Diving Trips and
Dive Opportunities

When you, your family and friends plan to take that private excursion to an exotic location, Scuba Houston can make all the arrangements. To make your dream vacation hassle free, let our travel professionals help set your next trip up to virtually any place in the world. For more information on these or other trips, please call us at (281)497-7651 or send us an e-mail today. E-mail

COZUMEL, MEXICO - 2008

February 8th - 12th with Sergio (Great Trip)
(click date lines for information brochures)

April 11th - 15th with Gordon (Presidente)
(click date lines for information brochures)

With visibility regularly exceeding 150 feet, smiling, helpful local people and underwater scenery that rivals anything on earth, it's no wonder that Cozumel, Mexico is a favorite destination for Scuba Houston divers. Cozumel is only a two-hour flight from Houston. Experienced Scuba Houston trip leaders escort all the groups. Our Cozumel trips include five days four nights lodging at the 5 star El Presidente Hotel, the Fiesta Americana Hotel or the Casa Mexicana Hotel, air travel from and to Houston, hotel transfers in Cozumel, two trip leaders (group size 16) and diving with one of the leading operators in the country. For more information on these and other trips, please call us at (281) 497-7651 or send us an
e-mail today.

BONAIRE, NETHERLAND ANTILLES- 2008

July 12th - 20th with Gordon (Plaza Resort)
(click date lines for information brochures)

TRIP CANCELLATION & PRICING

If it becomes necessary for you to cancel your place on a trip, your money will not be refunded until the trip runs full.  Prices & dates on trips are subject to change. International trips canceled due to weather, acts of God or circumstances beyond our control will not be refunded. We strongly recommend you purchase trip insurance.

RIG DIVES

2008 SCHEDULE TO BE POSTED SOON

Click for more information on Rig Diving

AQUARENA SPRINGS

Trips and Scientific Diver Class run monthly

Next Scientific Diver Course - Call 281 497 7651 For Dates

Located in San Marcos. Maximum depth is only about 30 feet but the visibility is usually great - about 50 to 60 feet. Upon completion of a Scientific Diving Course, you can return to Spring Lake to assist the University (SWTSU) with caring for the springs. Temperature is always cold-usually between 65 to 70 degrees. Dress appropriately. Bottom is nicely covered with a variety of plant life. Turtles and fish can be seen and the sand bubbles on the bottom because of the springs.

BLUE LAGOON

The Blue Lagoon is an old limestone quarry located near Huntsville. Visibility on a good day is between 20 to 30 feet. Because of the high pH factor the lagoon won't support fish but there are some boats that were sunk some years ago that give you something to look at. A little imagination and you can almost convince yourself that you're somewhere tropical. The Lagoon is an ideal location to practice you diving skills and work on new advance courses.

TWIN LAKES

Twin Lakes is a training facility for divers located South of Houston. There are two sand pits that are full of clear water (5-30 foot vis). It has 6 docks, 4 underwater platforms, sunken boats and a bus.

CANYON LAKE

Located near San Marcos. Popular site for dive shops to go for open water check out dives and certification. Visibility is not that great but on a good day it's tolerable. Because the lake is over 100 feet in depth, some shops use it for deep diving certification.

LAKE SAM RAYBURN

One of the best kept secrets for scuba diving in Texas. Located just north of Jasper. A large deep lake was formed by damming the rivers running into this basin. Visibility in the shallower water is about 30 feet on a good day. There are numerous islands to explore and the rock outcroppings and drop offs make for good scenery. Watch for large bass and catfish among the old submerged trees and stumps. Temperature gets a little nippy at depths of 30-40 feet and below, so dress accordingly.

LAKE TRAVIS

A favorite dive spot in Texas is Lake Travis. Located just outside Austin, the lake offers numerous sites that are easily available to the public by car or by boat. It is a large, deep lake formed by damming the Colorado River and is a water persons paradise. Power boating, sailing, water skiing, swimming, sunbathing and almost any type outdoor recreation can be enjoyed (Including nude sunbathing and swimming at Hippy Hollow). Visibility in the shallower water is about 30 feet on a good day. Heavy traffic stirs up the silt on a busy weekend. Be sure to gear up accordingly for deeper dives as the temperature can be as low as 60 degrees at 70 or 80 feet, even in the summer. Lots of boat traffic on this lake, so be careful.

