Aquarena Center Dive Weekend Gene Koonce Last year, after Ann Keibler had mentioned the Scientific Diver program at Aquarena Center in San Marcos to me, my son, my son-in-law, and I took advantage of the opportunity and participated in the two day class. Fortunately, my daughter, grandson, and son-in-law live in Lockhart which is about 18 miles from San Marcos; thus giving me both the opportunity to visit them and also have a base of operation for the free diving trips at Spring Lake. Compared to most freshwater diving locations in the Houston area, Spring Lake is an unbelievably wonderful place to practice diving skills while helping with environmentally positive projects in a spring fed lake that has 70 to 100 feet visibility and a constant 72 degree temperature year round. The lake is fed by the Edwards Aquifer and is made up of numerous pockets of springs that are varied in depth, configuration, and size. To make it more interesting, there are glass bottom boats overhead that keeps one thinking about his buoyancy and depth at all times. With the weather warming again, the lure to get underwater was too much and we visited the facilities as volunteers again over the weekend of April 4 and 5. During the two days of diving, we were the only divers in the area of the lake where the springs are located. ItÕs a lot like having your own private dive site. On Saturday, there were three open-water classes being conducted in the training area where the Scientific Diver training program is normally given, but the area is somewhat separated from the portion of the lake that contains the springs, the boats, and the endangered species that live in and around the lake. Our project over the weekend was to clear the dead algae from the edges of several of the springs in order to allow the springs to be visible from the boats. On Friday, as we swam under the existing submerged theater into the first spring-fed area known as Diversion, we encountered the last remaining albino catfish in Spring Lake. Rumor has it that this catfish, which I would guess weighs around 30 pounds, is 25 years old. He was laying on top of one of the larger springs and was obviously enjoying having the water pumped through his gills. With him being as blind as the proverbial bat, we were able to get very close and watch him for an extended period of time before going about our duties. As is usually the case with me, I had decided not to take my underwater camera with me this time. Photographing the catfish would have been a great opportunity, but now I have another reason to look forward to going back soon, assuming the catfish will survive a little longer. There are never-ending projects to do in the lake as well as many opportunities for repair work around the diverÕs area. I am always amazed that the wooden pier that projects out into the lake has not given way under a diver loaded with his gear. A new wider bench at the end of the pier would be great for putting on a BCD and tank. I did notice that the metal ladder was missing form the end of the pier this time, but I can only guess what happened to it. It was a real test to climb that old ladder with all your gear on. Aquarena Center is a great opportunity for any diver that wants to help with worthwhile projects in an environmentally sensitive area while having the chance to practice diving skills in a beautiful clear water lake with a variety of life and underwater conditions.