Aug 01 2008
Posted by CyberCelt under Camping, Family Fun, Kayak/canoe/tube, Lakes, RV Travel, Rivers, Scuba/Snorkel
San Marcos River Has Many Swimming Holes
I was going to update my posts about swimming holes, but then I saw that Texas Monthly magazine has done all the work for me.
Springs Eternal <- click to read about the Top 25 swimming holes in Texas.
Be Cool <-click to view multimedia slide show of Texas swimming holes,
Jun 25 2008
Posted by CyberCelt under Beach, Birding, Family Fun, Fish/Hunt, Kayak/canoe/tube, Nature, RV Parks, RV Travel, Scuba/Snorkel, Wildlife Watching
Port Aransas
Port Aransas is an island paradise tucked away on the Gulf Coast, reached by car ferry from Aransas Pass or by driving up Mustang Island from Corpus Christi. Port Aransas is the only town on Mustang Island and inhabits 8 miles of the 18-mile long barrier island. Everything moves on Island Time in Port Aransas, so relax and enjoy all that this Texas treasure has to offer.
The bays, jetties and deep Gulf waters offer the finest fishing around. Take an excursion for sport fishing, spearfishing or scuba diving. Grab the Jetty Boat to St. Jo Island for a few hours or the day. Sign up for a sunset cruise, a gambling or a dolphin encounter.
Visit the Fennessey Ranch, 4,000 acres of wetlands, meadows and natural lakes for discovery and photography. More than 500 species of birds visit annually, making Port A one of the most popular birding destinations in Texas.
Rent a bike or electric buggie to zip around the town. Kayak, kite board or surf. Build a sandcastle or just lay back and relax the temperate climate. Remember, you are on island time.
RVers will love Port Aransas. Some of the RV parks in Port A are right on the beach. Others are located inland within walking distance to restaurants or on the trolley route. Some offer amenities like pools, wi-fi and cable.
Feb 08 2008
Posted by CyberCelt under Camping, Lakes, RV Parks, Scuba/Snorkel, Strange
Texas has miles and miles of coastline and as many rivers and lakes as there are stars in the sky, so you can always find somewhere close to scuba or snorkle. What you may not know is that Texas has some very unusual dives. The three in this post, Athens Scuba Park, Aquarena Center and Valhalla are about as different as night and day.
The park facilities were designed by divers for divers. The quarry depth varies from 20-35 feet, with visibility ranging from an average of 35 feet to a maximum of 70 feet. Full training is available, all ages and specialty diving certifications. All diving equipment may be rented.
Explore 30+ wrecks, from Ray Price’s Greyhound bus to a Lockheed C-140 Jet Star plane. There are boats, another airplane, motorcycles and a space capsule below the surface, guaranteed to provide hours of diving fun and to make some of the most amazing backgrounds for underwater photographers.
Amenities include 12 docks, shade pavilions, gear rinse stations, bath house, heated pool, hot tub, camping and RV hookups, sugar sand volleyball court, metal detectors, kayaks, and golf carts.
Hours
Winter (Jan-Feb) Sat-Sun 10am-5pm (call to confirm)
Spring (Mar-Apr) Wed-Sun 10am-5pm
Summer (May-Oct) Wed-Fri 10am-5pm | Sat & Sun 8am - 6pm (camp & night dive Fri & Sat)
Prices
Diver with C-card $15
Night Diving $5
Fills $5
Non Diver $15
Camping $5
Electricity $20
Declared a critical habitat in 1980, Spring Lake, the water impounded at the headwaters of the San Marcos River, is home to eight federally listed species and is governed by the rules and regulations of the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Spring Lake is also registered as an Archaeological site governed by the rules of the state of Texas Antiquities Law.
So, there is no recreational diving allowed. Aquarena’s Diving for Science program is a great way to dive in the cleanest and clearest water in Texas while helping with one of the largest habitat restoration projects in the country. The water is crystal clear and 72 degrees all year.
LEVEL 1 Scientific Diver Authorization course $220
LEVEL 2 $220
April 21 & 22 and June 9 & 10
Underwater Photography-Taught by David Eation of wetdigital.com, the training will focus on digital photography and computer editing.
