Dutch Springs
| Dutch Springs | |
|---|---|
| Location | Northampton County, near Bethlehem, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates | 40°41′04″N 75°21′20″W / 40.6845°N 75.3556°WCoordinates: 40°41′04″N 75°21′20″W / 40.6845°N 75.3556°W |
| Lake type | quarry lake |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. depth | 100 ft (30 m) |
Dutch Springs is a spring-fed quarry lake located north of the city of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Since 1980, a commercial recreation area, with facilities for scuba diving, has operated at the location.
Contents |
[edit] History
In 1933 the National Portland Cement Company purchased the land now known as Dutch Springs and began manufacturing cement and mining limestone. As the mining operation continued, the quarry began to fill with water. For the remainder of the quarry’s operational life, water had to be continuously pumped out. When National Portland Cement shut down in the 1970s, the pumps shut down as well and the now 50-acre (200,000 m2) quarry filled with water.[1]
In 1980, the land was bought and turned into a freshwater diving facility.[1] The facility is currently owned by Stu Schooley.[2]
[edit] Ecology
The quarry is now home to many fish. Different species include largemouth bass, bluegills, koi, yellow perch as well as rainbow and palomino trout.[3][4]
[edit] Use
Today, Dutch Springs is an attraction for scuba divers of all levels. Sunken wooden platforms are used for diver certification testing, and numerous attractions such as a fire truck, school bus, trolley and several aircraft are submerged at different depths throughout the quarry.[4]
Local divers participate in an annual New Years Eve dive.[4] The Boy Scouts of America offers a merit badge in scuba diving and Dutch springs provides site access as well as diving equipment.[3]
By 2010 many dive shops as far away as Eastern Connecticut, and Southern New Jersey were using Dutch Springs for open water dives. Dive students have complained about expense and distance of travel, and shops that do not use Dutch Springs say that it would cost over $100 per day for them to travel there and they are not willing to pass that on to students. Many students and instructors have complained that Dutch Springs is not an proper venue for open water training as it is more like a large deep pool, or aquarium than actual Ocean dive sites. In rebuttal instructors and students charge that Dutch Springs is a large outdoor body of water and by definition is open water. Another argument in favor is that Dutch Springs has nearby medical services, and an on site Helli pad, things that may not be available at traditional open water sites.
Dutch Springs also offers an "Aqua Park" and "Sky Challenge" as an alternative to scuba diving.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Morgan, Julie. "Keeping 'em Diving in the Keystone State". Sport Diver. http://www.sportdiver.com/keywords/pennsylvania/keeping-em-diving-keystone-state. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
- ^ Cassi, Sarah (2010-11-06). "Unconscious diver at Dutch Springs revived by rescuers". The Express-Times. http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/nazareth/index.ssf/2010/11/diver_at_dutch_springs_found_u.html. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
- ^ a b Huth, Kelly (2011-02-08). "Boy Scout Merit Badge now offered at Dutch Springs". The Express-Times. http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/events/index.ssf/2011/02/boy_scout_merit_badge_now_offe.html. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
- ^ a b c Wichert, Bill (2010-01-01). "Scuba divers say goodbye to 2009 at Lower Nazareth Township's Dutch Springs". The Express-Times. http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/nazareth/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1262322310295660.xml&coll=3. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
- ^ Robinson, Dan (2010-08-27). "Day Trips: Dutch Springs Quarry Aqua Park". myveronanj.com. http://myveronanj.com/2010/08/27/day-trips-dutch-springs-quarry-aqua-park/. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
[edit] External links
- Dutch Springs Official Web Site
- Dutch Springs page on njscuba.net – detailed article with map and many photographs
- Additional news articles
