24 replies to this topic

[WreckWench]

I have a great picture of our little bird friend, unfortunately, I can't upload them. I am thinking they are too big, but I have no idea how to resize, etc.

Most photo editing programs will let you save them in s smaller size suitable for the internet. Or you can post in the Site Support forum for help. Picture uploading is always one to spark questions so you might find the help you need already there. Or you can email admin@singledivers.com and one of the guys will help you! kamala

[Bubble2Bubble]

KevDiver

I've been trying real hard to identify him from memory, but a few good pictures of him would really help me. I'd like to find out how far out of his range he was.

BTW Kevin to the Fun Bunch, I'm sure you will post a intro etc.. when you get time

I hope this helps... I found these Online at.............
Victoria's Secret Collection

B2B

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[hambergler]

The little bird was growing on me, and I really hoped it'd make it, especially since it showed no fear and would hop around us and over our feet like we were birds too. Too bad.

The diving was great, East and West Bank, along with the rig, were neat; however, Stetson Bank is a special place--imagine a ranch in West Texas, with a mostly flat plain of eroded vertical limestone outcroppings and cactus & cattle, then imagine the same place under 70+ feet of water, with sponges and fishies instead. It even has what looks like a bladed gravel road running through it, but instead of gravel it's bits of coral and shell, with hermit crabs replacing dung beetles. There are rusted steel bits of equipment lying around, and a concrete well cap (or something similar), from oil drilling attempts; all that it needs to make the picture complete would be a rusted out 1950 pickup truck sitting on the side of the "gravel road". I could spend days exploring it.

The last dive of the trip was the most challenging, as we splashed ahead of a squall line, then came up afterwards to a fairly heavy storm; the Spree was swinging and bouncing on the bouy line, and catching the hang lines and the ladder lines was an exercise in timing and having enough depth to avoid the bouncing hull. We did our safety stops on the up/side line, then timed and swam for the hang lines when the boat was slack; the boat would swing and we'd flag on the hang lines waiting for it to pause before it would swing back the other way--when it did, we'd haul ass for the ladder lines and hook our elbows to take our fins off, then pull for the bouncing ladder. Definitely not Cozumel.

The Happy Hour was fun, and Norman is a pool shark of the First Degree--stay away from him!!

[Capn Jack]

all that it needs to make the picture complete would be a rusted out 1950 pickup truck sitting on the side of the "gravel road". I could spend days exploring it.

I'm glad I am not the only one struck by the underwater scene at Stetson. As hambergler points out - it is eerie in its resemblance to a submerged bit of Texas.

The last dive of the trip was the most challenging, as we splashed ahead of a squall line, then came up afterwards to a fairly heavy storm; the Spree was swinging and bouncing on the bouy line, and catching the hang lines and the ladder lines was an exercise in timing and having enough depth to avoid the bouncing hull. We did our safety stops on the up/side line, then timed and swam for the hang lines when the boat was slack; the boat would swing and we'd flag on the hang lines waiting for it to pause before it would swing back the other way--when it did, we'd haul ass for the ladder lines and hook our elbows to take our fins off, then pull for the bouncing ladder. Definitely not Cozumel.

Sorry, but for me "not Cozumel" is part of the appeal of the Flower Gardens. It can sometimes be "big boy" diving, not for the faint of heart. The good news is the crew is so experienced at these kinds of scenarios, that they're ready for contingencies.

I have to point out we had no "rides of shame" * that seem to happen on virtually every FG trip. Part of that is a tribute to the excellent set of divers, but part of it is simply the Flower Gardens can be quite benign. I don't want folks reading this to think the Flower Gardens is always a daunting dive experience. Most times it is not. Currents can be a bit tricky and frequently run differently on the bottom than the surface, but the Spree has an awesome safety record. It is 100 miles out, so when it gets marginal, the crew is ready, when it is beyond marginal, they don't open the pool.

* Having to send the dinghy out to get you when you don't make it back to the boat - Melanie takes delight in putting the offending diver into the most anatomically humiliating possible position for the ride back and the unceremonious dump back in to climb aboard the Spree

Edited by Capn Jack, 21 August 2008 - 08:38 AM.

[Cold_H2O]

No rides of shame is something to gloat about. I have heard many stories about those rides.
(keeping fingers crossed that I have to wait a long time before my ride of shame)

Sorry I couldn't get to the pretrip dinner. Would have loved to finally meet you.
It would have been nice to see Sarah the Brown again.

Hope to catch you both sometime soon.

Edited by gis_gal, 21 August 2008 - 10:01 AM.

[Bubble2Bubble]

Colleen,
Thanks for stopping by the post HH party, it was nice to meet you finally
Yep... no "Boat of Shame" on that trip, but there was a minor floaty of shame incident.
Victoria.... Thanks for your contributions to this thread with those really cool pics and especially the one of the bird. I never thought a bird would make it in a dive report. Ya I like the new avatar too! Chuck according to Pete the on board Marine Specialist that area has been dry land before, its been above and below water many times over the last 100.000.000 years or so. Capt Jack thanks for your two psi about the trip and thanks for taking me for a spin in your BMW Mark 5 down the streets of Free Port..what where we doing ??? cruising for chicks

Bubski

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Edited by Bubble2Bubble, 21 August 2008 - 02:12 PM.

[Margarita]

Hey, guys! WW talked me into joining the board and I thought I'd start by saying hey to the folks who sailed the Mighty Vessel Spree to the Flower Gardens. You were a great group of divers.

First, let me relate the sad news that our little buddy the green bird did not survive the voyage home. I found him after the passengers had cleared the dive deck. I wasn't able to determine exactly what happened, but those little guys have such a tenuous hold on life it's amazing he made it as long as he did. I've been trying real hard to identify him from memory, but a few good pictures of him would really help me. I'd like to find out how far out of his range he was.

Oh, well, soon I'll add actual info to my profile and intro myself, but until then, keep blowing bubbles!

Kevin

Hi Kevin,

Welcome to SingleDivers.com. Such a fun group! I was on the Spree on the July Tortugas trip. Such a fun crew!

A little bird told me about the little bird on the boat I looked at Victoria's pic, and my best guess as a bird geek, is that it is either a willow flycatcher or an alder flycatcher. The only real way to distinguish the two is by voice or habitat and range. Both migrate a circum-Gulf route through Texas and down into Mexico, and Fall migration is August and September. The little guy and his mate were probably just off course in terms of being out at sea, rather than over land. If more pictures surface, I'll try to hone my ID. And yes, I am a bird geek as well as a fish geek.

Sorry to here it didn't survive. Migration is a bitch. Glad all of you guys had fun.

Margaret

[Margarita]

Aaaackkk. I hit the submit button twice. Please disregard this post. This one. Not the one above. That one still stands.

Edited by Margarita, 23 August 2008 - 07:29 PM.

[Bubble2Bubble]

Margarita

my best guess as a bird geek, is that it is either a willow flycatcher or an alder flycatcher.

Dear,
I have only a few more tid-bits of info that might help to identify this birdy.
1. It was only about 2 1/2 inches tall to 3 inches max.
2. It would not eat bread crumbs, cake or any other food besides some dried-up stinging jelly-fish remains.. according to Hamburgler its beck was made for insects only.. Yummie

M

Migration is a bitch

Ya I guess so lil birdy.

Mike