POPULAR DIVESITES:

LCRA Park at Mansfield Dam - Diving along the shoreline will give you a variety of conditions depending upon where you enter the water. Near the boat ramps it's a gradual decline. If you enter downstream closer to the dam, it's more like a wall dive. You can hear the noise from the turbines but they are out near the center of the dam.

McGregor Park (Hippy Hollow) - This is a clothing optional area ! OK, so you've been warned. You have to walk a ways from the parking lot but it's not that far. Most of this area is shallow but offers a view of large boulders and a lot of small fish.

Scuba Park - Private park. Call (512) 266-2933 for information on membership. Good diving location. Several large boats have been sunk and attract some rather large fish. Area is well marked and buoyed to keep boats away. Picnic tables and shaded rest areas.

Windy Point - There are two parks at Windy Point. One is a public park ( Bob Wentz Park ) if you enter on the left. Inexpensive but crowded. If you go to the right, you'll enter Windy Point Park. This is a private park with on site air fills, showers, etc. Gradually sloping bottom makes for easy entrance and exit. Visibility is a problem in the shallow areas but it gets better below about 35 - 40 feet.

OASIS

20 - 30 foot deep rock quarry located about 16 miles West of Denton. Open to the public with a $10 per day fee for divers and $5 for swimmers. Submerged platforms, boats and semi-tame catfish to around 10 - 15 pounds. Air is available at Island Divers on University in Denton.

POSSUM KINGDOM

Possum Kingdom is located about an hour an a half north west of Fort Worth. It has been a popular North Texas dive site for many years. PK is comparable to Lake Travis in all factors except temperature. PK usually runs 5 to 10 degrees cooler than Travis. There is a great dive site, beach accessible, at Scuba Point. Air is available at Scuba Point Dive Shop. Camping, fishing, boating swimming and scuba diving are all available at PK.

ATHENS SCUBA PARK

Athens Scuba Park is nestled in the small town of Athens,TX. It is located just outside of the town square in an abandoned clay quarry. The park has many sights to see but lacks "abundant" fish and plant life due to the high pH of the spring fed quarry. The park offers a full service dive shop on-site with a bar/grill style eatery. The staff is very friendly and knows how to have a good time. As far as the diving goes, there is a lot to see such as airplanes, motorcycles, boats, and buses. The profile ranges from up to 35 feet with average visibility of 30 feet, however the silty bottom is easily stirred up. The average water temperature ranges from the high 80s in the summer to the low 50s in the winter. The park is only for divers which means no boats, jet skis, or fisherman to contend with and offers a safe place to practice and hone in on skills. The park also offers the normal amenities of a training facility such as seven under water platforms, easy entry docks, showers, and on site camping. Athens Scuba Park (903) 675-5762

SEVEN AND A HALF FATHOM REEF

There is more written about this place than there are divers enjoying it. It is seldom visited because of its location. Here one will find lots and lots of fish, a great spearfishing honey hole. You know you've found the spot when you drop the anchor and you notice all the triggerfish everywhere. Once underwater though, you will find that it is home to all kinds of other critters also!

BALMORHEA STATE PARK

Along with motel-type accommodations, the park's main attraction is a large (77,053 sq. ft.) artesian spring pool that is open daily and fed by San Solomon Springs. The springs also fill a 'cienega' (desert wetland) and the canals of a refugium, home to endangered species of fish, assorted invertebrates, and turtles. The pool differs from most public pools in several respects: the 1 3/4-acre size, the 25-foot depth and the 72 to 76 degree constant temperature. It also has a variety of aquatic life in its clear waters. With a capacity of more than 3 1/2 million gallons, the pool has plenty of room for swimmers, while offering a unique setting for scuba and skin diving.

LAKE AMISTAD

Amistad is a large, clean, deep reservoir with many excellent dive locations. However, as with any fresh water lake, the visibility varies according to the season and location. You can expect visibility of 30 to 50 feet in the spring, and 15 to 25 feet in the summer. Water temperature varies from about 58 degrees in the winter to 85 degrees in the summer. The shoreline is almost always a steep bank or bluff. The main channel is 100 feet to 150 feet all over the lake. This can often be accessed within 50 yards or less of the shoreline.

