Dive Sites in Central Texas

[Cr.padlo]

Howdy!

I am part of the Texas A&M-College Station Scuba Club. Lately we have been going to the same basic dive sites, usually Blue Lagoon and Athens Scuba Park, but occasionally the Comal River to drift a bit...What recommendations do you have for sites in Texas? We are located in college station, but we are up for a road trip and/or overnight camping if its a longer drive!

The majority of our divers are only open water certified, but we have a range including several advanced open water certified, a few rescue certified members and a dive master candidate. Any suggestions for dive sites? Thank you in advance!!

 

[ToyZuki9615]

The Fling does trips to the Flower Gardens out of Galveston. Several operators also run rig trips in the Gulf, Captain Beard Charters is a good one.

Aquarena Springs is near the Comal, but you have to take their course to gain access. Amazing diving and well worth it.

 

[pepperbelly]

Clear Springs Scuba Park is near Terrell.
It has several things to dive on including an airplane fuselage and a sailboat plus several platforms.
It is cool even in summer. You will need a wetsuit. It is spring fed and I have sern near 50* in August at the bottom.
They have a fill station and camping.
They have a website but I am on my phone and linking is hard.

 

[pepperbelly]

The surface might be 85* but there are 2-3 sharp thermoclines. Visibility can be variable.

 

[Cr.padlo]

I'm from Chicago...what do you mean by *sharp* thermocline? I'm used to diving in a 7mm!

 

[Cap335]

Lake Travis either Windy Point Park or Mansfield Dam

 

[pepperbelly]

I'm from Chicago...what do you mean by *sharp* thermocline? I'm used to diving in a 7mm!

Abrupt thermoclines. Last August when I was last there it was 80-85 from the surface to 15'. At 15' it dropped to about 70 and was 70 from 15-24'. From 24' to 25' it dropped from 70 to 60. They are a sharp enough difference that we use them to control depth when practicing navigation.
I dove in a 5/4 and was comfortable, but if you want to go in the silo to 60' you will want a hood and gloves. It was 50* on the bottom of the silo with less than zero vis.

Their website has a link to current conditions including temps at different depths.

 

[stretchthepenn]

I used to dive at Balmorhea State Park. It's only 20' at max depth and is a bit of a drive from College Station...but it exists, and there's onsite camping available. Oh...and if you're into fish, it hosts an endangered species. Balmorhea State Park — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

Another interesting West Texas location is Dive Valhalla, outside Abilene. It's a flooded Atlas missile silo. Here's a link to the dive shop that owns the place: Family Scuba Center - Scuba Diving, Diving Instruction | Midland, TX

 

[James R]

laketravisscuba.com - boat dives to lots of sites you can't reach from shore

 

[Moor3061]

2nd for laketravisscuba. I really enjoy it being an awesome way to score sunglasses, jewelry, boat anchors, etc.