June 23 & 24
Underwater Archaeology- This program will take up where Dr. Shiner left off. The two day program will be taught by Texas State Anthropology staff and include lots of diving and work underwater.
March 17 and May 19
Underwater Naturalist- Taught by Aquarena Center Staff, the training will be Aquarena/San Marcos Springs specific and the flora and critters of San Marcos System.
Note: Below the dam that impounds the lake, you may snorkle and scuba dive for miles down the San Marcos River, the natural aquarium of Texas.
Dive Valhalla
The water is 60 degrees, 130 feet deep and crystal clear. The scuba experience is enhanced by realizing that you are diving in an Atlas ‘F’ Hardened Missile Silo that used to store Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs). The silo is 60 feet in diameter and everything is 50-70 feet underground.
Dive Valhalla is not open to the general public, but dive reservations are easily arranged through Family Scuba Center. To reserve, a group must consist of an instructor or insured divemaster who will be responsible for coordinating the diving activities and maintaining safety divers ready for any problems. Dive Valhalla staff help coordinate getting the gear and divers from the dressing room level to the water and back safely, as well as doing some of the underwater photography and videography.
Divers should have prior deep diving experience, or be in an advanced or master class with this as your deep dive. Divers should be in good physical condition and habituate themselves to cold water dives in full gear. Divers from all over the world use Valhalla for advanced open water training in deep diving, altitude dives, nitrox, rebreathers and for other specialty courses. There is no light underwater, so you need a dive light, backup dive light and marker light.
For your convenience, Family Scuba Center has training facilities in one location. Five heated indoor pools (4-17 feet deep), class rooms and scuba shop. Family Scuba Center also conducts open water training in Texas lakes and springs and in the Caribbean and Pacific.
Specialty Dive Classes
Jan 31 2008
Posted by CyberCelt under Accommodations, Beach, Family Fun, Flying, Hotels, Other Countries, Romance, Scuba/Snorkel, Shopping, Travel Sites Reviews
. . . it is sunny, but there is a gentle breeze blowing off the water. You are lying in a hammock under a palm shade shelter sipping an ice cold drink. The turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea gently break on a white sand beach, just footsteps away. . . Where in the world are you? You are in Cancun, a great vacation spot on the tip of the Yucatan Pennisula in Mexico.
Beginning May 1, you may fly directly from Austin, Texas to Cancun, Mexico for as little as $9.99 on vivaAerobus. Now, I must tell you that after they add departure and airport fees to your fare, you are looking at over $140 one way, which is still a good fare.
The Cancun that you will visit has two zones. There is the city where the natives live and then there is the hotel zone, a 14-mile long island where some world-class hotels stand over the most pristine beaches in the world, overlooking the Caribbean. The lagoon, between mainland and the island is perfect setting for jet skiing or other water sports. Spend your days on the beach or take a ferry to Isla Mujeres (Island of Women) to spend the day looking at ruins.
If you are thinking of sun and fun this winter, visit HotelsByCity.net, where you may find cheap hotels and guides to each destination. For instance, I found hotels for $54 USD per night, all-inclusive hotels for just over $300 per night, with $100 resort credits per day. There are adult-only and family-oriented hotels, so you will be sure to find exactly what you need.
Aug 12 2007
Posted by CyberCelt under Scuba/Snorkel, Travel Sites Reviews
This new site, scubish.com Scuba Diving, has information on dive shops and destinations all over the world. From the home page, you may navigate using the aqua navigation bar or by clicking the name of a dive destination.
There are forums for community and advice; online tools that let you log your dive, find a scuba buddy and share information with dive operators; scuba feeds for the latest news; and a robust search function.
What I love are the interactive maps–from the world down to the exact location. The destination guides are also great, with information about history, people, place, climate, size and food.
Join the fun and find the scuba information you need at Scubish, sponsor of this post. The only suggestion I would made for the webmaster of Scubish is to underline all the hyperlinks on the site, especially on the map tips. It would ease the navigation discovery process.
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