Only those fisherman which became divers to spearfish really enjoyed the secretes of Texas Gulf Diving. In 1989 with the Flower Garden gaining Boats and tours to the Flower Gardens and Charter Boats started running regular trips to Oil Rigs did the sport of Diving Texas Gulf really get going. In the upper coast there has yet to be a party type charter boat which can carry 10 to 20 people to arrive. The major problem is that of new type venture of Four hundred Thousand dollars to One-Million dollars to get an operation into full swing. Not many banks or venture capital groups will take the risk on this type venture due to attitude of dive shops not getting enough profit and will turn people against that option.
Most dive stores are profit orientated with hobbie type attitudes which hurt the industry in Texas.
Not providing the foundation to grow the industry, even though Texas is the Fourth largest state certifing divers. Diving in the Texas Gulf can be rewarding fun with great marine life that can not be seen in the quanities any where else in the world. Adventures to Rigs, ship wrecks and the banks will be awesome experience if you dive with experienced season dive guides who know where, when to dive and when to cancell a dive due to tides, currents, waves or potiential weather problems and even water tempature. A good website for learning about the Texas Gulf and Rigs is BoatDive Charters which has ten years of diving Texas Rigs and photographing the marine life off shore. Usually one needs to start watching the weather about 5 days before a trip in the Gulf of Mexico.