Lake Rawlings near Glen Allen, Virginia, opened as a dive site in May 1994, and
is overseen by The Rawlings Quarry Diving Co. The 20-acre (8 hectare) lake is
surrounded by 27.5-acres (11 hectares) of
trees
and three ponds. The quarry was mined for its granite rock, used in the
construction of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Interstate 85 and other
interstate projects. In the 1950s, miners struck an aquifer and Lake Rawlings
was born. The water stays clear thanks to the rock bottom. Underwater
attractions include a bus, several boats, signs, mailboxes, two cars and
statues. Also at the bottom is a boat from "The Replacements," a movie starring
Gene Hackman and Keanu Reeves. Scenes from the movie were filmed at the lake.
Many activities are held at the lake, including a one-week summer scuba camp for
youth ages 12-16. Divers should note that dive knives are no longer allowed at
the lake because of past abuse of that right, and if they are caught with one
they face fines of up to $300.
Depths to: 65 feet (20 m)
Visibility: 30-60 feet
(9-18 m) Water
temperature: Varies by season but reaches 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31 degrees
Celsius),
65-75 F in the fall and drops below 45 F (7 C) in the winter.
Marine life: Bluegill, bass, brim, clams, snails, crayfish
and more.
Fees: $17.50 per diver, $5 nondiver and $7.50 campers
per night.
On-site amenities: Dive center offers air fills, equipment rentals, training
platforms, camping, changing areas, showers and scuba lessons.
More info: Call (804) 478-9000 or for reservations, call
(800) 583-3781. Also, visit
www.lakerawlings.com.
Open: Daily from May 1 to September 30. Weekday hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check the Web
site for off-season hours.
Getting there: Take Interstate 85 to Exit 39 (Rawlings). From there, take Route
712 to Route 1. Proceed south on Route 1 and follow signs to dive site.
trees
and three ponds. The quarry was mined for its granite rock, used in the
construction of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Interstate 85 and other
interstate projects. In the 1950s, miners struck an aquifer and Lake Rawlings
was born. The water stays clear thanks to the rock bottom. Underwater
attractions include a bus, several boats, signs, mailboxes, two cars and
statues. Also at the bottom is a boat from "The Replacements," a movie starring
Gene Hackman and Keanu Reeves. Scenes from the movie were filmed at the lake.
Water
temperature: Varies by season but reaches 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31 degrees
Celsius), 