fbpx
Scuba_Adventure_Octopus (4)-01

2301 Central Expy #140

Plano, TX 75075

(972) 423-3483​

info@scubaplano.com

Mon-Fri: 11:00 A.M. - 7:00 P.M.

Saturday: 10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.

Scuba Diving At The Meadows Center

Did you know, under 4 hours from Dallas, there’s a dive site that has up to 100 ft visibility and is 72 degrees year-round? Spring Lake, managed by The Meadows Center, is a hidden scuba diving gem.

It’s a Texas treasure and we have earned the right to teach there. Due to the consistent temperatures, we teach at Spring Lake in the winter from November through March. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your diving skills to a new level, Spring Lake is a fantastic winter dive spot.

About the Meadows Center

The Meadows Center is located in San Marcos, Texas and offers a unique opportunity to explore some of the most spectacular underwater areas in the state. The center provides educational opportunities and research projects that focus on aquatic science. It also serves as a major scuba-diving destination for recreational divers around the world.

Spring Lake is an incredible destination for divers, offering crystal clear waters with a constant temperature of 72 degrees year-round. At the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, this aquatic paradise offers so much more: it operates under one of the world’s largest aquifer-driven spring systems, accommodating eight threatened and endangered species along with a state antiquities landmark. Spanning back 12,000 years to the last ice age and showcasing ongoing biological and archaeological research projects, it’s believed this site is also home to the densest population of turtles in America – making Spring Lake a unique gem in ecology and history alike.

Due to this, the Meadows Center works hard to ensure this remarkable destination is maintained and protected. Not just anyone can scuba dive Spring Lake. You must be accompanied by a Spring Lake Partner Dive Shop (such as Scuba Adventures) and stay in the designated training areas or go through the Dive Authorization Course.

Scuba Diving The Meadows Center with Scuba Adventures

Spring Lake is one of our favorite winter dive sites. Although you can dive here any time of year, the year-round 72-degree temperatures all you to enjoy world-class SDI Scuba training by our professionals in crystal clear warm water during the Texas winter months.

Open Water Course At The Meadows Center

Once the temperature drops, most dive shops can no longer offer Open Water courses due to the low water temperatures. Even in a thick wetsuit, 50-degree water does not make for a fun Open Water Certification experience. But as a Spring Lake Partner Dive Shop, we can certify students year-round by running the check-out dives in the warm 72-degree Spring Lake. 

From about November to March, you may complete your 4 check-out dives with Scuba Adventures in the Spring Lake training area. This sectioned area ensures that new or training divers don’t affect the fragile Spring Lake ecosystem. Divers should still maintain neutral buoyancy to avoid touching the bottom.

If you wish to do your check-out dives at Spring Lake, you must first complete your online training and confined water instruction. This can be completed during the week or on the weekend in our heated 16-foot pool. Once that is done, you can schedule a time with your Scuba Adventures instructor to visit Spring Lake to complete your course.

Related: Step-by-step guide to obtaining your Open Water Certification

Become Authorized to Dive The Spring Lake

Finally, experienced divers who want access to nearly untouched areas in Spring Lake need to complete the Meadows Center dive authorization course in order to explore more areas outside the training zones.  

In order to participate in the Meadows Center Dive Authorization Course, individuals must be at least 18 years old, have an Open Water Scuba Diver certification, and have logged at least 25 dives. All participants are required to bring their own scuba diving equipment (you can rent scuba equipment from Scuba Adventures and take it with you) and must also complete all academic assignments and written examinations with a minimum score of 70%.

Finally, all participants are expected to demonstrate competence in underwater skills such as buoyancy control, situational awareness, and problem-solving strategies during an open-water dive. The practical portion of the course is about 4 hours long.

Most of our instructors and staff members have been through this course, so please reach out if you have any questions.

Join Scuba Adventures at The Meadows Center

 If you are interested in diving at the Meadows Center, contact us using the link below or over the phone at 972-423-3483 so we can look into scheduling a dive trip with instructors for you and your buddies!

Start Your Next Adventure Today!

Click To Start
A Class!

Call Us Today!

