BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lake Hydra, the Northampton County scuba-diving venue, will open April 20 with limited access.
All activities at the 50-acre quarry lake must be arranged in advance. At first, Lake Hydra will be for classes and first-responder training only.
“A diver can’t just show up and dive, it has to be a class,” Ken Kraft, one of the Lake Hydra partners, said Saturday. He reiterated that all activities must be scheduled.
The property, formerly known as Dutch Springs, was acquired by developer Trammell Crow for the construction of two warehouses.
Access to the water could have been eliminated.
Then Trammell Crow worked out an agreement with Kraft and Jim Folk of Atlantis Aquatics, Bethlehem Township, to save the lake for the scuba community.
“I can’t say enough about Trammell Crow and what they did for the dive community,” Kraft said Saturday.
Work continues on Lake Hydra amenities, Kraft, now a member of Northampton County Council, said.
The site, known for its depths and clear water, could have been lost to the diving community.
Instead, training for divers and rescue teams will continue at one of the few East Coast inland scuba venues.
Kraft said divers should check the Lake Hydra website for more information. It will be updated as services at the lake are expanded.
Lake Hydra is located at 4733 Hanoverville Road in Lower Nazareth Township. The property, including the warehouses, also extends into Bethlehem Township.
