Reminds me of an experience I had in the late 70's.

At the time, I was a flight instructor out in a Cessna 150 with a student. We were manuevering near Bayou La Batre, Alabama (south Mobile county). I saw an unusual convective area offshore and we went a few miles closer to take a look. From the clouds came a shimmering ribbon that grew into a classic waterspout. We watched it from a safe distance for a short while until it dissipated.

Of course, when you have triple waterspouts associated with convective lines of a hurricane, it's potentially far more dangerous. And those folks on the rig can't get out of there!

Allyn