(972) 423-3483


Customer Reviews

Scuba Adventures

Customer Reviews

John Worthen July - 2020

Google
I can’t recommend this place enough. After moving to the area, I read a lot of reviews and emailed several dive shops before going with Scuba Adventures. I choose them because they were the most responsive and helpful. The owners seem to not only be great divers but have business backgrounds. This is the most focus on customer service I have seen in a dive shop. Good inventory with all of the brands I could ask for. On point with their pricing. If you do find a better price they will work with you.

I ended up taking the Rescue Diver course and had a blast! I just got back from a dive trip with them at Lake Travis, very enjoyable. They also have one of the only indoor pools (18 ft.) in the area.

At Scuba ranch they have a big spot that is one of the easiest to get to and a nice pavilion for training. They are right next to the air refill station, which I love! Family and friends are welcome at the ranch. Good community there on weekends and you'll most likely find a dive buddy for a fun dive.

Maddie Womack August - 2020

Google
Scuba Adventures and their staff are beyond amazing! Their Plano store has a very wide selection of equipment and the pool is 18ft deep! Their Scuba Ranch location is amazing and still growing, with plenty of room and seating. I’m a fairly new diver and all the instructors do an amazing job of making me feel safe and secure deep underwater. Their staff is always very helpful and I can’t wait to continue my diving knowledge and certificates with them.

Jason Domenden March - 2020

Google
Found a great diving shop for all my gear. Been living here in texas for awhile and this shop has just what I needed. Really recommend scuba adventure for all your gear.

Emily Winnenberg March - 2020

Google
Went in last week to pick out goggles for an upcoming trip— loved the selection of masks they had available! Ended up picking out a hot pink pair to shamelessly match the other accessories I’d picked out.

Matt K March - 2020

Google
The new owners are the greatest! Their positive approach towards people and the sport of diving are huge part of the reason I love the sport. When they told me they were going to open a dive shop; I knew without a doubt I was going to be their customer. I have taken several dive adventures with them and other scuba diving misfits, and plan on taking many more.

Martin Garvie February - 2020

Google
Decided to revisit this shop since it is under new management. Already impressed with the facility improvements - by far the best training pool I have seen. Looking forward to the roll out of the full training curriculum - will be able to go from open water certified through all kinds of technical specialties. Good dive gear selection. Owners really have a great vision for promoting scuba diving and ocean adventures.

Don Champlin July - 2020

Google
This is the shop with the most experienced and competent personnel in the metroplex. Their commitment to safe, enjoyable and professional instruction is obvious from the first time you enter the store and meet the staff and owners. I have dove with most of them over the years and know first hand the love of diving they have and now share with the community as the new team. They are knowledgeable and up to date with the latest dive info. Don't miss a chance to dive with them.

Julie L February - 2020

Google
In January 2020, Scuba Adventures was purchased by divers that were affiliated with a different scuba store. These same divers taught me to dive, and got me to fall in love with scuba diving (despite me being pretty scared to start). I trust them, enough that I opted to take a trip with them to Cozumel for diving in 2019. It was one of the best trips of my life, and now I'm already signed up for their Costa Rica dive trip in 2020 with Scuba Adventures. I haven't visited the shop yet, but I can 100% vouch for the new owners--they are knowledgeable divers, good people, and all around amazing.

Jeremiah Perez May - 2020

Google
Owners and staff are professional, knowledgeable, and friendly. Allowed me to try backplate and wing set up in the pool. They did not pressure me to buy anything, but gave great information on products and financing options. All in all great staff and would recommend them to anyone!!!

Eric Coulombe August - 2020

Google
Great customer service, from the owners to the employees. Very knowledgeable about everything and anything pertaining to scuba diving. The instructors are highly educated and experienced in scuba diving. They put you through real life scenarios, so you know and understand what to do in the event something happens while you are under water. My family and I learned a lot about scuba diving in a very short amount of time. We will definitely keep taking additional courses with Scuba Adventures as we progress. We definitely reccomend Scuba Adventures to anyone wanting to learn and get scuba diving certified.
Read more...
Skip to content