dive@scubainc.com

Last Update
Thursday, March 27, 2008

The Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (the Flower Gardens) is made up three separate banks that lie between 70 and 115 miles off the Texas and Louisiana gulf coast. Diving the Flower Gardens is a true adventure dive. Sea and diving conditions can and do change quickly. Shore is a long way away, deep water is very close, there can be strong currents which change frequently, waves can build suddenly, the diving can be difficult and returning to the boat even harder. This is not the place for a new or uncomfortable diver. But for those with a reasonable amount of recent experience (20+ dives not including any classes) who are comfortable in the water, it can be a wonderfully exhilarating experience.

For more information on the Flower Gardens: http://flowergarden.noaa.gov/

At this time, the two premiere dive boats running to the Flower Gardens are the MV Spree and MV Fling. Both boats have experienced Captains and Crews and are fully outfitted for Gulf Diving. Both of these boats are operated by Gulf Diving located in Freeport Texas.

NITROX is provided free of charge on the MV Spree and is available as an extra charge option on the MV Fling.

Divers must bring all their own dive gear except that cylinders are provided if you are using NITROX. Be sure to bring adaquate thermal protection for your diving. Even if the water is fairly warm, you will start to chill by the end of the night dive.

You should bring clothing for the length of the trip, but pack lightly since storage space is very limited.

• Trips leave from Freeport the night before the scheduled trip date.
• Be at the dock by 8:00pm central time.
• There will be a briefing on the dock and you will typically board the boat at 8:30pm
• Once on board, you will stow your gear, complete paperwork, receive the boat briefing, and be on your way

Do NOT be late for the boat, or you will be left ... and no, you will not receive a refund. If you have a problem, or think you might have a problem with getting to the boat on time, let your dive shop and/or the boat know. It may buy you some extra time, but don’t count on it.

Read all the boat and diving rules and be sure to follow them.

This is the link: http://www.gulf-diving.com/faq.pdf

If you haven’t read this or don’t intend to follow all the rules, don’t book a trip on these boats. If you have a question about something, ask before you book.

On the Gulf boats, the Divemasters are truly Divemasters and not dive guides. That means that they may or may not be in the water with you. If you feel that you want or need a Divemaster with you on your dives, you should arrange for this before you book the trip. There will be an extra fee since we will be providing an additional Divemaster to be sure that we can staff your dives.

Booking A Trip

We book our trips directly with the dive boat operator. When you are ready to book a trip:

• Click the Book This Trip link and you will be taken to the boat Terms and Conditions page.
• Read these and click the I Accept button to indicate your full agreement with ALL the Terms and Conditions.
• This will then take you to the Boat Travel and Scuba Diving Voluntary Release, Wavier, And Assumption of Risk page.
• Print this document !!! (You will need to fill it out, sign it, and bring it to the boat with you)
• Read the document and click I Accept to indicate your agreement.
• This will take you to the Medical Background page.
• If you have a medical problem that indicates you should not dive, click Yes. If you are medically fit to dive, click No.
• If you click Yes, you will have to have a written medical release from your doctor before you will be allowed to continue with your booking. You will have to bring this release with you to the boat.
• If you clicked No, you will be taken to the main booking page.
• The Booking Page is a secure page. Enter all the required information (indicated with red *) including your payment information and click the Submit Information link.
• Payment in full is required when you book the trip. Be sure that you understand the refund and cancelation policies in the Terms and Conditions.
• You will need to repeat the booking process for each person that you want to book.

For more information on the MV Spree: http://www.spreeexpeditions.com/boat_info.asp

If you have any questions please contact us: dive@DiveTheGulf.com

Dive Safe and Enjoy !