VIDEO

     The Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary is located 70 to 115
miles off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana.  Believe it or not we
actually have a thriving beautiful coral reef that rivals the Caribbean
reefs just off the coast of the US!  Join us as we travel to Freeport,
Texas to board the MV Fling for a 2 day visit to the Gulf Flower
Gardens.  We'll drive down on Wednesday September 5 and board the boat
at 8PM.

*The trip includes the following:*
Accommodations aboard the MV Fling
All meals and snacks on the boat
New for 2008, satellite TV
Two days of diving (2 morning, 2 afternoon, and one night dive on day 1,
2 morning dives on day 2)
All air fills (Nitrox upgrade available for $60 - highly recommended)

*Be sure the bring the following:*
1 Filled Tank**
Weights
3 lights per buddy team
Visual Surface signaling device (Safety Sausage) and whistle
Towel

*Highly recommended:*
Dive Computer
3mm wet suit and gloves
Seasick medication
Lightweight jacket
Camera
Pack your clothes separately from dive gear

**No tanks manufactured from alloy 6351-T allowed
  No DPV's or Rebreathers onboard

A typical dive at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
begins with a greeting by several watchful barracuda.  Look down and you
can see the reef sprawled out 60 feet below.  As you descend, the reef 
takes on brilliant color.  As you approach the coral heads, you'll see
the fish cruising the reef.  Bluehead and yellowhead wrasses, schools of
chromis and creolefish, and a variety of damselfish are the most
prevalent atop the reef.  Also keep an eye out for butterfly fish,
parrotfish and groupers.  Under the ledges you'll find squirrelfish,
puffer fish, eels and lots of crabs, shrimp and mollusks.  The flower
garden banks feature huge stony coral gardens dotted with sand flats. 
In the sand flats you'll see an occasional nurse shark or sea turtle.
Don't forget to look up occasionally.  You might miss a passing manta
ray, spotted eagle ray or shark.  If you're not looking at the right
time, you may never know they are there!  The night dive is truly
spectacular.  The reef takes on a completely new look after dark.  The
predators come out and cruise over the reef looking for prey.  If you
shine your light down on the reef as you descend, you'll see hundreds of
tiny points of light.  These are the eyes of the thousands of shrimp
that live on the reef.  On day two we'll visit Stetson Bank.  You won't
see the large numbers of corals that were on the East and West Flower
Garden banks, but you'll see even more varieties of fish and wildlife. 
Moray Eels are easily found.  Swim over to the edge of the bank and
watch for sharks and rays cruising over the deep water.  Watch your
depth here, the wall drops off to about 400 feet!

Trip Cost $454.00 includes lodging on way home.

$399.00 without lodging.

We need a $150 deposit to hold your spot.