TexasMike
Contributor
The Texas Swamp Diving Team would like to invite everyone in the Dallas/Ft. Worth and North Texas areas to come dive with us this weekend at the Athens Scuba Park in Athens, Texas. This will be one of our largest group dives yet with at least 15 divers in attendance (we started this with only 6 people just 13 weeks ago!), so if you are looking for a fun group to dive and hang out with, please join us. Divers of all skill levels are invited, and new divers are especially encouraged to attend.
Athens Scuba Park will be holding their annual luau while we are there. This means that there will be added Hawaiian flavored fun including games, a limbo contest (extra points for doing this with your fins on), and a catered Hawaiian dinner ($10.00 per person). Also, Calvin will be having an underwater treasure hunt where some lucky divers can win some waaay cool gear (last time I was there, a teenager won a $500 u/w metal detector).
For those not familiar with Athens Scuba Park, this is an old clay quarry that used to produce materials for a brick making plant. The quarry spans about 6-8 acres of water with an average depth of 20 feet (though there are spots of 23 and 25 feet). Many have reported low visibility at Athens, but lately it has been upwards of 30-40 feet. There are several underwater attractions including a C140 Lear Jet, a houseboat once owned by Clint Eastwood, a tour bus used by Ray Price, several cruiser boats, and much more. Water temperature this time of year is a balmy 80-degrees so just a minimum of exposure protection is required.
A full dive shop is on the premises for air fills ($5.00), gear purchases/rentals and repairs. Hot showers are in the bathrooms. And there is plenty of shade for us to sit in. Park admission fee is $25.00/day for each person (both divers and non-divers). Camping is available. A map and directions to the park can be found their website. Or I can provide directions if needed.
We will be diving off of Dock #1, but if you tell them you are with us, the shop personnel will direct you to the right place.
I plan on arriving Friday Night and camping through the weekend. I also will be doing night dives on Friday and Saturday if you want to join me for that and have never done one (everything takes on a spooky appearance at night).
For more information, please e-mail me at dcas2000@hotmail.com.
We look forward to seeing you there!!!
--TexasMike
Athens Scuba Park will be holding their annual luau while we are there. This means that there will be added Hawaiian flavored fun including games, a limbo contest (extra points for doing this with your fins on), and a catered Hawaiian dinner ($10.00 per person). Also, Calvin will be having an underwater treasure hunt where some lucky divers can win some waaay cool gear (last time I was there, a teenager won a $500 u/w metal detector).
For those not familiar with Athens Scuba Park, this is an old clay quarry that used to produce materials for a brick making plant. The quarry spans about 6-8 acres of water with an average depth of 20 feet (though there are spots of 23 and 25 feet). Many have reported low visibility at Athens, but lately it has been upwards of 30-40 feet. There are several underwater attractions including a C140 Lear Jet, a houseboat once owned by Clint Eastwood, a tour bus used by Ray Price, several cruiser boats, and much more. Water temperature this time of year is a balmy 80-degrees so just a minimum of exposure protection is required.
A full dive shop is on the premises for air fills ($5.00), gear purchases/rentals and repairs. Hot showers are in the bathrooms. And there is plenty of shade for us to sit in. Park admission fee is $25.00/day for each person (both divers and non-divers). Camping is available. A map and directions to the park can be found their website. Or I can provide directions if needed.
We will be diving off of Dock #1, but if you tell them you are with us, the shop personnel will direct you to the right place.
I plan on arriving Friday Night and camping through the weekend. I also will be doing night dives on Friday and Saturday if you want to join me for that and have never done one (everything takes on a spooky appearance at night).
For more information, please e-mail me at dcas2000@hotmail.com.
We look forward to seeing you there!!!
--TexasMike
- What: Texas Swamp Diving Team invades Athens
Where: Athens Scuba Park, Athens, TX
When: Saturday, August 25, 9:00am till ???
Cost: $25/person for park entry, $5.00 per air fill, catered dinner $10.00
What to bring:- Yourself
- Dive gear
- Money for admissison and air fills (and dinner)
- Towel
- blue tarp to lay your dive gear on
- Folding chair (some extras will be brought if you forget)
- Cooler with water and snacks
- Photos of recent dives (if you have them)
- Your favorite dive related story to share with us
- Sense of adventure and humor
