Local Texas Diving Guide

Wheeler Branch & DFW Scuba Dive Sites

Explore the top freshwater scuba diving locations in the Fort Worth and North Texas area. Maps, depth profiles, submerged attractions, and diver guidelines.

Featured Site • ~50 Mins from Fort Worth

Wheeler Branch Park Reservoir

Somervell County Water District • Glen Rose, Texas

Max Depth: ~85 ft Typical Vis: 10–25 ft

Overview & Diver Experience

Wheeler Branch Reservoir is widely considered the cleanest, most accessible freshwater dive destination near Fort Worth and Dallas. Opened to divers by the Somervell County Water District, it features submerged training platforms, boat wrecks, and underwater navigation trails tailored for PADI Open Water checkouts and advanced specialties.

Submerged Attractions & Features:

  • Training Platforms: Submerged scuba training platforms located at 20 ft and 30 ft depths, connected by underwater guideline ropes.
  • Sunken Wrecks: Multiple submerged vessels including an inboard cruiser and runabout boats providing artificial fish habitat.
  • Underwater Structures: Submerged roadway, rock ledges, flooded timber, and fish attractors holding bass, catfish, and sunfish.
  • Diver Facilities: Dedicated dive pavilion with gear staging benches, concrete access ramps, clean restrooms, and shaded picnic areas.
Diver Regulations: All divers must show a valid scuba certification card (C-Card) at the park gate. Dive flags are mandatory while in the water. Park entrance fee is approximately $10–$15 per vehicle/diver.

Other Command Scuba Dive Sites Across Texas

Clear Springs Scuba Park

Terrell, Texas (~1 hr East of DFW)
Depth: ~63 ft

A 22-acre spring-fed freshwater quarry built exclusively for divers. Features exceptional underwater structures and training navigation lines.

  • Submerged Cessna airplane & twin-engine aircraft
  • Sunken party boat, sailboat, and underwater swim-throughs
  • Large training platforms at 15–25 ft
  • Underwater fish habitat with trophy bass & catfish

Athens Scuba Park

Athens, Texas (~1.5 hrs Southeast of DFW)
Depth: ~35 ft

One of Texas’s most famous diver training lakes. Warm, spring-fed waters with over 35 sunken wrecks connected by underwater guide lines.

  • Sunken Hawker jet aircraft & passenger buses
  • Sunken cabin cruisers, motorcycles, and speedboats
  • Entry docks, multiple training platforms & gear staging
  • On-site air fills and diver amenities

Possum Kingdom Lake (Scuba Point)

Palo Pinto County, Texas (~1.5 hrs West of Azle)
Depth: Up to 100+ ft

Known for dramatic underwater bluffs, deep water drop-offs, and historical dive exploration. A favorite for advanced divers seeking depth practice.

  • Submerged cliffs, rocky ledges, and deep walls
  • Sunken watercraft and submerged structures near Scuba Point
  • Ideal for deep dive training and boat diving expeditions

Balmorhea State Park

Toyahvale, West Texas
Depth: 25 ft | 72°F Constant

The world's largest spring-fed artesian swimming & diving pool. Crystal-clear water with 100+ ft visibility year-round in a high desert oasis.

  • Over 15 million gallons of clean artesian spring water daily
  • Unique desert aquatic life including the endangered Comanche Springs pupfish
  • World-renowned dive trip destination offered by Ascuba Diving

Gear Up Before You Hit the Water

Before heading to Wheeler Branch or any local Texas dive site, stop by Ascuba Diving in Azle for all your dive essentials:

Daily Pure Air Fills (3000 & 3442 PSI) Regulator & BCD Service Gear Rentals & Dive Flags Tank Hydro & VIP Inspections
Top