We are interested in hearing about your trip to the Flower Garden Banks!
Sanctuary staff and researchers can't be on site as much as they'd like, so we really appreciate reports from recreational divers like you. We've posted signs on the charter boats and left supplies of reporting forms on board for your use. If you'd prefer, you can download the report forms from our website - just
print off, fill in, and return to:
Emma Hickerson
Research Coordinator
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
4700 Avenue U, Building 216
Galveston, TX 77551
The information we are looking for:
SHARK & RAY OBSERVATIONS
What kind are you seeing? How many? What sex are they? How big are they? Where did you see them? When? If you spot a manta ray, and are able to get a photo or video of the underside, we can compare it to other images and reports. Individual manta rays can be identified by the characteristic spot patterns on their bellies. As many as 35 individual rays have been identified at the FGBNMS by TAMU researcher, Jeff Childs. If you are lucky enough to see a whale shark, we are interested in receiving images of their dorsal and tail fins and the area above their pectoral fins - the spot patterns can help identify the individual animals. We are keen to find out whether these animals are the same ones visiting other Caribbean areas such as Belize and Mexico.
SEA TURTLE OBSERVATIONS
Again, what kind, what sex, how big? Where? When? Resident loggerhead sea turtles are often encountered resting under ledges. Many of them have barnacles on their shells which can sometimes be used to identify individuals, so if you are close enough for a shot of the animal's shell (carapace) from the back, we'd appreciate you sharing it with us! Please take great care not to aim your lights or strobes directly into the face of the turtles. A lovely little hawksbill lives at Stetson Bank, and often visits divers. "Swimmy", as we like to refer to this animal, has been living on Stetson since at least 1999!
OCTOPUS & SQUID OBSERVATIONS
Cephalopod researcher, Jenn De Bose (University of California - Davis) would love to hear about any squid and octopus you come across. Please note location, time of sighting, size of animals, and how many are in a each group (squid).
OTHER SIGHTINGS
We are always interested in hearing reports on just about anything from people who have just been on a trip (i.e. water conditions, visibility, cool animals). If you'd like to send an email to tell us about it, please feel free! Just type Trip Observations on the subject line, so we know why you're sending it.
In particular, let us know if you see:
- Spawning by ANYTHING!
- A weird type of coral you didn't think we had, such as Acropora (elkhorn or staghorn)
- An invasive species of coral, such as orange cup coral
If you see any of these things, please get a heading and distance to the closest mooring so that we may document your finding.
Observing these fabulous creatures is an awesome experience, but don't get too carried away in the moment. Please keep in mind that we are more concerned with the animal's welfare and comfort level, than we are in getting super close-up shots! Also think about your safety when you are considering getting the shot (e.g. that whale shark may be too shallow in the water column for a safe ascent to get close). And, as always, take pictures, but don't touch or do anything to change the direction or movement of the animal, or its behavior.
