Captain's Log 2008
A Great year of diving is in the log book!
10 September 08
A local exploration team visited the Texas Clipper today for minor penetration diving and fish studies. Water conditions just prior to Hurricane Ike were ideal! Cobalt blue water and 100+ visibility. Several octopi were noted (as usual), schools of young triggerfish, one juvenile queen angle was attempting to hide from the cameras along with stripped drum and schools of snapper ..... just to name a few.
31 August 2008
Blue water retuned to the Clipper this weekend. We had been experiencing unpredictable conditions since Hurricane Dolly came through back at the end of July. However, good weather and calm seas ruled the day for a group of divers from San Antonio. They were treated to blue water, schooling butterfly fish, large barracuda, octopi, and a even a glimpse of a couple of black tip shark that were hanging around a nearby shrimp boat culling. All in all, it is great to be back in the water and even better to have conditions returning to normal for this time of year. With SPI Dive Week just around the corner, conditions should be great for all those planning to attend.
29 August 2008
The conditions are improving by the day. We have had clear
blue water up to the beach in some areas and the local spear
fishermen have been having a great time. Diver 1 went to
Little Sara on Friday, 29th of Aug to find blue water and a Shallow
thermocline at 30 feet. Vis was great above 50 feet.
Huge schools of bait fish were hiding inside the rig from nearby
dolphins. Schools of Lookdowns continue to be locals there as
well as Snapper and others. Octopi were in the corners,
numerous Sgt Majors still about and one Bristel Worm was seen
lurking for a meal. Seas were calm. Good day of
diving!
July 19, 2008
Dive World of San Antonio ventured out with us to dive the Texas Clipper. The seas were flat with a blue sky. Water was clear blue down to about 60 feet where visibility suffered a bit due to local shrimp boats dragging all night (they will be leaving soon ;-) ... First two dives were on the Texas Clipper where on the 1st dive, a Purplemouth Moray was found near the boat davit gear.... First Eel noted on the Clipper. Seems most every dive we find a new inhabitant. Very Cool! Third dive was on near by Seana's Rig where we hoped to once again visit the Whale Shark, but we did not see it this trip.
July 12, 2008
WOW !! Texas Clipper!! Whale Shark!! Calm seas and blue clear water on the Texas Clipper today. Some upwelling but visibility was still at 100 feet. Once in the water, you could clearly see the wreck. Today was a group from Tom's Dive and Swim in Austin and several divers from various locations as far as Colorado and Massachusetts, all getting some great exploration on the wreck and enjoying the vast marine life. While lunch was served, the Diver 1 moved over to Seana's Rig. Tim went in to tie in and surfaced saying something about Whale Shark! We got the divers in quick so all could enjoy the 25 foot Whale Shark circling the oil rig. Same one spotted there two weeks ago. Also present were several Ling. Good day of diving the Devil's Elbow area off South Padre Island.
July 11, 2008
A dive to the rig Little Sara. Visibility was 80 feet horizontal down to around 60 feet. Below 60 feet the upwelling knocked visibility down to 10 feet and water was considerably colder than the surface temp of 84 degrees. Divers were treated to two spectacular dives featuring schools of lookdowns, Atlantic spadefish, grouper, snapper and the usual patrolling barracuda. The resident octopus made an appearance for some of the divers. Also two butterfly fish were seen chasing each other around the risers at 30 feet. Tomorrow's dive is to the Clipper!
June 21, 2008
Another great day on the Texas Clipper. Seas less than 2 feet (glassy) mild currents and a blue sky..... but the water was a deeper blue, we call it Cobalt Blue. Once marked on the wreck via GPS, we could see it well enough for the easiest tie in yet by Tim. Tim conducted the initial dive briefing from the deck of Diver 1 while pointing to the Clipper some 70-80 feet below. We spent the day watching divers from the surface and could even read the "Nitrox" stickers on tanks. Several octopi are now residents in various holes...as the life continues to grow abundant. On the un-tie and final ascent, the diver watched a large school of 2-4 foot Ling cruise over the wreck. Take a look at the "Blue Water Gallery"!!
