GO SCUBA DIVING IN CORPUS CHRISTI AND EXPERIENCE THE LOCAL MARINE LIFE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

What better way to experience the local marine life than by scuba diving in Corpus Christi. If you have never scuba dived before, it is a totally different world when you are under the water. It's amazing to see the life that flourishes beneath the waves.

DIVING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO
Always dive with a dive buddy.

When I was twenty one I received my scuba diving certification. A mentor of mine is a long time scuba diver and has done a tremendous amount of scuba diving in Corpus Christi. He had a good friend that use to be a diving instructor in Corpus.

So, he set up a private class with a few other people. I took the course and passed my diving test. I did my open water dives at the Jetties in Port Aransas. My final course dive was done at one of the rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. It is located about seventeen to twenty miles offshore.

We left early in the morning and spent the whole day in the gulf. We were diving in about sixty to seventy feet of water. I enjoyed all of my dives and had the opportunity to see many exotic fish. Diving the rigs is a great way to go scuba diving in Corpus Christi. These habitats provide for some amazing fauna. Luckily there were no sharks swimming around.

RIG IN GULF OF MEXICO
Photo courtesy G Scott.

It turns out that I did quite well that day, considering that I was diving with much more experienced divers. I was diving with experienced diving instructors and a former Marine Recon guy. I did what my mentor told me to do, which was to listen.

I listened to what my mentor taught me about always keeping your gear together and bundling it up as to not loose anything. Well, it just so happens that one of the experienced dive instructors did not "package" his gear the way you are suppose to. It is best to bundle your gear within your BC in order of use. When we were ready to go on another dive the instructor was searching for his mask. Apparently it was knocked off the boat by accident.

So, while my friend and I were enjoying our next dive, the instructor and the Marine were "fishing" for masks on the bottom of the ocean floor. Needless to say, they never found the mask. That's about $100 bucks or so right there. It was a more costly adventure for the experienced diving instructor that day. Always be mindful of yourself and others when you are diving.

MAP OF THE FLOWER GARDENS
Great for scuba diving.

If you are not certified in scuba diving and would like to learn, Copeland's (Texas' Oldest Dive Shop) offers scuba diving courses. You will be certified in the SSI Basic Scuba course. They offer dive trips and dive gear as well. Do yourself a favor and get certified so you can experience scuba diving in Corpus Christi.

Copeland's offers gulf rig dives, dives to the Flower Gardens, and dives worldwide! They often sponsor trips to Aruba and Bonaire. These islands are located off the coast of Venezuela. Copeland's is located on South Padre Island Drive, near Weber.

Whether you are an experienced diver or a novice, scuba diving in Corpus Christi will bring you a wealth of memories that are sure to last. Divers come from all over to experience rig diving in the Gulf of Mexico.