Lake Amistad is maintained by the National Park Service as the Amistad National Recreation Area . Their web page is located at http://www.nps.gov/amis/. There are several nice boat ramps, picnic and fishing areas, dry camping, and a marina. The marina is operated privately as Lake Amistad Resort and Marina http://foreverresorts.com/amistad.html (830 774 4157). They have boat rentals from deck boats up to large houseboats that sleep 14 people with full kitchen, bathrooms, and air conditioner.

COMAL RIVER

The Comal River, said to be the shortest river in the United States, rises in a number of large springs in New Braunfels in southeastern Comal County (at 29°43' N, 98°08' W) and flows southeast for three miles to its mouth on the Guadalupe River, also in New Braunfels (at 29°42' N, 98°07' W). It has a number of small islands in its upper reaches, and its course crosses an area of the Balcones Escarpment characterized by low relief surfaces and moderately deep to deep sandy and clay loam soils that support live oak and Ashe juniper woods.

Most of the land around the river has been developed by the city of New Braunfels or has been converted to cropland. The Comal was called the Guadalupe by some early Spanish explorers, two of whom, Domingo Ramón and the Marqués de San Miguel de Aguayo,who knew the river in its lower regions. The name Guadalupe was still used as late as 1727, but after Pedro de Rivera y Villalónqv identified the longer stream as the Guadalupe, the shorter was given the name Comal, Spanish for "flat dish," for the landscape along the riverbed.

The abundant and reliable flow of the Comal provided power for the early industry of New Braunfels-gristmills and sawmills as well as flour and textile mills. With the development of alternative sources of power after 1900, much of the property along the banks of the river was converted to municipal parkland, including Landa Park and Prince Solms Park.

This river offers a fun dive site for training and the all important Trash Fest in October.

LAKE WHITNEY

The 1280.7-acre Lake Whitney State Park was acquired in 1954 by a Department of the Army lease and opened in May 1965; the state has control until 2003. The park is along the east shore of Lake Whitney west of Hillsboro in Hill County, and after the changing of the lake level, totals 955 acres.

History: The park is located on Lake Whitney near ruins of Towash, an early Texas settlement inundated by Lake Whitney. Towash Village was named for the chief of Hainai Indians, who moved into the area in 1835.

Activities: Activities include camping; hiking; mountain biking; picnicking; boating; fishing; swimming (buoyed area - no life guard on duty); scuba diving; water skiing; nature study; and excellent birding.

ATLAS MISSILE SILO

It is an abandoned missile silo located near Abilene, and is open by appointment only. You have to have a guaranteed group of about 10 people, because it has some technical aspects to it. They require divers have at least an advanced certification, unless it is an advanced class under the direct supervision of an instructor. Mostly, it is cold and dark, and you must climb down a 25 ft. ladder to get in the water. Visibility is maybe only 100 feet. You can almost see to the bottom. (130 feet) The water is ground water that has seeped in over the years, through 10 to 13 feet of concrete. So it is extremely clear until people start stirring up the sediment.

THE REEF

The Reef is a training facility for divers located in South Houston. This is a sand pit that is full of clear water (5-30 foot vis). It has 6 docks, 4 underwater platforms, 24 sunken boats and 3 buses.

LOST LAKE

Lost Lake is a training facility for divers located in Southwest Houston at Hwy 6 and Hwy 288.. This is a sand pit that is full of clear water (5-30 foot vis). It has 1 dock and several beach entries, 1 underwater platform, and a few wrecks. This facility has potential with several boats and other artificial reef materials at its banks. The owners would like to make an underwater park, but need assistance.

DIVE TRIP PARTIES

PRE-TRIP PARTIES

A couple of weeks before each trip, Scuba Houston sets aside one evening in our class room for our pre-trip parties. This is where we get together the trip leaders and trip participants so everyone can meet and find out just what they can expect on their upcoming dive trip. We furnish the food and drink. This is a great way for everyone to begin their vacation.

POST TRIP PARTIES

A few weeks after we return from our trips, we have a post trip party. Your trip leader will contact you and give you the time and place. This is to let travelers get together and swap photos, stories and laughs. For more information, please call us at (281) 497-7651 or send us an e-mail today.

TRIP CANCELLATION & PRICING

If it becomes necessary for you to cancel your place on a trip, your money will not be refunded until the trip runs full.  Prices & dates on trips are subject to change. International trips canceled due to weather, acts of God or circumstances beyond our control will not be refunded. We strongly recommend you purchase trip insurance.