Galveston, Texas, United States

West Flower Garden Bank

West Flower Garden Bank is the larger and more frequently visited of the two coral-capped salt domes that gave Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary its name, sitting about 12 nautical miles west of East Flower Garden Bank in the Gulf of Mexico. The reef crest rises to about 17 metres below the surface and supports the same dense, healthy coral cover as the eastern bank: massive boulder star, brain and great star coral form the matrix, with Caribbean reef fish weaving through. Coral spawning here is one of the most studied annual events in the Gulf, occurring eight nights after the August full moon. Manta rays from the resident northern Gulf population are reliable summer visitors, whale sharks aggregate August to September following spawning, and scalloped hammerhead schools come in over winter. Other regulars include large green moray eels, queen triggerfish, French and queen angelfish, schools of creole wrasse and resident goliath grouper. Visibility is usually 25 to 35 metres. Liveaboard only.