Central Texas newbie diving

[ThatGalJes]

My husband and I are new to diving (as in I completed my first two dives in Lake Travis this morning; yes it was fuh-reezing with no booties or hood) and I am pretty freaked out about not having much visibility. Does anyone know of some central Texas places, that two new divers can go for a few short dives and be able to see. My DM/instructor (he didn't do classroom, but did help me with my dive due to my severe aversion to not being able to see) was super awesome, but I want to be able to be comfortable diving, just my husband and I, and need to work up to low visibility. Are all the lakes around here that bad? Should I plan on a trip to the coast, would that be better?

Thanks!

 

[buton]

Blue lagoon in Huntsville....good viz..no Maine life ...

 

[driftwood]

You might want to try the Comal River. The water will be a lot warmer and the vis is good.

 

[NAM001]

BLUE LAGOON IAS GREAT PLACE. Near Huntsville only perhaps 25-30 deep it gets nearly like pool water.

My husband and I are new to diving (as in I completed my first two dives in Lake Travis this morning; yes it was fuh-reezing with no booties or hood) and I am pretty freaked out about not having much visibility. Does anyone know of some central Texas places, that two new divers can go for a few short dives and be able to see. My DM/instructor (he didn't do classroom, but did help me with my dive due to my severe aversion to not being able to see) was super awesome, but I want to be able to be comfortable diving, just my husband and I, and need to work up to low visibility. Are all the lakes around here that bad? Should I plan on a trip to the coast, would that be better?

Thanks!

 

[beaverdivers]

Welcome to SCUBAboard!

Give Cozumel a go, you'll be hooked forever.

 

[Teller]

Clear Springs Scuba Park in Denton Tx isnt too bad. South Padre has some pretty good diving as well.

 

[tadawson]

Clear Springs in Denton? The only clear springs I know of is in Terrel . . . and the vis is not that great. If there were a facility in Denton, I can't imagine why none of the local shops use it . . . .

Clear Spring Scuba Park is "clearly" different

- Tim

 

[grantwiscour]

Your post made me smile and laugh a little when I read it. I know exactly how you feel. My OW training was at Clear Springs. The last dives on the second day of training were 1'-3' viz and I didn't like it a bit. I was getting panicky but kept the DM in shadowy view and made it through. Diving since then has been much better...don't let that part scare you off.

For local diving there are plenty of fun options for y'all. We use diving as a nice way to visit other parts of Texas...and eat BBQ. Throw the scuba gear and a suitcase in the Jeep and some bicycles on the back and head out for the weekend.

I second drifitwood's recommendation on the Comal River. Not far from Austin, it is shallow, clear and easy to dive. The viz will be much better. Water temp is @ 70-72 degrees year around. Put in at the stairs above the tube shoot, swim upstream and then ride the slow drift back to your entry point. There are plenty of fish to see.

The closest places for fills that I know of are The Dive Shop in San Marcos and Duggan's in University City. After diving, ease over to Cooper's for some BBQ or on Fri night McBee's BBQ for All You Can Eat Ribs.

When the water starts to warm up there are some nice sites at Canyon Lake. Duggan Diving has some nice maps here: Duggan Diving :: Diving the world

I have also heard that there is good diving in the San Marcos river but we haven't tried it yet. When Aquarena Springs opens back up there will be diving opportunities there as well.

Clear Springs in Terrell and Athens Scuba Park in Athens are ok. I say "ok" but we dive them quite a bit. Viz not great bit we still go. If the water was just a little warmer I'd be diving now. It's a great way to work on buoyancy/trim, safety and emergency procedures, navigation (you get good using your compass in lower viz situations), gear, etc. all the while developing your confidence.

Around here, if we are going to do much diving we have to dive locally. It's not Belize but it is still diving...and can be lots of fun.
I have video of Clear Springs, Athens and the Comal River on my youtube channel: grantwiscour's Channel - YouTube Take a look for some viz examples.

If you braved Lake Travis in Feb, I can tell you that the diving only gets better from here. You can dive locally and enjoy it.

Dive safe and welcome to Scubaboard...maybe we'll run into each other at a dock somewhere.

 

[ThatGalJes]

Thanks a lot for all your suggestions! I am planning for Blue Lagoon sometime in the early summer. We did our final two checkout dives today in the Comal. It was so much warmer than Travis yesterday although after all the rain, the viz was worse in the main river, but some of the shallow tributaries made for a great 5th leisure dive/snorkel. We're planning on trying to go back after spring break. I am now an open water diver. Yay! That was one of the biggest goals of mine for 2012 and I was able to acccomplish it in February. Oh, and we did happen to eat at Coopers afterward, grantwiscour-it was pretty good!

 

[driftwood]

I have also heard that there is good diving in the San Marcos river but we haven't tried it yet. When Aquarena Springs opens back up there will be diving opportunities there as well.

I haven't been in the San Marcos River in years so I am sure things have changed. The last time was in '07 and the spring flow was around 400cfs. There was a ripping current. The problem I have with the San Marcos is that the plants are too thick. Vis may be 50' but you might only be able to see a few feet in front of you. Great river to dive for "treasure" since people have been throwing/losing things there for centuries.

Tom's is organizing a trip to Balmorhea in May, Balmorhea. Diving doesn't get any easier. Talk with Warren, owner of Tom's, and he may be able to set up a buoyancy class while you are there. A buoyancy class is probably the best money a new diver can spend. You can make a really good trip out of it. The road from Balmorhea to Fort Davis is one of the great drives in Texas. The Marfa Lights are worth a couple of hours. You can stop in Senora on the way back and tour the cavern (great Mexican food restaurant on the left after you exit I-10).

If you are going to do a lot of local diving, the Diving for Science class at the Aquarena Center, Diving for Science : Aquarena Center : Texas State University, is a bargain. Once you are certified to dive in the lake, I figure a breakeven point around 15 dives. (no entrance fees and AC will fill your tanks after your dive) Aquarena is currently closed for habitat restoration, Habitat Restoration Progress : Aquarena Center : Texas State University. The estimate for completion is June, so expect a July or August reopening.