Dive Report: Aquarena Springs

[-=>Larry<=-]

Hi Folks,
I don't know how many of you are "Scientific Divers" at Aquarena Springs - - - but I've been doing that for a couple of years and thouroughly love the 70 degree water year round combined with the thought that I might actually be doing something usefull with my dives!
Todays dive was eventfull mostly in that I got in! - They've been having difficulty with keeping dive coordinators and the State and the University are sparring over the rules about who can go in and do what etc.....
My task: accompany a biology student on her picture taking expedition and both of us were to weed out some hydrilla from some of the springs near the headwaters. [TXMike: I could see HER hand in front of her face - 20 feet away!] - saw the normal assortment of gar, turtles, bass, etc.... I generally enjoy rooting out hydrilla, just because I hate the stuff! - I know it's all futile, but I still enjoy the release!
Ah yes - for those of you that volunteer here - the new coordinator is Bridget Clark [BC50667@swt.edu] - - - she sounds quite eager and accomodating compared to the last couple - so I have my hopes up!
Dive Safe - Cheers!

 

[Dee]

Sure wish we lived closer to Aquarena Springs, I'd love to do the dives there. Maybe next year....

 

[-=>Larry<=-]

scheduling has been challenging lately, both to do volunteer dives and [presumably in your case] to do the required class to reassure them that you'll not stomp endangered beasties, or raid the place for arrowheads!

As spring diving [as opposed to swamp diving] is one of my joys - may I also highly reccomend Balmorea?? This spring is every bit as good diving as Aquarena, you just replace the scheduling issue with needing to do a 300 mile drive into west texas. I sort of enjoy the thought of diving in the desert though!

Cheers!

 

[Iguana Don]

Larry,

BillP, one of our long time members, dives Aquarena Springs on a regular basis. You might contact him and set something up.

I've thought about taking a trip out that way and signing up for the class, sounds real interesting.

Where is Balmorea located?

ID

 

[-=>Larry<=-]

Actually - That's where I met BillP! - who led me to Divelink - which led me to Dee - who led me here!
In fact - part of the tone of the message was aimed at Bill, we had one failed attempt to dive Aquarena [late August?] and then one that came through beautifully in Sept.

Balmorea! Get out your TX map and look for the biggest expanse of nothing that you can find - That's where it is! More specifically, just off I-10 near Ft. Davis [~150 miles short of El Paso!] I will also reccomend the night trip to the MacDonald Observatory, since your just downhill from it! LAst time I was there, we got to watch the shuttle land - WOW!

Cheers

 

[Damsel Fish]

I live in Austin too. I am always ready to make a dive ....

I would love to go to Balmorea.

 

[-=>Larry<=-]

Sounds good Cat! One can't have too many local Dive Buddies! I'm a little booked for the moment - but maybe we can put together a group for a late winter outing!

Thanks!