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We took 7 TPWD divers out to the rigs for
some clearance checks, checking on future
donations, and operational checks of some
new gear they bought to survey the Clipper
with when she finally sinks. The new gear
included a HD video camera with housing, and
2 silent submersion scooters, as well as new
regulators for the dive team. We were asked
by the nice folks at the Florida Wildlife
Commission if we would help them to sample
some lobster for DNA testing. Our first
dive was at HI-551, which was a nice
platform, but nothing special. We moved on
to HI-571, which was a newly cutoff
platform, again nice, but not spectacular.
We dove HI-570 next, which has a lot of
coral, lots of snapper, and a few lobsters,
which now have fewer legs than before we got
there. The big prize of the day, however,
was HI-572. This unmanned platform has great
growth of black coral, some marbled grouper,
and a goliath grouper. We have seen quite a
few goliath grouper on the rigs this year,
as well as 1 on the West Bank. We spent that
night on the West Bank and did a night dive.
We performed another dive on the West Bank
in the morning, then we went back to HI-572
to video the grouper, corals, and to get a
better look at the platform. The TPWD divers
were very excited about receiving that
particular platform as a donation. After
that dive we got underway for HI-317. The
platform was covered with lots of little
growth, but nothing spectacular. After that
dive we went to HI-466 to check on the buoy.
Unfortunately, the buoy wasn’t there, it may
have to be replaced. We spent the night on
Stetson. The next morning, we made a dive on
Stetson with scooters and camera, then went
to HI-532. HI-532 has been down for some
years, holds a lot of fish, and some great
spiny oysters. Once again, HI-532 proved to
be a great dive. Captain Frank
M/V Spree
Freeport, Texas |
