Latest Trip Reports by Mike
Trip Report: August 21, 2006
Hey Divers
We've just returned from a terrific 5-day trip to the Flower Gardens to witness the annual coral spawning. The weather was perfect...flat seas, warm (86 degree) water and 100+ visibility. The coral spawned as predicted on two nights during the trip. However, the coral polyps decided to delay the show by about an hour so we had to end one dive just as they were getting started. With depths at around 80 feet, we didn't have the liberty of extending the dive very much. Lots of activities occur in conjunction with the coral spawning. Brittle stars, sponges and several species of fish also spawn during that period so there was lots of action to witness. Manta rays were in attendance but we saw no whale sharks on this trip. I'm sure they were there but we just missed them. I saw more octopus on this trip than usual and they were a welcome addition to the sightings. Of course, things like angelfish, lobster, jawfish, mantis shrimp and moray eels were always near at hand. There was never a time when several species weren't in constant attendance. Surface intervals were spent watching movies, eating freshly cooked meals, looking at photographs and video footage from still dripping cameras or just taking a nap in your private bunk. Actually, the video and photographs were projected on the boat's HDTV system so all could get a good look at it. We've got one more trip to the "Gardens" scheduled for this year but you can rest assured that we'll have another full slate next year. Why not plan to join us so you can see for yourself instead of reading about it here!!
Dive Safely,
Mike
Trip Report: July 1, 2006
Hey Divers
We've just returned from another incredible trip to the Flower Gardens. Weather was a bit unsettled but the trip went smoothly. We encountered unusually swift currents on Saturday morning but we relocated to another spot on Saturday afternoon and the current subsided considerably. By Saturday night and on Sunday, the current had almost completely ceased. Visibilities ranged from 60 to 90 feet and water temperatures were around 82. The sun hid behind clouds for much of the trip but it actually made the sun deck of the Fling much more comfortable. All the usual critters were in abundance. Interspersed in the swarming clouds of fish were manta rays, eagle rays and large turtles. Sticking closer to the bottom were stingrays and large morays. We made some new sightings (at least for me) on this trip. Those included a yellow banded seahorse and a purple sea hare about 6 inches long. The coral on the Gardens has recovered from the bleaching I saw late last year and it appears to be exceptionally healthy. One sight that does disturb me a bit is the presence of a red algae covering much of the sand flats between the coral heads. I've never seen it out there in such abundance and we'll be watching it closely. If you're still debating on whether to come see the Gardens for yourself, I've still got some openings on our September 9-10 trip. Check your schedule and give me a call. I'd love to show this incredible dive site to you!
Dive Safely,
Mike
Trip Report: June 13, 2006
Hey Divers
We've just returned from another fantastic trip to the Flower Gardens. These trips are always subject to weather cancellations and that's been the case for our first three scheduled trips. This one, however, went beautifully. Seas were running about one foot or less and the 100 foot dive boat, Fling, pretty much sat flat on the water for the entire trip. Exiting the water on the boarding ladders was just like climbing out of a swimming pool. Water temps were near 80 and visibility generally exceeded 100 feet. We could look over the side of the boat and easily see the reef and divers below in 80 feet of cobalt blue water. All the usual reef critters were there. Some visitors, like manta rays, eagle rays, sting rays, loggerhead turtles, silky sharks and moray eels made the trip even more memorable. Our group consisted of 15 divers and everyone is ready to do it again. If you've never been to the "Gardens" you really need to put it on your list. It's just like diving in a huge aquarium. There are fish and other critters filling every square foot of reef space and mid-water is full of schools of barracuda, jacks and chubs. The only way to avoid seeing thousands of fish would be to dive with your eyes closed. We'll be doing it again on July 1-2 and again in August and September. July and August are currently full but I still have spots remaining in September. Give me a call and experience this world-class dive yourself!!
Until next time, Dive Safe!!
