TEXAS

[Buzz]

Billy

Take a look at this

www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/inks/

Inks Lake State Park has scuba diving allowed ......
the Devils Waterhole looks just too inviting.
I know nothing about the diving there but I think I will go investigate.
Its got lots of facilities, but the closest LDS could be a ways off......could be quite an adventure.

Buzz

[randallgray]

Hello Seakrakken, Bart, Tom, Billy, Chuck and others!

I was sorry to hear that Lake Travis had declined. In 1961 or 62 it was fabulous, the visibility was at least 20 feet or more. Possum Kingdom was also a Mecca for our club, but it may have succumed to development also. The Inks lake or Canyon Lake appear to be good bets, usually the rocky lakes have good vis. I live between Hawkins, Tx and Mineola, Tx off State Hwy 80. The Tyler State Park near here is used by some of the local dive instructors for classes. It is spring fed and is fairly clear when viewed from the surface, I will have to dive it to give a reasonable assessment. Its very pretty with the usual State Park amenities. Nearby Lake Hawkins is also clear, but neither is very deep. Dick Wilgus, the immortal, runs a dive shop on Toledo Bend and could probably guide to the best spots.

By the way, Dick is sponsoring an Old Divers Reunion and swap meet in Longview, Tx on Sat. May 7, 2005. This should be lots of fun. For details go to the website: The Story of the Southwest Council of Diving Clubs or contact Dick at [e-mail].

Have a great weekend!!

Randy

[WILLIAM BONNEY]

Hey guys,

Travis was great a long time ago, in the late 60's I went there quite regulary until UNcle Sam called.....dove in summer with out a wet suit, down to, 60 / 70 feet, clear as Randall said out to 20 + feet. Now ya gotta have a suit for the dark, dirty cold water and the vis is lousy, if you find a good spot to dive, most of the cliff areas have homes now. No more rock scaling a near vertical cliff with a tank ridin on your shoulder..those were the best clear spots.....ah, the good old days.

Got a stupid idea in my younger days to do a 210' bounce dive on a doctor pepper down close to the dam. From a 6 man rubber raft my then dive partner had.

Silly thing sprung a leak out in the middle of the lake, after I'd flipped overboard. Partner was busy trying to fix the raft, I'm treading water with my royal aqua and twin 72's and tooooooo much lead weight. I didn't account for the extra tank weight of doubles, so my Dacor May West wasn't up to holding me up. By the time I got back into the boat the thing was kinda like a big V standing up with both ends in the air. Needless to say, we made it back to shore........and then the sun went down.

Randall, remember hippy hollow and the tale about the old lady 3 miles across the lake with her telescope complaining about the skinny dippers at the hollow?


Buzz

I went once upon a time to Buchannan to dive, wasn't impressed, now I see Inks lake across the road......man!
Looks like I dove the wrong water hole.........!!!!!

Clearsprings or Inks looks good.

Oh Bob! It's me!

Billy!

[Captain Ratnick]

My bathtub has a clarity, and degree of privacy no lake can offer.

[william Bonney]

Hey Guys

Dove Ink Lake at the Devils water hole,,,,late summer must of been a bad time, too much algae I guess, was dark and dirty.......going to try again this winter if it is open.........and the algae is killed off.

[Buzz]

William,

Let me know if you go back this winter.....I might want to join you.

Say......you wouldn't happen to originally be from Jackson, Miss. would you??

Buzz

[willam bonney]

Buzz

Been thru Jackson, never stayed there......you ever been to New Mexico.....Lincoln county?

[centraltxdiver]

I know its been a while since the last post in this thread but I am a "new" vintage diver...just picked up a DA Aquamaster and am having it rebuilt/serviced for diving use. Just wanted to say hi and that I am looking forward to joining the Texas Vintage Diving Community.

Jim

[seakrakken]

Welcome Jim,
I must say there are more than enough Vintage divers to have an affect on the local LDS. We need to plan a meet at the Gulf this Summer for a dive. Perhaps a simple beach dive at Port Aransass in Summer 07?

[centraltxdiver]

seakrakken,

Thanks...I agree we need to organize a Texas Vintage Diver's Dive in 07. I should have all my gear rebuilt/serviced and diving it by then. I'm kind of surprised to find out I'm not the only nutcase into diving vintage double hose regulators. My LDS thinks I'm nuts as do a few other locals...but hey that's fine by me. I like having fun diving and this just brings back so many memories from my youth.

Jim

[nemrod]

I lived in Houton for many years. I dove the Flower Gardens, Stetson Banks, Mud Lumps, some ship wreck I don't remember, oil rigs.

Lakes we dove were travis at the cove known infamously as Hipper Hollow or that vicinity.

I don't recall much in Port Aranasas that would be diveable as a beach dive---am I wrong here? I mucked around the jetties once in Galveston and bumped into what I am sure was a bull shark, about 0.5 viz?

Nemrod

[centraltxdiver]

I like the idea of maybe a vintage dive at the Comal River in New Braunfels...72 degrees year round, good vis, lots of fish, turtles, etc. and plenty of decent restaurants nearby.

Jim

[seakrakken]

CentralTxDiver,
I think thats a great suggestion Are those the current conditions that you mentioned?

[centraltxdiver]

seakrakken,

Yes, those are pretty much the average conditions all year round. My buddies and I just dove the Comal last Saturday 4 Nov and despite being cloudy, a bit drizzly, and 68 degree air temps it was nice in the Comal itself. I even dived it in a .5 mil wetsuit with gloves and hood and was quite comfy.

Now if I can only get my double hose reg from my ebay purchase...seems the guy sent me the wrong reg...an Atomic Ti2 1st and 2nd stage reg meant for another guy in Canada. We are hoping to confirm he got my reg and that we can cross ship each other's regs.

Jim

[Deleted]

I might be interested in going with you guys......let me know what dates y'all are considering.......

Mossback