How deep is Rio Grande Valley?

Rio Grande Valley ranges from 14 to 20 metres deep (46–66 feet). It is a saltwater site rated as intermediate difficulty. Depths vary across the site, so plan your profile to your training and verify conditions locally.

Is Rio Grande Valley a shore dive or a boat dive?

Rio Grande Valley is a boat dive — access is by boat rather than from shore. The entry area is recorded as exposed to surge. No facilities are recorded at the site, and cell service is recorded as good. Entry details and parking notes, where known, are listed in the access section of this page.

Can beginners dive Rio Grande Valley?

Rio Grande Valley is rated as intermediate difficulty, which may not suit new divers. Listed depths run from 14 to 20 metres (46–66 feet). Access is by boat. Consider your experience level, conditions, and local guidance before planning.

When is the best time to dive Rio Grande Valley?

Summer through early fall when Gulf seas are calmest and blue water pushes inshore. Conditions vary, so check the latest reports and forecasts on the dive site page before your trip.

What will I see at Rio Grande Valley?

Divers at Rio Grande Valley in United States commonly report sightings of Red snapper, Gray triggerfish, Atlantic spadefish, Greater amberjack, and Sheepshead. Red snapper, Atlantic spadefish, and Sheepshead are recorded as common sightings, while Gray triggerfish and Greater amberjack are reported only occasionally. Marine life varies by season and conditions—check the site page for recent diver observations and photos.

Add the first photo

IntermediateBoat entry

Rio Grande Valley

Texas, United States

Open Water suggestedVariable Gulf visibility (often 10-40 ft)14–20 m depthBoat entryRash guard or 2mm shorty 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 30°C (86°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Marine model · graded 19h ago

0.7 mwaves — under a meter expected

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 30°C · seasonal avg 30°C

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

All 4 hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Thu

Fri—

Sat16:00–20:00

Sun8:00–20:00

Mon8:00–20:00

Tue8:00–20:00

Wed8:00–20:00

Thu8:00–20:00

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 6:49 · Sunrise 7:12 · Sunset 19:37

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 7.6 km from site · graded 19h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

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.

Jan31%18°C1.7 m
Feb49%18°C1.5 m
Mar46%20°C1.5 m
Apr44%23°C1.6 m
May55%26°C1.3 m
Jun64%28°C1.3 m
Jul91%28°C1.0 m
Aug95%29°C0.8 m
Sep90%30°C1.0 m
Oct58%28°C1.4 m
Nov50%25°C1.5 m
Dec69%21°C1.4 m

August hastypically 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

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km. 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

No reviews yet — this site is waiting for its first. Dived here? Your rating and a few lines help the next diver.

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