Lake Travis
Zane Bennett Feb 04, 2024
One of the most frequently dived lakes in the state, Lake Travis offers a variety of private and public parks, unique underwater landscapes and marine life including arm-length catfish, bluegill perch, buffalo carp and softshell turtles. Nestled in the rolling hills of Central Texas, many of its parks cater to scuba divers, including Windy Point, which boasts a number of boat and car wrecks in a buoyed-off dive area. The water drops off quickly, and at around 115 feet you’ll encounter a huge pecan grove.
When diving outside buoyed areas, be sure to keep an eye out for boat and jet-ski traffic. Other sites, including the cliffs around Marshall Ford Park, which offers some of the deepest, clearest water in the lake, and Starnes Island and Hippie Hollow, are best accessed by boat.
- Location: Austin
- Depth: 20 – 150+ feet
- Visibility: 10 – 25 feet
- Temperature: 60 – 85 degrees
- Fees/Admission: Windy Point Park, (512) 266-DEEP (3337), $5/person/weekday, $10/person/weekend, free for children 11 and under. Air only.
- Fees/Admission: Mansfield Dam Park, (512) 854-PARK (7275), 4370 Mansfield Dam Park Rd.
Austin, TX 78732, Reservations required for camping two weeks prior.
Helpful Hint: A full wet suit is recommended for depths below 60 feet, as water temperature can be as low as 60 degrees, even in the summer.
