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IntermediateBoat entry

Rio Grande Valley

Texas, United States
Open Water suggestedVariable Gulf visibility (often 10-40 ft)14–20 m (46–66 ft) depthBoat entry3mm wetsuit typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Rio Grande Valley at a glance

Rio Grande Valley is an intermediate boat dive site in Texas, United States with depths of 14–20 m (46–66 ft). Typically most favorable Aug · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Red snapper, Gray triggerfish, and Atlantic spadefish. Recent reports put the water around 26°C (79°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Favorable window now· until 19:00 · sunset 18:50

Forecast for this hour · 10:00 · run 10 h ago
0.9 m (2.8 ft)waves — under a meter expected (waves — about three feet expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 26°C · seasonal avg 28°C ( · Forecast 79°F · seasonal avg 83°F)

Site hazards: Variable Gulf visibility (often 10-40 ft) · Current · Fishing line and hooks on reef patches

All 4 hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Smallest waves: Sun
Mon8:00–19:00 favorable

0.9 m waves · 10 kn wind (2.9 ft waves · 10 kn wind)

Tue8:00–19:00 favorable

1.0 m waves · 8 kn wind (3.3 ft waves · 8 kn wind)

Wed8:00–19:00 favorable

0.8 m waves · 13 kn wind (2.7 ft waves · 13 kn wind)

Thu8:00–19:00 favorable

0.9 m waves · 10 kn wind (2.8 ft waves · 10 kn wind)

Fri8:00–19:00 favorable

0.8 m waves · 11 kn wind (2.6 ft waves · 11 kn wind)

Sat8:00–16:00 favorable, 16:00–19:00 moderate

0.6 m waves · 14 kn wind (1.9 ft waves · 14 kn wind)

Sun8:00–19:00 favorable

0.5 m waves · 10 kn wind (1.6 ft waves · 10 kn wind)

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wave and wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 7:10 · Sunrise 7:33 · Sunset 18:50 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 7.6 km from site · updated 26 Oct, 00:27 GMT-5

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Rio Grande Valley

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

Loading tide predictions

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Red snapper, Atlantic spadefish, Sheepshead
Best time: Summer through early fall when Gulf seas are calmest and blue water pushes inshore.

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. January, 31% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 18°C (64°F), waves have typically been 1.7 m (5.6 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots
  2. February, 49% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 18°C (64°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (4.8 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  3. March, 46% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 20°C (68°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (4.8 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  4. April, 44% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 23°C (73°F), waves have typically been 1.6 m (5.2 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots
  5. May, 55% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 26°C (79°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.2 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  6. June, 64% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (83°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.2 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  7. July, 91% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (83°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.2 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots
  8. August, 95% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 29°C (85°F), waves have typically been 0.8 m (2.5 ft), wind has typically been 13 knots, historically most favorable
  9. September, 90% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.1 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  10. October, 58% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (83°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.4 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
  11. November, 50% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 25°C (77°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (4.9 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  12. December, 69% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 21°C (71°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.7 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots

August has typically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life seen at this site

Species noted at this site — not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km (16 mi). Know one? Add it to the map.

Data updated June 2026

Site details

RGV (Rio Grande Valley) Reef is the largest and most complex artificial reef off the Texas coast, a 1,650-acre site 13 miles northeast of South Padre Island built since 2017 from tens of thousands of recycled concrete railroad ties, cinder blocks, box culverts and cleaned steel-hulled vessels. The graduated low- and high-relief patches in roughly 45-65 ft of water hold huge numbers of red snapper and other reef fish, and local dive operators run charters to the reef alongside the nearby Texas Clipper wreck.

boatreefwreck

Variable Gulf visibility (often 10-40 ft)

Current

Fishing line and hooks on reef patches

Boat traffic from anglers

Reviews

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