The Texas Gulf can be fun and relaxing if the Moon and Tides are made part of the DIVE PLANNING. The moon has 21 days to its rotation around the earth. The angle of the earths axes determines the gravitational pull of the moon on the surface waters. If near the equator, polarity is small, however if you are far north like Iceland the tidal currents can be very high and strong. The change in seasons is a result of the earth rotating on the axes and results in changes in the tidal levels. The Moon's angle to a region or body of water and the phases of the moon, determines the time length and strength of a tide change. Some days there are two to five tide changes in a day. The time length between changes and the amount of water exchanged will determine the currents underwater and the visibility one could expect.

In The Gulf of Mexico of Freeport and Galveston tidal currents can be moving one direction on the surface. This is the affect of winds blowing over the surface creating the surface current. Next is the gulf stream current which move northward and easterly trying to return to the Atlantic Ocean. This specific current changes the most in the Spring time. Next is the true tidal current on the bottom and results in the change in visibility the most. If the strength of one current is higher than the others, it will result in a very strong current in the whole water column. This is why the gulf rig and wreck diving off the upper Texas coast can play tricks on the unsuspecting diver. Dive s which are best are in third quarter, this does not mean other days can't be good. This means the 16th day of a moon phase usually results in the whole water column having the least amount of suspended particles and visibility is greatest.

Understanding of Artifical Reef Ecology
Elements of Understanding Artifical Reef Communities
Texas Artifical Reefs Oil Rigs How to Dive them and Observe
Texas Artifical Reef Marine Park & VA Fogg Wreck : How Dive them and Observe
Understandng the Texas Gulf: Planning Dives with Moon phases & Tides.
Diver Awarenesss: Texas Gulf and Posionous Marine Life
Nationial Marine Sancturay: Flowergarden Banks
Texas Gulf shelf and 36 banks
Seven & One-half Fathom Reef
Texas Ship Wreck Act and History
The Ship wrecks of 1554 Port Mansfield
The ship wreck of the USS Contitution 1864: Galveston Jetties
The Discovery of the La Salle's Ship in Matagordia Bay.
Spearfishing the Texas Gulf Rigs
The Return Of the Turtle to Texas Beaches: History & Farm
The Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network
THe Hypersaline Lagoon Under Attack : The Laguna Madre & the battle between development.
Charter Boat Mall
Form for Registing Charter Boat

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Web site first created 14 March, 1996