Mike
Trip Report: September 19, 2005
Hey Divers
We've just returned from our last scheduled trip to the Flower Gardens for this year. We'll resume scheduled trips in March of 2006. Watch our "Trips" section for the new schedule. Wow...what a great way to end the summer!! Seas were running 1 foot or less for the entire trip. We had a full moon under a cloudless sky and you could actually make the night dive without lights!! We could easily see individual fish on the reef in 80 feet of water at night without the aid of lights. It was surreal. Turning our own lights off, we watched divers with tank markers and dive lights drifting through clear water (visibility 100+ feet). It was like watching hovering space aliens in a science fiction movie. Diving by day was equally fantastic. Fish were everywhere and we saw mantas, black tip reef sharks, barracudas, turtles, lobster, lots of morays and thousands of reef fish. It's truly breathtaking to be able to look over the side of the boat and clearly see the reef 80 feet below in cobalt blue water. The fully air-conditioned MV Fling is a 100 foot liveaboard with a crew of 6. Each of us has a private bunk and fresh linens are provided. The galley crew kept us well fed for the entire trip, including a treat of hot brownies (or peach cobbler) and ice cream when we emerged from the night dive. The entire boat, including the dive deck, is fully carpeted so you don't need to wear shoes for the entire trip!! Being barefooted in shorts and a t-shirt is my idea of a vacation!! If this sounds like YOUR cup of tea, give me a call at the shop and we'll make sure you get onboard for one of these fabulous trips.
We've still got some spots remaining on the upcoming trip to CoCo View Resort (January 21-28, 2006). This is a fantastic trip and we've managed to get an even lower price than we had in June of 2005, despite the huge increase in fuel costs. This is truly a tropical paradise where everybody speaks English...and you can drink the water!! Contact me at the shop before the few remaining spots are gone. If you'd like a preview of CoCo View, visit their website at www.cocoviewresort.com and see for yourself!
Until next time...
Happy Diving.
Mike
Trip Report: July 15, 2005
Hey Divers
I hope this letter finds you all well and looking for someplace
to get wet. Things at the shop have been busy and there are
a few things you might want to take advantage of. First, after
considerable thought, we've decided to drop our Dacor dealership.
We will continue to service Dacor but will not be buying new
inventory from them. I want to emphasize that there is nothing
wrong with Dacor equipment. This decision is based on a difference
in our marketing beliefs and will leave us with an opportunity
to concentrate on our other major equipment lines; Oceanic,
Sherwood and Genesis. We've currently got quite a bit of new
Dacor equipment in the shop including regulators, BC's, instruments,
wetsuits, fins and masks. Until it's gone, every Dacor item
will be marked down 50%. Please shop early for the best selection.
We will also be having our planned sale of rental gear coming
up later in the fall. All regulators are current Oceanic models
and have computers with them. The BC's are all Oceanic weight
integrated models and in excellent shape. As you probably know,
we replace all rental gear every two years. I'll have another
announcement on this sale when I have the replacement models
in house and ready for service. We've still got spots on our
September 17-18 trip to the Flower Gardens. September usually
brings calm seas (unless there's a tropical storm in the Gulf)
and it's also a good time to look for whale sharks and mantas.
The water temperature will be at it's warmest for the summer
(about 86 degrees). The all-inclusive price for this trip is
$405. We've only got 6 remaining spots for our next trip to
CoCo View resort (January 21-28, 2006) so if you'd like to go
with us, please give me a call. We've managed to get a LOWER
price than our previous trip despite increasing fuel costs.
We're also arriving 6 hours earlier on the 21st and leaving
6 hours later on the 28th so you can squeeze in some extra diving
or hammock time. What a terrific way to start the new year!!
Call me at the shop or visit the CoCo View resort website at
cocoviewresort.com. The price for this trip, including round
trip airfare from Houston, two 2-tank boat dives every day,
unlimited shore diving and all meals and accommodations is only
$1317.65 (taxes included). One last personal item: I've got
a litter of pure-bred Border Collies which need a good home.
They're curently 9 weeks old and are current in all shots and
preventative medications. They come from an International Championship
blood line and are all eligible for registration in either the
American Border Collie Association or the American International
Border Collie Association. If you'd like one, I'm just asking
$200 each to cover my expenses. If you're in the area, you're
welcome to come see them or I'll be glad to e-mail pictures.
Until next time....Safe Diving!!
Mike
Trip Report: July 15, 2005
Hey Divers
Well, we've returned from yet another fantastic trip to the
Flower Gardens National Marine Sanctuary (July 14-15). The weather
was very cooperative with air and water temps in the mid-80's.
