Galveston Shore Dives

[dakaraiconchobhar]

Does anyone know of any decent places to shore dive in and around Galveston?

 

[cb5150]

There are none. Sorry, but the waters around the coast of Texas are very silty with essentially zero viz.

 

[bamafan]

I was working in Galveston for about a year and only a few times did I ever see the water along the seawall even remotely clear. They don't even allow swimming close to the entries. I went out spearfishing several times and you had to go 30 miles or so offshore to even get into halfway clear water. I was out driving around one day and drove past a scuba park just northwest of there. I never went and don't remember the name but I think it was also an even park. Every chance I got I just drove to Mariana, Fl. and went cave diving. It is a 10-11 hour drive. The closest shore diving spots I know of from there are the jetties in South Padre Island, Tx and the jetties in St. Andrews state park in Panama City Beach, Fl. There are a few dive boats that make day trips out to the rigs around the area and there is a liveable that goes out to the Flower Gardens. I didn't go to the Flower Gardens so I can't say anything about them but I definitely wasn't impressed with the diving there. Of course I went to Truly Lagoon during my stay there so my perspective is probably skewed.

 

[TMHeimer]

Yeah I've seen the same thing at the seawall. You can get a couple of spots in Alabama (Gulf Shores & Perdido Pass), Pensacola area (Ft. Pickens for one) and Destin, FL jetty. Of course the inlets are subject to vicious tide currents (diurnal tides) and must be dived at or near slack tide. Definitely NOT worth a drive from Galveston IMO.

 

[Earl Grey]

You can jump in Offat's Bayou from the boat launch on 61st Street if you really want. There is about 6" viz. I've done it once and that is enough. If you are on the island, stop by or call Island Divers Galveston and they will be able to point you in the right direction.