OW check out dives- best location

[TXreefer]

Hello all. From DFW. The last lake dives I did in Texas was my certification dives in 1995. We travel to the Caribbean mostly.

My father wants to get certified and I was wondering the best place locally to do the OW dives- clear springs, blue lagoon, or another?!

Thanks, TB

 

[DandyDon]

San Solomon Springs at Balmorhea State park is 470 miles from there, but such a nice training site: huge pool with cement banks but natural bottom & springs, clear water usually around 72F, 20 feet deep, hot showers in the dressing rooms, nice motel on site, a short drive to town for cafes. West Texas instructors love it, but your Dallas instructors probably won't go that far.

There is a shallow quarry in Athens with a scuba park your local instructors probably like better.

 

[electrix]

Clear Springs or Athens unless you want to drive to Balmorhea which is very nice.

 

[dannod1948]

Hello all. From DFW. The last lake dives I did in Texas was my certification dives in 1995. We travel to the Caribbean mostly.

My father wants to get certified and I was wondering the best place locally to do the OW dives- clear springs, blue lagoon, or another?!

Thanks, TB

Talk to International Scuba in Carrollton they go to New Braunfels where the water is 75.

 

[TXreefer]

Thanks for the info!!

 

[Teller]

Talk to International Scuba in Carrollton they go to New Braunfels where the water is 75.

I am assuming you are referring to the Comal. I am curious if instructors are certifying OW students at this site. I was there about three months ago hoping to find a new site to conduct my checkout dives during the colder months for my students however the deepest spot I was able to find was 12'. That is a bit short, at least to NAUI standards as I understand them. Is anyone using this site for checkouts?

 

[divebudtx]

Yes they are. A buddy of mine went in the Comal recently .He was there for his OW cert.
Temps in the Comal were @70, but Lk. Travis is still cold @55. I think Clear Springs must be in the 50s as well. Anyone been there lately?

 

[Seefourdc]

I am assuming you are referring to the Comal. I am curious if instructors are certifying OW students at this site. I was there about three months ago hoping to find a new site to conduct my checkout dives during the colder months for my students however the deepest spot I was able to find was 12'. That is a bit short, at least to NAUI standards as I understand them. Is anyone using this site for checkouts?

I was certified there by a NAUI instructor. It's their "last choice" as far as sites but there aren't really a lot of options in the winter. Numerous people in 5 ml suits were still pretty cold there as the outside temp was 60's and water temp was 69. I can't imagine people who are already nervous checking out in even colder water/temps like clear springs etc. this time of year. (My waterpoof 3.5mm was toasty warm with no hood in and out of the water though.)

 

[halocline]

I have definitely seen OW cert dives in the comal. I was a little surprised that you can get certified in 10 ft of water, but apparently so. It's a decent dive spot if your alternatives are Medina lake and the San Antonio River.

 

[DandyDon]

I have only floated the Comal a couple of times, but if it's only 10 ft deep, I have to wonder?

San Salomon springs near Balmorhea is great if you can get an Instructor to go there, or train at home then get a referral to a local Instructor for there. There is a dive shop just outside of the park. The deepest spring fed cave in the US is 4 miles further, but hardly anyone can get to it - locked up to protect endangered fish and keep untrained divers out of the cave. Diver explores deep West Texas spring | Lubbock Online | Lubbock Avalanche-Journal