Need info on Houston Texas

[dieseldude]

I have to go to Houston for some work related training. It looks way too close to water not to take some dive gear. Does anyone have recomendations for divesites or contacts in that area that might hook me up. I'd be in for 1, maybe 2 days of diving & it would make me real happy to get some doubles on my back & see the deeper side of an oil rig or two while I was there.
MJ

[Tom Nic]

Check out the MV Spree and diving the Flower Garden Banks - if you have the time and can make it work it's supposed to be pretty amazing.

[John Rawlings]

Check out the MV Spree and diving the Flower Garden Banks - if you have the time and can make it work it's supposed to be pretty amazing.

Ditto on that one! I haven't been there, but I'm told that it's really astonishing.

[shaggie]

I've heard the Flower Gardens and Stetson bank are very nice, though I never was able to make it there myself. I can say from personal experience that the oil rigs are a fantastic dive also.

If you want to drive to Port Aransas then Out to Sea Adventures is a good outfit. Mike Miglini is the owner/ operator. He has a very spacious boat, plenty of room for gear and you are still able to move around. But it's not the quickest thing on the seas. To go to the deep water rigs (about 40 miles out and over 200' deep) it will take about 4 hours.

For an operator closer to Houston, I dove once with Keith Love of Bluewater Safaris. He has a 36' contender with two big ass outboards that really move! Not much room on deck is the trade off. He is berthed at the Freeport marina.

I highly recomend both of these guys. Very professional. Ever thought of spearfishing? Red snapper season will soon be here!

Feel free to PM me if I can be of anymore help.

John

[Dusty2]

I've heard the flower garden is the place to see whale sharks if the timing is right.

[shaggie]

If you can get out to the TFG in early spring (most trips cancel due to rough conditions) you can see one of natures greatest attractions; the hammerheads schooling.

[Dashrynn]

Any shore diving?

[Dusty2]

Not from what I hear. You have to be several miles offshore to find deep water

[Dmitchell]

Houston isn't actually on the water, you have to drive down to Galveston to get to the water.

I spent 4 months there when I was going to The Ocean Corporation. We drove inland to go diving in lakes and rivers. Never went to the ocean for diving.

[shaggie]

No, not much shore diving there. Some people dive the jetties at Port Aransas and one or two other sites, but the vis usualy very bad except on those rare summer days when the blue water rolls in all the way to shore. You also might want to check out www.scubaboard.com in the Texas Swamp Divers forum. That question has been a topic several times.