We found a slight thermocline around 50 feet but but it was
actually a bit refreshing. Critters, as usual, were everywhere.
We found reef and silky sharks, loggerhead and leatherback turtles,
stingrays, lobsters, moray eels, big groupers, amberjacks and
lots of smaller stuff. Reduced visibility (60 feet) and a brisk
current made the dives on Stetson a bit challenging on Friday
morning. It's a little harder to stay in place while you're
watching something or trying to take a picture. The food aboard
the M/V Fling was, as usual, good and plentiful and our group
of 12 divers never went hungry. It's a tradition for the galley
crew to serve hot brownies and cobbler with ice cream after
the night dive...now THAT'S something to look forward to! Five
of our divers achieved their Advanced Open Water certifications
while on this trip. Congratulations are in order for
Natascha, Mike, Peggy, Wayne and Max. Our return trip to the
Gardens in August is full but we've still got room on the September
trip. Why not pick up the phone and give me a call at the shop
(337.430.0073)? I'll set everything up for you!!
Until next time....Safe Diving!!
Mike
Trip Report: June 6, 2005
Hey Divers
For those of you who weren't with us...you missed a great trip!! We made another trip to the Flower Gardens on the weekend of June 18th and conditions couldn't have been better. Water and air temperatures were in the 80's, visibility was in excess of 100 feet and the seas were almost calm for the entire trip. We saw all the usual reef critters, including sharks, turtles, rays, moray eels, crabs, lobster, grouper, amberjack, snapper, angelfish...and the list just goes on and on. We were greeted by a nine foot Manta Ray on the first dive. On this particular trip, I saw the biggest Spiny Lobster I've ever seen in the wild. It probably weighed close to 10 pounds and we've got the picture to prove it!! Our boat and crew worked flawlessly to ensure a perfect trip. For those of you who haven't been with us on one of these trips, it's all catered. We're on a fully air-conditioned 100 foot liveaboard with a crew of 6. All you have to do is eat, sleep and dive. A galley crew prepares 4 hot meals per day and you don't have to change tanks or even move your gear for the entire trip. Our trips are filling rapidly. In fact, I've only got a few spots left on our September trip so if you'd like to join us for some world class diving, why not give me a call today! In case you're questioning the term "world class" consider that during our August trip, there will be an IMAX film crew out there with us!!
Until next time....Safe Diving!!
Mike
Trip Report: June 6, 2005
Hi, Divers
Well, we've just returned from another terrific trip to CoCo View Resort on the island of Roatan. Many of our divers have been there before so, for them, "orientation" was unnecessary. Just check in, grab a tank and your dive gear and hit the water for unlimited shore dives. Our luggage was collected at the airport by CoCo View staff and delivered directly to our private air-conditioned cabanas while we enjoyed a "welcome drink" at the bar. The shore diving in the "front yard" of CoCo View is as good as anything you'll find in the Caribbean. Simply wade in from a sandy beach and chose your dive. It can be shallow snorkeling over beds of turtle grass or shallow coral reefs, a sunken 160 foot freighter or a DC-3 airplane in 60 feet of water or two vertical coral encrusted walls dropping off to several hundred feet in depth. Connecting all this is a sand bed containing a large assortment of marine life from flounder and jawfish to cleaner shrimp and huge hermit crabs. Of course we also enjoyed two 2-tank boat dives every day which took us to some spectacular dive sites. The seas were a little higher than usual for the first couple of days so the boat crew took the 40 foot custom dive boats to more secluded dive sites and limited the travel times to five or ten minutes. The attention to detail and the genuine concern for our comfort was evident in all of the resort staff. Is it any wonder that we return time after time? In fact, our next trip will be in mid-January of 2006. Watch our website or your e-mail newsletter for upcoming details. Not signed up for our newsletter? simply use the "Contact Mike" button on the homepage and request to be added to the list (don't forget to include your name!!) We'll be posting pictures on the "Gallery" page so watch for them as well.
We're off again in 10 days for another exciting trip to the Flower Gardens!! Why not join us? Just give me a call at the shop and I'll take care of it.
