$25 bucks a pop to go diving in Texas is outrageous to me. When I first went to Athens Scuba Park and heard their fees I nearly walked out and left. Especially as I could freedive nearly the whole pond.
I used to run the local trips for the TAMU scuba club, and here's where we dive. We've got cheap mastered to a science.
Windy Point. $5-15 per person to get in. This varies between weekdays, weekends, if you are a DM or instructor, or depending on the owner's mood. I've been reimbursed by him when the weather sucked. I think the high rate is a weekend one, when the owner has a headache.
Mansfield Dam. $5 per diver. You can also set up a $5 night dive, where they let you in after the park closes. It's $15 to camp.
Lake Whitney. $5 per person.
Comal River. Free, or you pay to get into Landa RV Park. They have special diver rates if you ask them $5 per person/day.
Lake Amistad Reservoir. Free, but you really need a boat to get anywhere useful.
Possum Kingdom. $10 per diver per day. They have freshwater crabs... I'm dying to find out what species they are.
San Marcos River. Free. There's a string of public parks near the freeway. Just park cars at both ends and you're home free.
Blue Lagoon. $15 per person per day. We find this rather steep, but it's the closest site to College Station.
Coleto Creek Reservoir. $7 per VEHICLE per day.
Canyon Lake.?? It's cheap at any rate. I can't get their fees straight since the place is a series of little parks. Somebody help!
Twin Lakes. $12 per diver per day. Too bad about the trees...
Port Aransas/Mansfield/South Padre Jetties. Free but you have to get DOWN THERE.
Offat's Bayou (Galveston). Free.
Aquarena Springs. Free (after you take and pass their class). They even refill your tank for repeat dives!
Moody Gardens and Texas State Aquarium. Free, but you have to join their dive programs.
For more info, you can check out our handy dandy "aggie guide to texas diving" (written by ME) here at... http://scubaclub.tamu.edu/divespots.html
I used to run the local trips for the TAMU scuba club, and here's where we dive. We've got cheap mastered to a science.
Windy Point. $5-15 per person to get in. This varies between weekdays, weekends, if you are a DM or instructor, or depending on the owner's mood. I've been reimbursed by him when the weather sucked. I think the high rate is a weekend one, when the owner has a headache.
Mansfield Dam. $5 per diver. You can also set up a $5 night dive, where they let you in after the park closes. It's $15 to camp.
Lake Whitney. $5 per person.
Comal River. Free, or you pay to get into Landa RV Park. They have special diver rates if you ask them $5 per person/day.
Lake Amistad Reservoir. Free, but you really need a boat to get anywhere useful.
Possum Kingdom. $10 per diver per day. They have freshwater crabs... I'm dying to find out what species they are.
San Marcos River. Free. There's a string of public parks near the freeway. Just park cars at both ends and you're home free.
Blue Lagoon. $15 per person per day. We find this rather steep, but it's the closest site to College Station.
Coleto Creek Reservoir. $7 per VEHICLE per day.
Canyon Lake.?? It's cheap at any rate. I can't get their fees straight since the place is a series of little parks. Somebody help!
Twin Lakes. $12 per diver per day. Too bad about the trees...
Port Aransas/Mansfield/South Padre Jetties. Free but you have to get DOWN THERE.
Offat's Bayou (Galveston). Free.
Aquarena Springs. Free (after you take and pass their class). They even refill your tank for repeat dives!
Moody Gardens and Texas State Aquarium. Free, but you have to join their dive programs.
For more info, you can check out our handy dandy "aggie guide to texas diving" (written by ME) here at... http://scubaclub.tamu.edu/divespots.html
