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Map of West Flower Garden Bank (Flower Garden Banks NMS)
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West Flower Garden Bank (Flower Garden Banks NMS)

Texas, United States
AOW suggested18–40 m (59–130 ft) depthBoat entryRash guard or 2mm shorty typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

West Flower Garden Bank (Flower Garden Banks NMS) at a glance

West Flower Garden Bank (Flower Garden Banks NMS) is an advanced boat dive site in Texas, United States with depths of 18–39.6 m (59–130 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Caribbean reef squid, Horse-eye jack, and Whale shark. Recent reports put the water around 27°C (81°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Favorable window now· until 15:00, then favorable & moderate until 18:00 · sunset 17:35

Forecast for this hour · 7:00 · run 7 h ago
1.6 m (5.4 ft)waves — about a meter and a half expected (waves — about five feet expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 27°C · seasonal avg 28°C ( · Forecast 81°F · seasonal avg 83°F)

Site hazards: Open-ocean currents and swell; remoteness (100+ miles offshore); depth; fire coral.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Lightest wind: Sat
Mon7:00–15:00 favorable, 15:00–17:00 moderate, 17:00–18:00 favorable

1.8 m waves · 16 kn wind (6.0 ft waves · 16 kn wind)

Tue7:00–18:00 favorable

1.4 m waves · 9 kn wind (4.5 ft waves · 9 kn wind)

Wed7:00–18:00 favorable

1.3 m waves · 14 kn wind (4.1 ft waves · 14 kn wind)

Thu7:00–18:00 favorable

1.1 m waves · 14 kn wind (3.6 ft waves · 14 kn wind)

Fri7:00–18:00 favorable

1.1 m waves · 14 kn wind (3.6 ft waves · 14 kn wind)

Sat7:00–18:00 favorable

1.0 m waves · 4 kn wind (3.1 ft waves · 4 kn wind)

SunNot in the forecast yet

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wave and wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 5:58 · Sunrise 6:22 · Sunset 17:35 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 2.3 km from site · updated 25 Oct, 23:28 GMT-6

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near West Flower Garden Bank (Flower Garden Banks NMS)

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Horse-eye jack, Symmetrical brain coral, Spotted moray
Best time: July-September (calmest seas, coral spawning in August); winter trips target hammerheads.

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. January, 23% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 23°C (73°F), waves have typically been 2.1 m (6.8 ft), wind has typically been 21 knots
  2. February, 40% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 22°C (71°F), waves have typically been 1.7 m (5.4 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots
  3. March, 37% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 22°C (72°F), waves have typically been 1.7 m (5.7 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots
  4. April, 39% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 23°C (74°F), waves have typically been 1.8 m (5.8 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots
  5. May, 47% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 26°C (79°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.6 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  6. June, 71% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 29°C (84°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.1 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots
  7. July, 97% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (3.0 ft), wind has typically been 13 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 96% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 31°C (87°F), waves have typically been 0.7 m (2.4 ft), wind has typically been 12 knots
  9. September, 88% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.2 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  10. October, 47% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (83°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (5.1 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  11. November, 43% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 26°C (79°F), waves have typically been 1.7 m (5.4 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  12. December, 48% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 24°C (76°F), waves have typically been 1.6 m (5.3 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots

July has typically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life seen at this site

Species noted at this site — not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

The underwater calendar

When these animals are most recorded around Gulf of Mexico — from open sighting data, not a promise.

Watch the whole year animate on the Migrations map

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km (16 mi). Know one? Add it to the map.

Data updated June 2026

Site details

The western of the two coral-capped salt domes in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, about 110 miles off Freeport and 12 miles from East Bank. Its reef cap (roughly 60-100 ft) carries the same dense boulder star and brain coral cover, with deep sand flats and reef margins sloping past recreational limits. Dived from liveaboard charters on sanctuary mooring buoys, usually combined with East Bank and Stetson Bank on 2-3 day trips.

boatreef

Open-ocean currents and swell; remoteness (100+ miles offshore); depth; fire coral.

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