How deep is Lake Hydra?

Lake Hydra ranges from 3 to 30.5 metres deep (10–100 feet) — a deep dive at its limit. It is a freshwater site rated as advanced difficulty. Depths vary across the site, so plan your profile to your training and verify conditions locally.

Is Lake Hydra a shore dive or a boat dive?

Lake Hydra is a shore dive — you can enter from land. The entry is recorded as an easy walk-in. The entry area is recorded as sheltered from surge. Basic facilities are recorded at or near 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 Lake Hydra?

Lake Hydra is rated as advanced difficulty, which may not suit new divers. Listed depths run from 3 to 30.5 metres (10–100 feet). Access is from shore, with the entry recorded as an easy walk-in. Consider your experience level, conditions, and local guidance before planning.

When is the best time to dive Lake Hydra?

May-October season; late summer for warmest surface water. Spring-fed quarry with reliably good visibility. Closed in winter; operating season roughly May through October. Conditions vary, so check the latest reports and forecasts on the dive site page before your trip.

What will I see at Lake Hydra?

Divers at Lake Hydra in United States commonly report sightings of Palomino (golden rainbow) trout, Yellow perch, Koi, Channel catfish, and Zebra mussel. Yellow perch and Zebra mussel are recorded as common sightings, while Palomino (golden rainbow) trout, Koi, and Channel catfish are reported only occasionally. Marine life varies by season and conditions—check the site page for recent diver observations and photos.

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AdvancedShore entry

Lake Hydra

Pennsylvania, United StatesDirections

Open Water suggested3–31 m 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.

Wind model · graded 1h 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

Best: Wed

Fri14:00–20:00

Sat7:00–20:00

Sun7:00–20:00

Mon11:00–20:00

Tue7:00–20:00

Wed7:00–20:00

Thu7:00–20:00

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 6:10 · Sunrise 6:38 · Sunset 19:17

Source: Open-Meteo wind · graded 1h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

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.

Jan82% 11 kn
Feb82% 10 kn
Mar73% 11 kn
Apr78% 11 kn
May89% 9 kn
Jun96% 9 kn
Jul99% 8 kn
Aug95% 8 kn
Sep93% 8 kn
Oct91% 9 kn
Nov86% 10 kn
Dec83% 10 kn

July 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 recorded at this site, by month

Recorded observations — evidence of past sightings, not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

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

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. 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.

Reviews

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