Platforms in the Gulf of Mexico are a
favorite dive site for adventurous SCUBA divers. This
production platform (HI389A), located just one mile east of
the East Flower Garden Bank, is home to a diverse and rich
biological community - more so than others in the Gulf, due
to the close proximity of the Flower Gardens. In the winter
months, hundreds of juvenile silky sharks can be observed
circumnavigating the platform. It is suspected that
platforms in the Gulf of Mexico are responsible for several
new species found at the Flower Gardens - e.g. the
yellowtail snapper, and sergeant major. During the juvenile
stages of these species, they require a habitat close to the
surface. As they mature, they drop down to deeper habitats
such as the Flower Gardens. With the introduction of many
thousands of oil and gas platforms, comes the required
habitat for fish such as the yellowtail and sergeant major.
(photo: Frank and Joyce Burek)
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