#65
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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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