Balmorhea

[TGR]

total time in car....16 hours

hotel, gas, food, and rental/air.... 500.00

scratching an itch in warm, clear water.... priceless!


Just got back from the springs and it was great, me and the wife got some practice in before the trip to Coz. in a few weeks.

We stayed in the El Oso Flojo Lodge for 80 bucks a night and I will def. be back, clean and comftorable!

The water was great, and besides the fish and turtles, we got to watch the bluebills feed and some other water bird chasing the fish (I dont know what they were but not water turkeys).

Im not a swamper but didnt know where else to post this so here it is.

 

[driftwood]

First, welcome to the swamp and Scubaboard.

If you liked Balmorhea you should try Diving for Science : Aquarena Center : Texas State University . A lot closer than west Texas and the water is just a clear.

 

[TGR]

Thanks, been looking at Aquarena for awhile and its def. on the list for this summer. How does it work exactly, take a course then volunteer for ceratain projects?

 

[driftwood]

You have to take a two day course. The first morning consists of the various regulations relating to diving in Spring Lake. That afternoon, you have to demonstrate some pretty basic buoyancy skills in a training area. There is an evening dive where you tour the different sites in the lake where you will work on your volunteer dives, I am one of the dive leaders for the 26th class. Sunday morning you will be assigned a site to "work".

After you have competed the class, you apply for a dive time and date. Approval is pretty automatic (but strictly required) and you are good to go. Sign in and get your assigned task. No one gets to dive the lake without an approval form.

Best part is that once you are certified to dive Spring Lake, no admission fees, you can get your tank filled for free after your dive and since the lake in a constant 72 degrees, year round diving in Carib vis water. Given the $230 cost of the course, after 10 two tank dives, you are money ahead just counting admission and air fills.

In your case, cut 4 hours off the drive time each way for great diving.

 

[richerso]

Congratulations on diving Balmorhea! Glad you had a good time!

Where exactly is the El Oso Flojo ?? I need to know these things.

 

[TGR]

Thanks for the info driftwood, El oso flojo is on the west edge of Balmorhea, you can't miss it. Oddly the park is actually 4 miles away in Toyahvale, neither town is very big but have everything you need to get by. The owners of the lodge (I'm guessing they were) are really friendly and pointed us to they're restaurant next door which had good food.

Disclaimer: My wife and I are NOT picky people and as long as the place is clean and well kept we're happy, just thought I would add this after reading some of the reviews on tripadvisor about it. Some people just can't be pleased I guess!

 

[TwoBitTxn]

Some of the more common water fowl you will see there are Lesser Scaup, Ring bills, and Common Grebes.

 

[dgreenh]

El Oso Flojo is very clean, nicely decorated and friendly, my wife loves it. The restaurant next door is the only place in town to eat and they are closed on Wednesdays. Breakfast burritos can be had at Juan Carrasco Mercantile on the main street. They also have an unusually large selection of beers.

There is also Rodriguez Groceryhttp://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...sg=AFQjCNEKOBDYW8g6xeJWXXh2z5yhvnL9kA&cad=rja in Saragosa a few miles away on highway 17. They make a good hamburger and Mexican food. We usually stop there and grab a burger for the road on the way home.

Just some random information about the Balmorhea area.

 

[Longshot270]

Balmorhea and that area of west Texas is worth the drive if you find things to do. There is a lot of history out there. I've been to Balmorhea twice and can't wait to find an excuse to go back.

 

[Avonthediver]

I think the best part of going out that way is not only a dive oasis but the ft. Davis Mountains.
their is a great park their with the McDonald Observatory for star gazing. And for a great place to stay nothing beats the Indian Lodge!

Lots of great memories out their!