WHAT WILL I SEE?

 Typical Dive

A typical dive at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary begins with a leap into crystal blue waters.  Upon submerging, you are immediately greeted by several barracuda keeping a watchful eye.  Schools of chub and jack may also pass through the area.

Looking down, you can already make out the reef 60 feet below.  Huge coral heads stretch as far as the eye can see.  You can’t see much detail at this point, but don’t worry, there’s plenty to see.  Just keep diving…

As you approach the top of the reef you start to see all of the fish hovering near the coral heads, waiting to duck for cover should the need arise.  There is so much coral, about 51% coverage, that it’s often hard to find the fish—they have so many places to hide!  Bluehead and yellowhead wrasses, schools of chromis and creolefish, and a variety of damselfish are the most prevalent atop the reef.  Also keep an eye out for butteflyfish, parrotfish and groupers.  Under the ledges you’ll find squirrelfish, pufferfish, eels and lots of crabs, shrimp and mollusks.

As you cruise over the reef, pausing to look under ledges and between formations, you eventually arrive at one of the open sand flats.  This is where you may find an occasional nurse shark or sea turtle resting.  Southern stingrays like these areas too.  Stay still for a while and you’ll find that the barren looking sand is actually full of life, as small fish hang just above the bottom, well camouflaged from predators.  Some animals even burrow into the sand to make their homes.

But, don’t forget to look up occasionally.  You might miss a passing manta ray, spotted eagle ray or shark.  These large animals pass over and around the reef as silently as stealth bombers.  If you’re not looking at the right time, you may never know they are there!

On your way back to the surface, keep your eyes open.  You never know what you’ll see floating by you or cruising beneath you.  Even at your safety stop, there’s plenty to watch.  There’s never a dull moment at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.

Want an idea of how many different plants and animals you could see? Ever wonder what types of creatures might be lurking in the nooks and crannies? You can download a list of the species (240kb pdf) that live within recreational diving depths (down to 130 feet) of the sanctuary.

Special Events 

While everything you’ll see at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary is pretty amazing, there are some events that truly stand out.  Here are a few extra special events… 

Schooling Hammerhead Sharks

In the early part of the year (January through March) it's not unusual to see large schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks.  Scientists don’t truly know the reason for this seasonal schooling, but have noted that it’s a regular occurrence in this part of the Gulf of Mexico.  They’ve also noted that all of the sharks appear to be male.

Schooling Eagle Rays

Spotted eagle rays are also known to school in and around the Flower Garden Banks NMS during the early part of the year.

Whale Shark Sightings

We wouldn’t go so far as to say that whale shark sightings are ever “common” in the Flower Garden Banks NMS, but they are definitely not out of the question, especially during July, August and September.  They seem to prefer the calmer surface conditions typical of that time of year as they cruise along gulping great quantities of plankton.  Scientists are hoping to attach acoustic tags to whale sharks in the sanctuary in an effort to learn more about their ranges and activities.

Coral Spawning

Every year, about 7-10 days after the full moon in August, usually between 9 p.m. and midnight, several coral species of the Flower Garden Banks NMS participate in a mass spawning event.  At this time, coral heads release their gametes into the water column where they can mix and fertilize, later becoming larvae that settle to the bottom and start new coral colonies.  It’s like an underwater snowstorm, in reverse!

Manta Rays

While there is no special time to expect manta rays at the Flower Garden Banks NMS, it is still an awesome experience to see.  These large rays glide over the reef, often swooping and turning, to capture plankton in their large open mouths.  Distinctive flaps on either side of the mouth let you know that they are in fact mantas, and not stingrays.  Research has already shown that there is a resident population of mantas, but scientists are now attaching acoustic tags to various mantas learn more about their ranges and activities.