Dive Review of M/V Fling in
The Continental USA/Flower Garden Banks National M

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M/V Fling: "Flower Garden Banks NMS, oil rig HI-376A, Stetson Bank.", Sep, 2018, by Mary Adams, MD, US ( Sr. Contributor 27 reports with 9 Helpful votes). Report 10602 has 1 Helpful vote.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	I was extremely lucky to get on this trip. The sea conditions had been iffy, but I risked my flight investment anyway and the Fling did sail. About 30 of us boarded the Fling on Friday evening and claimed bunks. We departed Freeport about 9 pm, and I think the engines stopped about 4 am. Seas ranged from less than 1 foot to almost 4 feet through the weekend, changing often. The Fling is a sturdy work boat, well-designed for short dive trips. There is zero luxury, and the food was perfectly adequate. The Fling has long air fill hoses, so after each dive I just disconnect my first stage and the crew filled the tanks. I used nitrox, and the fills were reliably 32% and 3000 psi. It is a HIGH giant-stride entry from the port-side gap. Water was consistently 84 F with good viz. I wore skin plus a 2 mm shortie and was perfectly comfortable. There were 5 dives on Saturday, including West FGB, the oil rig HI376A, and East FGB with a night dive. The oil rig was spectacular! Sunday we dived Stetson Banks twice. We saw a few sharks and a loggerhead. Other divers saw a manta but I missed it. Depths were 71-108 feet, 35-52 minutes. SITs were over 2 hours. The Fling hangs weighted down lines for easy safety stops. The trip cost $695 plus crew tips for 7 total dives. Glad I did it, I do recommend it, not sure I’ll do it again myself.
Websites	M/V Fling
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	101-250 dives
Where else diving	Cuba, Bonaire, Cozumel, Florida Keys, Clearwater FL, Bimini, Roatan, Kona, North Carolina, Flower Garden Banks, Caymans,
Closest Airport	IAH	Getting There	Flew from DC to Houston, rented car, drive to Freeport. Stayed at Surfside Beach.
Dive Conditions
Weather		Seas
Water Temp	82-84°F / 28-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness	2
Water Visibility	60-100 Ft/ 18-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	None.
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	Because of cloudy skies and our dive depths, light was never good. The Fling’s camera facility was excellent, including lots of charging ports.

Report currently has 1 Helpful vote

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Dive Review of M/V Fling in The Continental USA/Flower Garden Banks National M

M/V Fling: "Flower Garden Banks NMS, oil rig HI-376A, Stetson Bank.", Sep, 2018,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of M/V Fling in
The Continental USA/Flower Garden Banks National M