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Steve_C · 31-05-2018, 17:47

Just a really short video of a dive around an oil rig about 40 miles off the coast of Texas near Port Arthur. If you have ever wondered how much life is drawn to and lives around an oil rig this should answer that!

There are LOTS of Red Snapper in the video but we were there a few days too early for the season so we ended up with just video.

That is my dad driving the boat, he is 90 years old and the boat is over 45. Along with myself we had two of my sons and my nephew. Great Day on the water!

https://youtu.be/xXDLfWNLZIA

Steadman Uhlich · 31-05-2018, 18:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve_C

Just a really short video of a dive around an oil rig about 40 miles off the coast of Texas near Port Arthur. If you have ever wondered how much life is drawn to and lives around an oil rig this should answer that!

There are LOTS of Red Snapper in the video but we were there a few days too early for the season so we ended up with just video.

That is my dad driving the boat, he is 90 years old and the boat is over 45. Along with myself we had two of my sons and my nephew. Great Day on the water!

https://youtu.be/xXDLfWNLZIA

Howdy Steve!

I never thought I would say this about an oil rig video: Beautiful! Very nice video, very good choice of music for the scores of fish. Amazing to see the large number of fish and variety. I was also surprised to see so many fish and no vegetation on the platform (I am used to seeing Pacific Kelp). I will share the video with friends. Cool that the skipper is still boating at his age too. Bravo!

I can now see why fishermen like to fish those rigs! And why fishermen like artificial reefs placed offshore.

https://youtu.be/xXDLfWNLZIA

Thanks for sharing the video here, as I really did enjoy the peaceful music and seeing the fish.

Pauls · 31-05-2018, 18:41

Nice. Thanks for posting.

NYSail · 31-05-2018, 19:48

The same about the windmills off block island.

Fence Man · 31-05-2018, 19:57

Very nice. Thank you for sharing.

Steve_C · 01-06-2018, 03:57

Thanks for all the comments! It is great to still spend time with my dad doing what he loves.

I think its what keeps him going

There has been a big effort to remove a lot of the old rigs that are not in use and the ones in deeper water are being removed down to about 65 feet and the bottoms left in place as an artificial reef. The amount of life around them is truly astounding. The water here on this one is only about 55 ft deep. The shallow water extends further offshore at the Texas- Louisiana border than anywhere in the USA. Of course as you go further out the water clarity gets much clearer.

There is a National Marine Sanctuary about 100 miles out that is called the "Flower Gardens" https://flowergarden.noaa.gov/welcome.html
It is on the edge of the continental shelf and comes up to within 65 ft of the surface. The first time I dove there was in the early 1980's and the visibility underwater was over 300 ft.

Thanks again for the positive comments

Dougtiff · 01-06-2018, 09:46

Having been an Oilfield Diver for 20 year's, based out of Singapore, the video brings back memories, it was interesting to see the change from no sea life to abundant, once the guide base and blow out preventer was establashed, along with the conductor, the big pipe that goes from the bottom to the fig, the Grouper would move in to the B.P,, because of the nooks and cranies, and the Red Snapper would take up station , swimming vertically up and down the conductor, we would shoot fish each day for the cook, this is back in the 70'S and 80'S.

SweetTeaSailor · 01-06-2018, 19:04

Lovely. Almost surreal with the music THEN at 2:12, a stunning snapper glides into the frame. Does make my wonder what kind of attention you’d get if you had started banging fish! May I inquire what camera equipment you use? ��

Steve_C · 01-06-2018, 20:47

The above water shot was just my phone, an LG V30. Below was a GoPro 6.

This was my first video! I am heading to Cozumel on Sunday for a week with my sons and nephew and wanted to start capturing some video.

Franziska · 01-06-2018, 23:41

Nice video! Especially for a first timer.
What's the music? It's very nice and fits well.

Keep on filming!

Steve_C · 02-06-2018, 05:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franziska

Nice video! Especially for a first timer.
What's the music? It's very nice and fits well.

Keep on filming!

Thats Gabriel Yared from the City Of Angels Movie Soundtrack

After putting the shots together is just seemed to flow and really needed something that fit. And I just happened to have that album

hzcruiser · 03-06-2018, 05:41

Very nice, thanks for sharing!

Not sure though if the guys on the rig would be overly impressed if a 10+ ton sailing boat comes right up and drops some divers in the water?