Blue Lagoon, Texas

Blue Lagoon opened in September 1986 near Huntsville, Texas, as a training area for   divers. It still serves in that   capacity but is now  open to certified   divers as a place for them to hone their skills. The site is composed of two lagoons.

Nondivers are   permitted to enter  the site with divers, but the lagoons are not open to swimmers. Three large dive platforms exist in one lagoon and two are in the other. There are shelters around both lagoons to provide shade and equipment assembly areas for dive classes, and gently sloping beaches for easy entry. For certified divers, there is a separate area on the far side of Lagoon I that is near the boat and the rock walls, and has a giant stride entry. Blue Lagoon is about 65 miles from Houston. Underwater, the lagoons have a few small boats.

Depths to: 35 feet (11 m) in Lagoon 1 and 30 feet (9 m) in Lagoon   2

Visibility: Up to 50 feet (15 m)

Water temperature: 70-90 degrees Fahrenheit (21-32 degrees  Celsius) in the summer and 45-75 F (7-24 C) in the winter

Aquatic life: The water has little life.

Fees: $15 per diver per day; $10 for nondivers. Air fills cost $5 and   tanks can be rented for $10 per day.

On-site amenities: Underwater platforms.

More info: Call Blue Lagoon at (936) 291-6111 or visit   www.bluelagoonscuba.com.

Open: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.

Getting there: On Interstate 45 northwest of Huntsville, take Exit   123. Drive east three miles on Pinedale Road. Blue Lagoon will be on the left.