Until next time...Dive Safe
Mike
Trip Report: March 28, 2005
Hi, DiversTrip Report: September 14, 2004
Hi, Divers
Well, we made another successful trip to the fabulous Flower
Gardens. This was a 5-day trip to watch the coral spawning.
We weren't disappointed. The coral spawned on two consecutive
nights and it was truly a sight to behold. It was like being
in an upside down snowstorm. The coral spawn looks like tiny
pinkish beads and they are slightly positively bouyant so they
slowly drift to the surface. EVERYTHING likes to eat coral spawn!
There were manta rays, whale sharks, shrimp, crabs, fish, sea
urchins, brittle stars, bristle worms and even jellyfish snagging
the little beads of spawn as they drifted away from the coral
heads. Needless to say, we got LOTS of pictures!! I'll put a
few of them in the photo gallery for
your viewing pleasure. The highlights of this trip were threefold:
the spawn itself, a 40 foot whale shark and a 15 foot manta
ray. We encountered the manta on a couple of different occasions...at
least I think it was the same one and the whale shark was spotted
in several different areas. Diving conditions were excellent
with 85 degree water and air temps, 100+ visibility and seas
running between one and two feet. The 100 foot M/V Spree barely
rocked. As usual, we were treated royally and there was good
food in abundance. Over the course of the trip we made 18 dives,
4 of them at night. During our surface intervals, there was
always an unofficial watch on the sundeck and when the shout
went up "WHALE SHARK!", everyone grabbed mask and
snorkel and hit the water with cameras. This served to keep
everyone on their toes for the entire trip. We did, however,
encounter one misadventure. Unfortunately, one of our fellow
divers was severely injured on the boat when a bungee cord he
was securing slipped and hit him in the eye. He was airlifted
by the Coast Guard to a trauma center. All of our wishes go
out to Keith for a speedy recovery.
Photos taken from this trip for your viewing pleasure: click
here!
We have another trip to the Gardens planned for Sept 16th and 17th but I think Hurricane Ivan has other plans for us. Time will tell but if we make the trip, you'll read about it here!!
Until next time...Happy Diving!
Mike
Trip Report: August 30, 2004
Hey Divers
Well, after several failed attempts due to bad weather, we finally made it back to the Flower Gardens. The trip was well worth the wait. The seas were a little rough going out but since travel was at night, we simply hit the sack and the seas rocked us to sleep. Morning brought blue skies and calming seas. After a continental breakfast, we jumped the first dive at around 7 a.m. Visibility was the standard 100 feet and water temperature was in the mid-80's both at the surface and on the bottom. Currents were light or non-existant over the next two days and we were able to find the usual critters common in the "Gardens". The scheduled rig dive was spectacular, as usual. We found numerous silky sharks and I even managed to catch three of them in the same photograph. We also found a large loggerhead turtle grazing on a sponge and it cooperated for several divers wishing to take pictures. The highlight of this trip was an encounter with a very friendly manta ray on Stetson Banks. All divers observed the "no touch" policy and the manta stayed with us for quite some time, allowing divers to approach to within a few feet. Needless to say, there are lots of photos and video to document that event! There were reports of whale sharks in the vicinity but we didn't find one on this trip. It was a truly memorable adventure and the crew of the M/V Fling lived up to their impressive reputation for service. We'll be heading back out to the Flower Gardens this Friday for a five-day trip and a close-up look at the annual coral spawning. Hopefully, that will attract whale sharks and mantas and I'll have another good story to tell you about!!
You know, you don't have to be content to just read about these trips...we'd love to have you join us. Simply check the trip schedules and give me a call...I'll take care of the rest.
Until next time....HAPPY DIVING!
