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Greg - 7/15/2013 12:22 PM 
Gulf diving in Texas is not as great as diving in Florida. However, in Texas...most divers dive inland:
http://www.divebuddy.com/divesites_search.aspx?State=TX
South of Houston you have 288 Lake and Mammoth Lake. North of Houston you have the Blue Lagoon (most popular in Houston area). You can drive to Austin and dive Lake Travis, Canyon Lake, Comal River, San Marcos River and Aquarena Springs. You can drive to Dallas and dive Clear Springs Scuba Park or Athens Scuba Park.
And there are plenty of divers in and around the Houston area that you can buddy up with:
http://www.divebuddy.com/scuba_earth.aspx?Location=Houston%2C%20TX%2C%20USA
Let me know when you get here and I’ll make sure to include you when we organize local dives. We are going to Clear Springs Scuba Park near Dallas this Saturday (July 20th).
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Greg - 7/15/2013 12:23 PM
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I wonder if Greg has ever dove in the Lone Star State? LOL
When we were at St Thomas VI, they make it near impossible to shore dive. They want you on a boat, motor out a few minutes and dive with a DM. The shores drop off to 40-60 feet really quickly too so I just couldn’t understand (other than making extra money). In Texas, I wouldn’t be surprised if the swim from shore to a half decent dive is impossible - so boats are a must. (I could be wrong.)
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yeah boat rides are almost 2 hours to some in TX (for viz mostly)
I heard spearing is excellent there though, esp around the rigs. Don’t know the seasons/how it works though but I guess I’ll figure it out. I’m pretty amateur at spearing but def would continue if I link up w some nice guys.
Cheers y’all!
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Inland quarry/spring diving is different, but it can also be good. Don’t expect vis like you’re used to though. If I get 20 foot vis it is a great dive and this 6-10 has been common.
This is "real" inland diving too, not Florida inland diving. I’ve dove the springs in Florida and we don’t get that kind of vis around here. :-)
My wife feels that learning inland, in cold water, with limited vis has made her a better diver and she enjoys going to places with "good" vis better now.
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True that!! I learned in quarries in VA and West VA - viz was length of your arm. And in dry suits, so cold. Def makes a braver/better/more appreciative perhaps, diver, LOL
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I like seeing fish and corals, so this is what I am sad that I am not going to be able to have living in Houston :-(
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sk290 - 7/15/2013 10:11 PM
You could be in Cozumel in an hour and a half (by plane) and dive cheap. Best dives ever!
Sandra
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Greg - 7/16/2013 6:17 AM
From Green_Achers: In Texas, I wouldn’t be surprised if the swim from shore to a half decent dive is impossible - so boats are a must. (I could be wrong.) There is no Gulf shore diving in Texas. Water is too murky and there is nothing to see anyway. You need to go 10 -15 miles off shore to get to decent water. We also have the Texas Flower Gardens, but that’s usually a full weekend boat trip as its 100 miles off shore. Costs around $550 for trip to the Flower Gardens. So just get ready for more inland diving with average 10 feet viz. But hey, at least you can get wet.
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aio - 7/17/2013 1:36 AM
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Dutch - 7/17/2013 4:56 PM
There is diving to be done an hour offshore or less by going to Port Isabel. Otherwise, Cozumel is cheap for the most part. Lake diving is okay but will not be what you really want after FL diving. Springs offer some solace though not much as most either have restricted access or no access.
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Funny b/c I have a good friend who has settled down near Cozumel so guess I could incorporate a visit at the same time. Thanks :))
I’ll look up Blue Lagoon too :))
no dive buddy for me in Texas though :((
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Greg - 7/19/2013 6:30 AM
From Lanie247: no dive buddy for me in Texas though :(( Not true at all, there are tons of divers listed on DiveBuddy from Texas. You are sure to find a buddy when you need one. Just get to Texas as quickly as possible first, then organize a trip and post on the calendar, forum or send a few direct messages to nearby members. While the majority of our diving is low viz...Texans love to get wet as much as any diver :)
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See my handle... Texas diving!
I moved from Merritt Island, FL. to Houston many years ago and never looked back. Going from surfing and diving Cocoa Beach and Sebastian Inlet to the muddy coast of Texas was a shocker at first, but I found some very cool places to get wet.
The coast is much different here, but there is still plenty of diving to do. As the guys stated above, it will be more inland diving for you now unless you travel. You will find out, but just going from one end of Houston to the other is a trip. Well, anywhere in Texas pretty much, so get use to "traveling". In Texas when people ask how far Austin is from Houston, we tell them "just down the road a bit". FYI, travel time is around 3 hours if you are rolling.
Places to check out:
1- Mammoth Lake http://www.mammothlakescuba.com/index.html
I dive this sand pit often. Check out the dive area map on the site. I put this site as my #1 due to how close it is to me, the things they have sunk out there (C-130 cargo plane) as well as, the facility (dive shop, air fill, gear, support, etc...). Multiple entry points and they all have a covered deck with tables.
2- The Blue Lagoon http://www.bluelagoonscuba.net/
I only dive this site when I have my kids begging me to take them here to swim, and to keep up with skills and work with new equipment (lift bags, line reels, etc...). Not much to see, but fun place nontheless.
3- Windy Point Park (Austin, TX.) http://www.windypointpark.com/scuba.asp
Obtained my Advanced Open Water here. This is an interesting place to dive. I have not been here in a while so one of the others may be able to fill you in more. This is a flooded valley (not many natural lakes in Texas) so you can get to recreational dive limits, but be warned that you can be black water diving very quickly if not mindful of the bottom and overhanging tree skeletons that are silted over. BIG catfish here. Multiple sunken boats and things for divers. Camping and night diving also.
There are other smaller lakes around, like 288 Lake mentioned above, but they are smaller with not much to see. Better than nothing at all I guess.
When you make it to Houston and need a buddy give us a shout! Diving Mammoth Lake this weekend and I will post some pictures.
Regards,
Ken
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