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Dive Site Comments > Balmorhea State Park
luckyduckmark - 7/04/2020 5:22 AM
Rating Added: 5
I went scuba diving here visibility is 35-50 foot 72-74:f year round great p[ace to dive lots of wild life
Reefmonkey - 7/20/2017 1:09 PM
Rating Added: 5
Vies with Spring Lake in San Marcos for best freshwater diving in Texas. I’ve dove Pennekamp, Cozumel, the BVIs, Martinique, several other Caribbean islands, and Zanzibar in East Africa over the last 22 years, and still Balmorhea is one of my absolute favorite dives. Absolutely crystal clear water when I went there in July 2013. I usually wear a wetsuit as I chill easily, but didn’t need one then, it felt refreshing, even after an hour underwater. Since it’s freshwater that maxes out at 25 feet, your bottom time is pretty much just limited by your air consumption. Since it’s an enclosed ~2 acre pool, you also don’t have to worry about getting lost or being pulled by currents, making it the most carefree diving you can do. Lots of fish to see, including colorful Mexican tetras, an endangered species of gambusia (guppy-like fish) that has bright yellow colors, and endangered pupfishes that have iridescent blue markings. Plus catfish, sunfish, turtles. The little fish like the tetras, gambusia, and pupfish tend to swim in large schools and are very used to divers, so they swim right up to you. There is a dive shop right next to the park for equipment rentals and tank fills.
WarmWaterTurner - 7/21/2017 1:36 PM
It is a wonderful location but remember it is an altitude dive and if you plan on visiting the observatory in the evening - keep that in mind.
Eric2112 - 3/17/2017 5:26 PM
I went scuba diving here on 3/17/2017. Average viz: 131-140ft/40-43m. Water temp: 76-80°F/24-27°C.
Kang2995 - 3/05/2017 5:45 PM
I went scuba diving here on 2/25/2017. Average viz: 51-60ft/16-18m. Water temp: 66-70°F/19-21°C.
BradApril - 1/01/2017 10:11 PM
I went scuba diving here on 12/28/2016. Average viz: 91-100ft/28-30m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
Awesome time. Lots of fish. Turtles were out and about. Really good dive.
ScubaDabaDo - 10/07/2016 9:59 PM
I went diving here on Oct. 01, 2016 & Oct 02, 2016.
ScubaDabaDo - 10/07/2016 9:58 PM
Rating Added: 5
Best lake dive around (or is it a pool) closest thing to the blue ocean waters. Had a great time.

Important: It IS an altitude dive at 3200’ elevation (air is not 14.7 psi at ground level now) so your dive tables are no longer accurate. but at 20’ you are only about 2 atmospheres. however, if you visit Fort Davis or the McDonald Observatory, it is almost like taking a flight. PLUS your body will off gas too rapidly if you’re not careful. Go to ScubaDabaDo.com for altitude diving info and accurate tips to help you have a Safe, enjoyable dive.
BillParker - 10/10/2016 7:38 PM
It depends on which system you are planning. Under PADI’s system (I just looked it up) I still get the same bottom time.
Blazey_07 - 9/02/2016 9:47 AM
I went scuba diving here on 8/27/2016.
Great day of west Tex’s diving. Lots of fish and not a lot of people there on this particular weekend. Visibility around 25’, water temp 72, surface 88.
PorkChop22 - 8/22/2016 8:29 PM
I’m looking to dive here this weekend. The weather says there’s a 50% chance of rain. Does anyone know what the visibility is usually like with all the rain there. I hear its usually around 80’ on a good day. I called the park office earlier and I was told by the lady that it doesn’t effect the visibility there but I’m not sure if that’s true. I would hate to drive 6+ hours to be let down. Any tips and advice will be appreciated!
Eric2112 - 8/22/2016 11:07 PM
the visibility will be great no matter what the weather up top is doing. 25million gallons go through that pool daily. Enjoy it
WarmWaterTurner - 8/29/2016 9:58 AM
One day I saw a Open Water class completely silt up almost the entire deep area. It took about one hours until the water was crystal clear again. Eric2122 is right. The aquifer flow so much water through there that I have never seen it murky for more than a very short period of time.
BillParker - 8/18/2016 2:07 PM
I went scuba diving here on 8/17/2016. Average viz: 91-100ft/28-30m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
Summer is a great time to dive here. The temps are high but the dry air makes it very comfortable to be outside. This is one of the few Texas dive sites where swimmers have almost no impact on the quality of diving. It’s easy to avoid them by staying away from the edges of the pool and diving boards leaving 99% of the water to divers. They can’t mess up the viz either. The worst thing they do is take up parking spots but all you have to do is get an early start and beat them to the park. The spring water is cleaner than tap water.
aquaphile - 8/16/2016 10:48 PM
Rating Added: 3
Great water temps & great viz, lots of critters to see. Too bad it’s such a small body of water, & so shallow - max depth 20-21 ft. Too crowded with swimmers in summer.
RMToure - 6/12/2016 10:00 PM
I went scuba diving here on 12/26/2015. Average viz: 26-30ft/8-9m. Water temp: 76-80°F/24-27°C.
RMToure - 6/12/2016 9:53 PM
I went scuba diving here on 12/25/2015. Average viz: 26-30ft/8-9m. Water temp: 76-80°F/24-27°C.
cathy_crippen - 5/31/2016 5:21 PM
I went scuba diving here on 5/29/2016. Average viz: 81-90ft/25-27m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
cathy_crippen - 5/31/2016 5:04 PM
I went scuba diving here on 5/27/2016. Average viz: 51-60ft/16-18m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
undercover08 - 4/10/2016 12:12 AM
I went scuba diving here on 12/26/2015. Average viz: 16-20ft/5-6m.
undercover08 - 4/10/2016 12:10 AM
I went scuba diving here on 12/25/2015. Average viz: 16-20ft/5-6m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
undercover08 - 4/10/2016 12:07 AM
I went scuba diving here on 11/8/2015. Average viz: 16-20ft/5-6m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
undercover08 - 4/10/2016 12:05 AM
I went scuba diving here on 11/7/2015. Average viz: 16-20ft/5-6m. Water temp: 76-80°F/24-27°C.
RMToure - 4/09/2016 11:53 PM
I went scuba diving here on 10/17/2015. Average viz: 16-20ft/5-6m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.