Main Menu
Join Undercurrent on Facebook

The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975 | |
For Divers since 1975
The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975
"Best of the Web: scuba tips no other
source dares to publish" -- Forbes
X
 

Dive Review of Dive Valhalla (Missle Silo Dive)/Family Scuba Center, Midland, TX in
The Continental USA/Abilene, TX

Dive Valhalla (Missle Silo Dive)/Family Scuba Center, Midland, TX, Jul, 2002,

by Greg Swager, NM, USA . Report 164.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 3 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 3 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments Website: [familyscuba.com link]

It is a missle silo, housed ICBM missle with nuclear warhead, managed by US Air Force. It was abandoned two years later, in part of US-Russia agreement. It is now owned by Family Scuba Center of Midland, TX.

Water was filled in the silo by underground water, leaking through the cracks of cement over the years. Metal wreckage, mostly support arms and a dome cap to hold missle in place, lied on the bottom. Wreckage is from 110 to 130 feet deep of water.

From the tunnel to the silo is being accessed by a brand new steep stairs. Old one was ladder. On top of water is a platform.

Things to see underwater- wreckage on bottom, minerals seeping out of cement cracks & navigation room

It's a very fascinating diving site, along with exploration of its underground system such as control room, blast doors, fuel lines, moveable roof, etc. Most of its equipment was being salvaged before silo was acquired by Family Scuba Center. It's like "Been there, done that" dive.

Bad- it is not an open dive. Required to have a group of divers and a divemaster. Usually, the owner will help you to find a dive club or other group to join.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 51-100 dives
Where else diving [Unspecified]
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather rainy Seas calm
Water Temp 60-60°F / 16-16°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 15-20 Ft/ 5-6 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Flashlight is mandatory, so is dive buddy.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 3 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
Was this report helpful to you?
Leave a comment (Subscribers only -- 200 words max)
Subscribers can comment here
 

Subscribe Now
Subscribers can post comments, ask the reviewer questions, as well as getting immediate and complete access to ALL 676 dive reviews of The Continental USA and all other dive destinations. Complete access to all issues and Chapbooks is also included.

 

Want to assemble your own collection of The Continental USA reports in one place?
Use the Mini Chapbook Facility to create your personalized collection.

Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

Undercurrent Home


Get more dive info like these and other important scuba updates sent monthly to your email.
And a FREE Recent Issue of Undercurrent

Free Undercurrent Issue
Get a free
monthly email and
a sample issue!


Find in  

| Home | Online Members Area | My Account | Login | Join |
| Travel Index | Dive Resort & Liveaboard Reviews | Featured Reports | Recent Issues | Back Issues |
| Dive Gear Index | Health/Safety Index | Environment & Misc. Index | Seasonal Planner | Blogs | Free Articles | Book Picks | News |
| Special Offers | RSS | FAQ | About Us | Contact Us | Links |

Copyright © 1996-2024 Undercurrent (www.undercurrent.org)
3020 Bridgeway, Ste 102, Sausalito, Ca 94965
All rights reserved.

Page computed and displayed in 0.1 seconds