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AdvancedShore entry

Lake Hydra

Pennsylvania, United StatesDirections
Open Water suggested3–31 m (10–100 ft) depthShore entry

Lake Hydra at a glance

Lake Hydra is an advanced shore dive site in Pennsylvania, United States with depths of 3–30.5 m (10–100 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Palomino (golden rainbow) trout, Yellow perch, and Koi. Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Favorable window now· until 19:00 · sunset 18:05

Wind forecast for this hour · 15:00 · run 2 h ago
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Tap a factor for its source and model point

Site hazards: Depth to ~100 ft with cold thermoclines; silt around sunken attractions; congestion from training classes; access restricted to professionally supervised groups.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Lightest wind: Wed
Mon14:00–19:00 favorable

6 kn wind (6 kn wind)

Tue8:00–19:00 favorable

5 kn wind (5 kn wind)

Wed8:00–19:00 favorable

3 kn wind (3 kn wind)

Thu8:00–19:00 favorable

7 kn wind (7 kn wind)

Fri8:00–11:00 favorable, 11:00–12:00 moderate, 12:00–19:00 favorable

7 kn wind (7 kn wind)

Sat8:00–18:00 favorable

4 kn wind (4 kn wind)

Sun8:00–18:00 favorable

8 kn wind (8 kn wind)

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

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

First light 6:57 · Sunrise 7:25 · Sunset 18:05 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo wind · updated 26 Oct, 13:27 GMT-4

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Lake Hydra

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: Yellow perch, Zebra mussel, Largemouth bass
Best time: May-October season; late summer for warmest surface water. Spring-fed quarry with reliably good visibility.

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, 82% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 11 knots
  2. February, 82% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 10 knots
  3. March, 73% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 11 knots
  4. April, 78% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 11 knots
  5. May, 89% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 9 knots
  6. June, 96% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 9 knots
  7. July, 99% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 8 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 95% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 8 knots
  9. September, 93% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 8 knots
  10. October, 91% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 9 knots
  11. November, 86% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 10 knots
  12. December, 83% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 10 knots

July 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 recorded at this site, by month

Recorded observations — evidence of past sightings, 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.

  • Micropterus dolomieu recorded here Apr–May, Jul–Nov (13 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Lepomis macrochirus recorded here Aug (1 record)

    most recent 2013

  • Micropterus punctulatus recorded here Apr (1 record)

    most recent 2012

  • Micropterus salmoides recorded here Jul (1 record)

    most recent 2008

  • Oncorhynchus mykiss recorded here Jul (1 record)

    most recent 2008

  • Salvelinus fontinalis recorded here Jul (1 record)

    most recent 2008

Newest record here: 2013. Counts are occurrence records near this site from public biodiversity datasets (GBIF), grouped by calendar month across all sampled years. Sightings vary — past records are context, not a prediction.

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

Lake Hydra in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is the reopened former Dutch Springs quarry, a 50-acre spring-fed lake with clear water to about 100 ft and classic sunken attractions including aircraft, a Sikorsky helicopter, trucks and training platforms. Saved by local divers working with the new property owners, it reopened in 2024 and now operates as an inland scuba training facility. The west entrance has a heated/air-conditioned bathhouse with showers and changing areas; access is limited to groups diving with certified, insured dive professionals at $60 per day, purchased in advance.

shorewreck

Depth to ~100 ft with cold thermoclines; silt around sunken attractions; congestion from training classes; access restricted to professionally supervised groups.

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