June 20, 2008
Visibility was 100 feet. The Clipper was visible from the deck of the Diver I. The current was strong to start the dive but subsided as the day went on. Divers from across Texas witnessed large snapper, octopus, schools of spotfin butterfly fish, damsels, arrow crabs, queen triggers, blennies, Atlantic spades, and grunts. Seas were nearly flat as divers enjoyed one of the best days of the season so far.
June 19, 2008
Under nearly ideal conditions, Troop 52 splashed down on the Texas Clipper today. Visibility was 80 - 100 feet and the Clipper could be seen from just 5 feet below the surface. As the M.V. Diver 1 approached the dive site, those onboard were witness to a pod of dolphin that stopped by to check out who was dropping in on their feeding station. The dolphin hung around and made a few passes by the divers in the water and then moved on. Divers were treated to juvenile jacks, large barracuda, arrow crabs, butterfly fish, snapper, damsels, banded shrimp and an octopus.
June 18, 2008
Troop 52 made the trek out to Seana's Rig and dived under the best conditions of the season. 80+ feet of viz in cobalt blue water, seas were a meager 1 - 3 feet. The viz was good enough to see from one end of the rig to the other and beyond. Numerous barracuda, amberjack and snapper were seen along with an abundance of macro life that included blennies, damsel fish, sargeant majors, and the rare sight of a juvenile queen angel fish.
June 17, 2008
Boy Scout Troop 52 from Lakeway, Texas encountered moderate 2-4 foot seas and cobalt blue water with visibility of 60+ feet on the iron reef, Little Sara. They saw schools of juvenile Sergeant majors, schooling amberjack and grey snapper. Also two resident octopus made an appearance for the Troop. Currents were strong coming out of the south, but not strong enough to deter the scouts.
June 15
Divers were greeted with 1 - 3 foot seas and blue water on a trip out to Little Sara. The current was strong near the surface, however, divers were led down to 50 feet where the current subsided and visibility was 60+ feet. Divers were enveloped in schools of lookdowns, red snapper and Atlantic spades. An octopus was seen hiding out in a crevice of the rig jacket and an eagle ray could be seen swimming below the divers at approximately 80 feet.
June 14
Tons of Steel Dive.
Under 3 to 5 foot seas divers visited the Texas Clipper and the
Dolphin rig. Octopus lair and Octopus were found inside the
promenade. Visibility on the first dive was around 30 feet above the
thermocline. Second dive was still awash with fresh water from
the Mississippi. On the third dive some two miles away out to the
Dolphin rig we found blue water and dolphins played with the divers
underwater.
June 12, 2008
Seas were moderate with 3-5 foot seas and currents were coming out of the west. Numerous trigger fish were seen along the aft rails along with schools of juvenile amberjack, damsel fish, atlantic spadefish and butterfly fish. Visibility varied greatly between dives and averaged around 20 feet. Divers completing a Technical Wreck Penetration course observed an octopus in the bar area of the Clipper. Next dive is Saturday June 14.
June 9, 2008
Under heavy seas with a long wave period ( 9 seconds), divers from Austin and Dallas penetrated the Texas Clipper through the promenade this morning and laid new line. Visibility on the Texas Clipper was around 40 feet today and Currents were running out of the west. Very large red snapper are coming to the wreck as well as sightings of file fish.
The reef stars aft of the promenade are now beginning to hold very small butterfly fish and damsels.
Next dive is 06-11-08
May 31, 2008.
Sea conditions were 2 to 4 feet with a 5 second interval. Water temperature was 79 degrees to 70 feet. From 70 feet to 136 feet there was a thermocline where temperature dropped to 67 degrees. Visibility at 65 feet was around 50 feet horizontally. Schooling four eye butterfly fish, ling, sergeant majors, red grouper, dolphin, and lots of game fish were observed. Jonathan Wilson (served on the Clipper) led the way to the quarter deck, mess hall and galley (with tile floors) and then aft to "Sherwood Forrest". Dolphins were observed feeding on a large bait ball around mid ship and schools of small gray snapper were seen just above the observation wing.
American Diving
- Call 956 761 2030 for Dive reservations