ABOUT
HISTORY OF LAKE HYDRA
Lake Hydra Scuba is located in the Lehigh Valley on the northern side of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. From 1933 to the 1970’s the Portland Cement Company manufactured cement and mined Limestone at the site which created the 55 acre,105ft deep quarry. As the spring-fed quarry was mined, water was continuously pumped out. When the company shut down and the pumps were turned off, the quarry filled with clear spring water creating the beautiful lake it is today.
In 1980 the quarry was purchased with the intent to open a fish hatchery. The new owner was soon approached by a local diver and granted permission to dive there. Due to the clear water, fish life, and ideal topography of the lake, word quickly spread and the lake became the premier destination for dive training in the North Eastern part of the US.
In 2021, after 41 years as a successful and beloved recreational dive facility and water park, the aging owners were ready for retirement and the property was sold. Commercial real estate developer, Trammel Crow
purchased the 95.5 acre property with the intention to close off the lake and develop the land for warehouses. The Lehigh Valley community at large was saddened by the loss of this vital resource that attracted business to the local economy.
Trammel Crow’s NE Business Unit Vice President, Matt Nunn was determined to give back to the community at large and began looking for a way to keep the lake accessible.
In 2021 Trammel Crow was approached by Ken Kraft, an avid scuba diver with deep ties to the Lehigh Valley, with an idea to keep the lake open. With the help of Matt Nunn and Trammel Crow, Ken Kraft and his friend and business partner, Jim Folk, also a diver and local business owner, opened Lake Hydra, Inc. in 2024. In addition to its thriving business as a dive training facility, Lake Hydra is open free to Fire Fighters and First Responder organizations for team training.
FIRST RESPONDER TEAMS
USE OUR LAKE AT NO COST, MON-WED
Lake Hydra is proud to serve our community by offering free entry to Fire Fighter and First Responder Organizations using the lake to train. If your First Responder or Fire Fighter Team would like to train at Lake Hydra for free, please contact us to schedule a team training event.
organizations
CONTACT US FOR PRICING
Lake Hydra stands out as the premier destination for scuba diving training, serving educational institutions and organizations throughout the Northeast. Our facilities are available to scuba schools, drawing participants from locations as distant as Florida, Texas, Ohio, and even up to Maine. Beyond our support for dive schools, we also provide complimentary access to first responders and search and recovery teams for their training needs, ensuring they are well-equipped for their vital responsibilities.
