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Lake Hydra

3.9 — based on 19 community signals
4.4 12 species 50 contributors

Lake Hydra is a year-round freshwater dive destination in the United States with 12 recorded species observations and active community video content.

⭐ Best for beginners.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
Shore entryFreshwaterOnly

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Best months
Year-round

Top operators here

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Map

This spot Operators POIs Airport Nearby spots
Lake Hydra location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
6.6 kn
Wave
m
Water
—°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: NE (44%)
Now: NNW (328°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 0m
+0.0 m0 m+0.0 m
Now +0.0m
Fri 18Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24
UV5.15 · mod Air PM2.53 · good 06:45 19:05
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-18 9.4 5 0mm
09-19 9.2 5 0mm
09-20 7.8 0 20mm
09-21 10 4 0mm
09-22 16.1 1 38mm
09-23 15 1 2mm
09-24 14.4 0 7mm

About this spot

Lake Hydra offers freshwater diving opportunities accessible throughout the year. The site has documented species observations and community-contributed videos that showcase what divers can expect underwater. As an unprotected dive site, it remains open to the diving public without marine preserve restrictions. The lake supports a diverse ecosystem with 12 species observations recorded by visiting divers. Video content from the community provides visual reference for conditions and marine life encounters. This makes Lake Hydra a useful research destination for freshwater diving enthusiasts looking to document and study aquatic life. Year-round access means divers can plan trips based on personal schedules rather than seasonal windows. The site's documented observations and video library help new visitors prepare for their dives and understand what wildlife they may encounter. Lake Hydra works best for divers seeking freshwater exploration with established community data.

📖 Guide: Diving in the United States: 87 Sites From Springs to Open Ocean

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type A/B · 120V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 5640km · ~1297kg · €23

FAQ

Can I dive Lake Hydra year-round?

Yes, Lake Hydra is open to diving year-round, so you can plan trips based on your schedule rather than seasonal restrictions.

What marine life is documented at Lake Hydra?

Twelve species observations have been recorded at the site. Community videos provide visual documentation of the wildlife and conditions divers encounter.

Is Lake Hydra in a marine protected area?

No, Lake Hydra is not inside a marine protected area, so standard recreational diving access applies.

How can I learn about conditions before diving Lake Hydra?

Three community videos are available showing real dive footage and conditions. Species observation data from 12 documented encounters can help you prepare for your visit.

Operators near this spot

Dive centres, kite & surf schools within 10 km, sourced from OpenStreetMap.

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

22 records · 9 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Corbicula fluminea

Bivalvia · Cyrenidae
OBIS
Last seen:
23 Aug 2001
×1records

Lymnaeidae

Gastropoda · Lymnaeidae
OBIS
Last seen:
3 Aug 2000
×1records

Gastropoda

Gastropoda
OBIS
Last seen:
25 Jul 2000
×1records

Pisidium

Bivalvia · Sphaeriidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Aug 1957
×1records

Lymnaeidae

Gastropoda · Lymnaeidae
OBIS
Last seen:
27 Apr 1955
×1records

Sphaeriidae

Bivalvia · Sphaeriidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 1949
×1records

Lymnaeidae

Gastropoda · Lymnaeidae
OBIS
Last seen:
18 Nov 1941
×1records

Valvata

Gastropoda · Valvatidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 1938
×1records

Pisidium

Bivalvia · Sphaeriidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 1938
×1records

Ferrissia

Gastropoda · Planorbidae
OBIS
Last seen:
9 Jul 1926
×2records

Lymnaeidae

Gastropoda · Lymnaeidae
OBIS
Last seen:
14 Aug 1923
×1records

Ferrissia

Gastropoda · Planorbidae
OBIS
Last seen:
14 Aug 1923
×1records

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Matt Nuttle, dives the U.S. Navy Mark five rig at Dutch Springs 12 years ago.

Jack Dabb

The Most DANGEROUS Dive Site In Florida

Scary Interesting
💬 3 top comments
  • As a father, it makes me viscerally angry that dad took his uncertified son into a cave known for killing people.

    @Radxcor83 · 👍 2100
  • Taking your son, who is not PADI certifited, cave diving with a depth of 70m for his first dive is wild af .

    @NightSufer17099 · 👍 3800
  • There's something unsettling about the idea of a random, circular, small pond that looks calm hiding a much deeper, open cave section that's as big as an aircraft hanger.

    @ClippyMcGemmy · 👍 2300

Lake Dutch Springs

Diving with Scuba pro
wind peaks Mar-Apr-Jan, calmest Sep-Aug-Jul, dry Jan-Dec.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)

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