Gulf Shores Al. Trip

[jfg]

Well, we made it back home in one piece. Unfortunately, I never got to dive while there, the water was brown, vis at 6' if lucky. My kids had a ball at the beach though. Spent time playing in the surf and sand with them so the trip was not a total loss........

On a good note, I met Gary at." Gulf Shores Divers". He and his wife were very nice and informative. I hung around his shop for a good while just talking and asking questions and kinda making a plan for my next time down. I hope to be certified with a few dives under my belt by then. May try to make it down in October if all goes well.

Man, I didn't realize there were so many oil rigs around there. Do you guys dive those rigs around Dauphin Island? I dis see one boat with three divers,(two guys and one girl), at Dauphin Island. Looks like someone did some diving. The water wasen't pretty though.

[gulfdiver]

Thanks jfg,
Sorry you didn't get to get wet, maby next time. The water and rain have been a Bitch for all of us.
Good to meet You and hope to see Ya again soon.

Gary @ Gary's Gulf Divers. Orange Beach, Alabama.

[jfg]

Gary,
We wound up leaving out Wednesdeay evening and getting home early Thursday morning. We talked about returning in October and if all goes well, I will look you up again hopefully for a day trip.
Thanks again for your hospitality.
Jim

[fishbait]

sorry about vis. I dive the rigs around to about 10 miles out. have not done any this year due to wife having cancer. normally use my own boat, 28 ft searay cruiser that Isleep on. Vis. is norm. good 40 ft to bad 1 ft this can be to your advantage. Grouper spook easly when water is clear. when diving the rigs, if vis. is bad you can move to another area if weather is ok. I love the rigs, all types fish, tye off place,and if sink the boat a place to sit and wait to be picked up. its all good!!!!!
:D

[jfg]

Hey fishbait,
hope your wife is fairing well and all will turn out well with her.

You have a ton of rigs to choose from there. When we went over to the island, the water was brown and no viz. I bet it is a blast diving there. How deep is that area?

Lord willing, maybe you will get to start diving again soon, I certainly hope so. Take care my friend.

[fishbait]

Thanks for your cocern. Rocky road to a remition no cure, but lots of hope . Never seen it very clear around D.island . better shore diving around orange beach and perdido pass area. Their is a wreak dive off orange beach, in about 11 to14 ft dept. slight swim from shore but nice free dive area. jettys are great in the spring for sheephead nice fish and good eatting fish to learn how to spearfish on.

[fishbait]

Also you might check out flounderwear.com these guys do alot of spearing in mobil area.

[jeffe]

http://www.flounderwear.com/bluefish.html
Man are some of those blue fish aggressive sometimes !

[Murphy's Law]

The vis is not the greatest this year, but you can still get some good dives further off shore. The vis is still tolerable and the spearfishing out of Dauphin Island is great this year for me. We still manage to go just about every weekend and shoot a limit weather permitting. Hope your next trip will be better.

[jfg]

Thanks for the tips and information guys. I hope we get to come back down into that area in October. If so, I should be certified by then and a few dives done. Hope to get to stay under when I come back.

hey Murphy's Law, when we went to island, the water was kinda murky, I believe it was Monday last week. I did see three divers that day though. Didn't talk to them, we were waiting to get on the fairy boat. I would of liked to pick their brains a little. It did look like a good area to dive in.

[Murphy's Law]

The water is normally murky year round out of Dauphin Island. Once you get about 10 to 15 miles south the water is much better to dive. Plenty of Gas Rigs with a lot of fish on them. Hope your next trip is better.

[gulfdiver]

We went to the east this past weekend and dived the YDT Navy Boats and the Peat Tide, Vis was 55ft on the YDT Boat and 40 on the Peat Tide. 24 miles from Alabama Point.

[diver1]

We went out of Dauphin Island on this past week on Thursday and the vis out about 15 miles was excellant. Once below the 15ft murk level you could see the bottom in 90+ ft of water. We dived on the Anderson and shot our limit in snapper and AJ's and then went to the Enron rig and got several good flounder.

If you dive the Anderson be carefull, ran into an 8 ft Bull, he was a little more interested in me that I like and had to entice him to go away with the tip of a spear.

Viz has been getting better every week, If we can just get rid of the rain it will improve greatly. Come see us if you get back down this way in Dauphin Island. 251-665-0005

[jfg]

Thanks for the invite diver1, I'm keepin my fingers crossed that we get to come back in October.

[capt nate]

usually the farther out from Dauphin Island you go the better the vis gets, and its not unusual to have a layer of dirty water on top but clear water below, especially with all the rain we've had. It has been exceptionally clear below the murk layer in 130 + feet. We dove a wreck everyone calls the "Sub"(its not) in 165' two weeks ago, you could see 1/2 the wreck and its a big one.
the rigs are great but don't ignore the wrecks, even the public ones. And there are tens of thousands of private wrecks that a good captain can find.
My websites www.offshorealabama.com and I can provide more info. We have had the king of the Alabama Open Spearfishing Rodeo on my boat 3 out of the last 5 years and if they keep the cajuns away (not my idea guys) we will do it again.

[Murphy's Law]

Better listen to Cpt. Nate, he knows what he's talking about. I can say they win off his boat every year. Good Diving///

[jfg]

10/4 on that!