Dutch Springs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dutch Springs is a spring-fed quarry lake located near Nazareth, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, in the United States. The lake reaches a maximum depth of approximately 100 feet, and has become a popular recreation area for SCUBA divers.
[edit] History
Dutch Springs started in 1933 when the National Portland Cement Company purchased the land 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 shut down in the 1970s, the pumps shut down as well and the now 50-acre quarry filled with water. In 1980, the land was bought and turned into a freshwater diving facility.[1]
[edit] Today
Dutch Springs today is a popular attraction for scuba divers of all levels. Sunken wooden platforms are widely used for diver certification testing, and numerous “attractions” are submerged at different depths throughout the quarry (see table).
Dutch Springs also offers an “Aqua Park” as an alternative to scuba diving.
| Attraction | Depth |
|---|---|
| 1944 Helldiver Airplane | 60 ft |
| Fire Truck | 25 ft |
| School Bus | 50 ft |
| Tanker Truck | 70-80 ft |
| Sikorsky Helicopter | 25-50 ft |
| Cessna Airplane | 30 ft |
| Trolley Car | 70ft |
| Troop Transport Truck | 90 ft |
