 27th Jul 2006, 12:53 PM
We are short about 8 people, this is a perfect opportunity to hang with your fellow reefers and speakers from the conference. I will need to receive final payments by mid-August or the trip will be cancelled.

Isis
Thu, 24th Aug 2006, 03:16 PM
Spot availability has been extended for payment needed by Sept 8th. If you are still interested, please call or email me ASAP!!!