Everyone should do Balmorhea Once
Written: May 28 '03
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Scenery: |
 |
|
| Crowds: |
 |
|
| Time needed for visit: |
|
|
|
Pros: water is incredibly clear
aquatic life is fascinating
desert environment provides a very different experience
Cons: a long way from anywhere
desert environment offers no seclusion or privacy from other campers
The Bottom Line: Unique, interesting, very different -- try it once.
|
|
|
| jeffpwright's Full Review: Balmorhea State Park |
With a constant water temperature of 72 (or so) degrees, San Salomon springs offers a unique diving opportunity. It has been described as "like diving in a swimming pool," but once below the surface (which really is a big swimming pool) the environment is completely different. With crystal clear water and teeming aquatic life, it is more like diving in an aquarium. You can dive down to the springs on the bottom, and put your hand into the churning sand where the water bubbles up into the pool. The fish are truly interesting; myriad tetra congregate and catfish scoot about the bottom. The springs contain a couple of species of fish that are unique to that body of water (they are actually endangered as they are found only there). Turtles swim casually around the swimmers and divers. The hydrilla is home to plenty of shy crawfish that scoot in and out of the water grass. All in all, a fascinating dive; don't let anyone talk you out of going -- at least once. Admittedly, the area is small and once you've seen it, you've seen it.
As to the camping, the park is... um... different. It is truly a desert. Although the backdrop of the mountains is grand, the campsites, with no trees or other flora, other than some small scrubby mesquite, is very open and affords little seclusion or privacy from other campers. Again, it is interesting to camp in the desert setting, but I am not sure I will plan to do that more than once.
It is worth the trip; as a divemaster recently said: "Everyone should do Balmorhea once."
Recommended:
Yes
Best time to go: Anytime
Recommended for: Anybody
Review Topic: Overview
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
jeffpwright
|
|
Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 0 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.