chrpai
Contributor
Everyone is aware of the whole "support your local dive store" mantra and why that may or may not be in your best interest. However, I'd like to highlight and encourage your to support your local dive operation instead.
IMO, as much as I love Texas, I think we all know it's not graced by God with the best diving in the world. But it's local and what we have available. I'd hate to lose it.
Here in the Lake Travis area we have 2 dive boats ( Lake Travis Scuba and Cat Nickell's unnamed boat ) doing charters, Windy Point, Mansfield Dam, Bob Wentz public and a certain shore diving location which is private now.
I get the vibe that Bob Wentz is unfriendly to divers. Mansfield is friendly but a hike down the hill. Richard over at Windy Point is a nice man with a simple life style but the tax burden he is facing to support his land rich, cash poor budget is putting a serious strain on him. I can't speak to Robert and Cat but they both have full time jobs and are out there every weekend devoting their free time to what they and we love.
We know the M/V Spree relocated for business reasons ( someone correct me if I'm wrong ). And the word I've heard from multiple sources is that the M/V Fling has had to cancel trips due to not having enough bookings.
So I guess what I'm saying is, while I don't believe in corporate welfare, do take count of the blessings we have. If you have never dove locally and never want to dive locally, I get that. If you've wanted to give it a try, or if you've done it and would like to do it more, try to support these local operations because I feel like they really do contribute a lot to the local diving community.
Now I need to go talk to my wife about getting some $ together for the M/V Fling. It's shameful that I've lived in Texas for 10 years now and have never been out to the Flower Gardens.
IMO, as much as I love Texas, I think we all know it's not graced by God with the best diving in the world. But it's local and what we have available. I'd hate to lose it.
Here in the Lake Travis area we have 2 dive boats ( Lake Travis Scuba and Cat Nickell's unnamed boat ) doing charters, Windy Point, Mansfield Dam, Bob Wentz public and a certain shore diving location which is private now.
I get the vibe that Bob Wentz is unfriendly to divers. Mansfield is friendly but a hike down the hill. Richard over at Windy Point is a nice man with a simple life style but the tax burden he is facing to support his land rich, cash poor budget is putting a serious strain on him. I can't speak to Robert and Cat but they both have full time jobs and are out there every weekend devoting their free time to what they and we love.
We know the M/V Spree relocated for business reasons ( someone correct me if I'm wrong ). And the word I've heard from multiple sources is that the M/V Fling has had to cancel trips due to not having enough bookings.
So I guess what I'm saying is, while I don't believe in corporate welfare, do take count of the blessings we have. If you have never dove locally and never want to dive locally, I get that. If you've wanted to give it a try, or if you've done it and would like to do it more, try to support these local operations because I feel like they really do contribute a lot to the local diving community.
Now I need to go talk to my wife about getting some $ together for the M/V Fling. It's shameful that I've lived in Texas for 10 years now and have never been out to the Flower Gardens.