GULF OF MEXICO – Oil is visible on the surface of the ocean near the source of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Coast Guard aircraft are continuously flying over the Gulf of Mexico to find locations of heavy oil on the ocean surface and communicating the coordinates to vessels so they can skim the oil. Due to a variety of conditions oil can shift from one area to another over night which requires constant overflights by Coast Guard and other federal, state and local agencies. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Walter Shinn.