Diving in Texas FAQ

Q: Do I need a wetsuit?  What kind?

The answer to this question depends on several factors. If you are diving in a Texas spring-fed water system the water will be 72 degrees Farenheit year-round which most people find chilly. Skin-diving or wearing a 3 mm wetsuit is appropriate in water above 80 degrees. Waters from 70-80 usually require a 3 mm or 5 mm wetsuit. Almost all divers will wear a thick wetsuit (5-7 mm) or even a drysuit for water below 65 degrees. You will want to also consider whether you are usually hot or cold when others feel comfortable. A hood and gloves can supplement a wetsuit when you need additional warmth.

Q: Do I need to tow a dive flag?

The state of Texas does not officially require you to tow a dive flag. However if a diver does not have a dive flag they have no legal protection from boaters. Some dive sites in Texas do specifically require a flag (check with management at the site.) In protected waters like a buoyed area it is not needed. If you are diving in open water and especially if you intend to surface in open water you should tow a dive flag.

Q: Do I need to bring my certification card?

Yes, you should bring your C-card any time you go diving. If you are a DAN member you should also bring your DAN card.

Q: How can I get more information?
Try calling a local dive shop near the site you would like to learn about.  There are also many local dive clubs in Texas, you could contact or join a club.  Another way to find more information about a dive site is to ask on an online Texas scuba forum.

Q: Online Texas Scuba Forums?
Texas Swamp Divers on Scubaboard
Scubatoys forum

Q: Where are Texas’s recompression chambers?
Here is a list of the multiplace chambers in Texas:

Austin: St David’s Medical Center
Brownwood:   Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Medicine Center
College Staion: College Station Medical Center
Conroe: Conroe Regional Medical Center
Dallas: Baylor University Medical Center
Dallas: Presbyterian Hospital Dallas
El Paso: Las Palmas Medical Center
Houston: Memorial Herman Medical Center
San Antonio: Nix Medical Center
San Antonio: Southwest Texas Methodist Hospital
San Antonio: Brooks City Base, Davis Hyperbaric Laboratory
The Woodlands: Conroe Regional Medical Center
Webster: Southcoast Hyperbarics
Click here for a complete list of chambers in Texas

 

Balmorrhea in Toyahvale, TX	Moray Eel in Flower Gardens Marine Sanctuary