Bobcat Bucket List #76: Scuba Dive Spring Lake

This one is for certified SCUBA divers only!

Divers don’t have to go all the way to the ocean to find ancient history. Spring Lake is over 12,000 years old and has over 200 springs. This is one of the world’s largest aquifer spring systems and is designated as a state antiquities landmark.

With ongoing research and eight endangered species in the lake, it’s important to keep it clean. That’s where scuba divers come in to help. The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment trains divers to restore the natural habitats in Spring Lake. In return for this training, the divers participate in removing invasive plants.

“It’s a pretty unique scuba experience,” said Bill Poston. “The most memorable part of it is the ‘cream of wheat’, which is where the springs bubble up through the sand.”

Potential divers must show proof of a Full Open Water SCUBA Certification through a major Dive Training Agency, have at minimum 25 logged dives, and have their own equipment. Then, they must take the center’s course, which costs $285 for the public and $142 for current Texas State students, faculty and staff.

Sign up for the course here.