Mike
Trip Report: April 27, 2004
Hi, Divers
We're back from a fantastic trip to CoCo View Resort on the island of Roatan. The trip went flawlessly and, except for a cool front which came through in the middle of the week, it was warm and sunny. The cool weather only lasted a day so it really didn't cause much discomfort. The diving, as usual, was terrific with visibilities ranging from a low of 40 feet on the sand cuts during tide changes to over 100 feet on the walls. The water was a balmy 81 degrees. Diving is available (and included in your trip package)24-7 so if you'd like to make a night dive at 3 a.m., you are welcome to do so. Room accommodations were excellent and the staff was very attentive. We noted the different color combinations on the bed sheets and determined that they actually changed our sheets every day. That's a nice touch compared with some resorts which change only after you've checked out. Many of our divers took advantage of the deeply discounted dive classes conducted on this trip and we now have several new certified Wreck, Nitrox, Advanced and Open Water divers! Congratulations to those truly adventurous divers!! Shore diving in the "front yard" of Coco View provides an almost endless array of diving opportunities. There's a 160 foot sunken freighter, a DC-3 aircraft, shallow coral reefs, two deep walls, a sand flat teeming with life and shallow grass beds...all within a short swim from the shore. The trip also included two boat dives per day and the divemaster made it a point not to repeat a dive site so each one was new and different. Each site had it's unique critters. We found sea horses on one site, toadfish on another and large reef crabs on yet another. As for shore activities...there were lots to choose from. Some went river rafting on a jungle river, rode through the rainforest and crossed rivers on a cable laced through the jungle canopy, dove with sharks, played with dolphins and rode a submarine to 1000 feet to see what lives down there. Closer to home, you could stroll through the extensive manicured grounds or take a kayak and explore the surrounding mangroves and islands. The grounds of CoCo View are equally interesting. There are iguanas, hummingbirds, parrots(which talk to you)and lush tropical plants constantly in bloom. One of the most interesting critters we saw were the small bats which came to the hummingbird feeder during the evening. They showed up in droves and took turns drinking from the feeders. We called them "hummingbats" and they were truly fascinating to watch. We took tons of pictures and we'll have lots to show you the next time you stop by the shop (or e-mail me). All agreed that this is definitely a trip to be repeated so....we're planning to do it again next spring. Why not plan to join us so you can experience all this for yourself! Call, stop by or e-mail me and I'll give you the details.
Until next time...Happy Diving!!
Mike
Trip Report: October 22, 2003
Hi, Divers
I've just returned from 5 days at Cobalt Coast Resort on Grand Cayman. The resort is fairly new and I wanted to check it out as a possible dive destination for future trips. This facility is on the northwest tip of the island and presents a welcome relief to the congestion found further south. Cobalt Coast is relatively small and sits at the edge of the sea at the end of a dead end road (Seafan Drive). The facilities are very modern, fully airconditioned and well appointed. Living areas are all carpeted and the huge bathrooms are tiled throughout. Suites are equipped with a full kitchen, including dishwasher, stove with oven, microwave and a large refrigerator/freezer. Cable television is provided in all rooms. All rooms have a spacious porch or breezeway and seaside rooms also overlook the large pool and hot tub. There is a restaurant on site and meals are available at any time. The open air bar is a convenient place to socialize while watching the sun set. The owner, Arie Barendrecht, lives on site and is constantly circulating among the guests to visit and offer assistance.
DiveTech is the resident dive shop and is an integral part of the resort. It's owner, Nancy, is married to Arie and and together, the operations run seamlessly. Divetech built its original shop next to the turtle farm, located about a mile south of the resort and guests are invited to use both dive facilities. Divetech owns and operates two large diveboats and will take guests to the sites of their choice. Guided tours are available and if you want to strike out on your own...rent an underwater scooter. Shore diving is available at both sites and racks of full tanks are available and ready when you are. Night diving from shore is also available whenever the urge strikes. Tarpon hang around the lighted docks at night and will greet divers with silvery sides and glowing red eyes. Shore entries are very easy thanks to a dock with concrete steps or an inclined ladder, depending on which site you use. Diving is typical Cayman with lots of spectacular walls and pinnacles. Nitrox (32%) is readily available and if you want to expand your knowledge, take a rebreather course.
I was very impressed with this operation and, while the Caymans are known to be a little more expensive than most of the Caribbean, the excellent accommodations, service, extremely low crime rate and outstanding safety record of the Cayman operators make this an excellent choice for a carefree dive experience. Besides that, you can drink the water and EVERYBODY speaks excellent English!
As you might imagine, we're in the process of setting up a return trip to Cobalt Coast Resort so watch this website for dates and information.
Until next time, I wish you Safe Diving,
Mike
