The
27-acre spring-fed lake is the former Billmeyer limestone quarry found in
Lancaster County, in the south central part of the state. It has developed
into a popular training site, attracting divers from Maryland, New York,
Delaware, Virginia and Pennsylvania. It offers many underwater features,
such as a bulldozer, airplane fuselage, numerous boats, a school bus,
several training platforms, a tanker, a van, a motorcycle and much more.
Platforms are in place between 15 and 60 feet (4.5 and 18 m) below the
surface.
Depths to: 120
feet (36 m)
Visibility:
20-50 feet (6-15 m) depending on the time of year
Water
temperature: Fluctuates with the seasons.
Marine life:
Freshwater fish such as large bass, bluegill, yellow perch, and nonstinging
jellyfish.
Fees: $20 per
person per day for divers and snorkelers; $10 for nondivers. Camping and
night diving, available only on Saturdays, cost an extra $6 each.
On-site
amenities: Bathrooms, showers, dive store, air fills, fire rings for
campers. Restaurants, gas stations and groceries can be found within a mile
of the quarry.
More info: Call
(717) 426-2114, visit ,
or write 2037 River Road, Bainbridge, PA 17502.
Open: Saturday
and Sunday only, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. October through April; and from 9
a.m. to 7 p.m. the rest of the year.
Getting there:
From the Harrisburg area, drive south on Pennsylvania Route 441 for about 12
miles. About two miles after driving through Bainbridge, the quarry will be
on the right. It’s east of the Susquehanna River.
The
27-acre spring-fed lake is the former Billmeyer limestone quarry found in
Lancaster County, in the south central part of the state. It has developed
into a popular training site, attracting divers from Maryland, New York,
Delaware, Virginia and Pennsylvania. It offers many underwater features,
such as a bulldozer, airplane fuselage, numerous boats, a school bus,
several training platforms, a tanker, a van, a motorcycle and much more.
Platforms are in place between 15 and 60 feet (4.5 and 18 m) below the
surface.