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The Crater

THE CRATER

Certification Page

Hello To All of Our Students

We hope you are all excited about the upcoming certification trip. Soon you are going to be certified to dive anywhere in the world there is water!  Below you’ll find some information on the upcoming Blue Hole Certification trip and a tentative itinerary. If you still have questions please let us know.​  Students complete 4 training dives under close supervision, and after successful completion of the dives, students are awarded a lifetime ticket to enjoy the underwater world with the PADI Open Water Diver certification.   Cards will arrive in the mail from PADI headquarters in about two weeks. Temporary cards (if traveling for vacation sooner) can be issued right away.

 

We will meet everyone at The Crater's Activity Center or at the Homestead Crater Resort lobby.  The meet and dive times change from trip to trip, depending on what we were able to reserve (please verify the times with us, if you are signed up for a trip to the Crater) 

The Homestead Caldera, known locally as "The Crater" is a natural hot spring surrounded by a rock dome. It is located in Midway, Utah. It is a commercial location open year-round to scuba divers and swimmers. Originally, it was accessed from a large natural opening at the top of the dome but has since had a tunnel blasted through horizontally for easy access. The Crater began forming 10,000 years ago and is made of minerals deposited by the rising, heated spring water.

 

The Crater was used in the Danny Boyle film "127 Hours" as a shooting location. The film portrays it as existing 300 miles south of its actual location, in Blue John Canyon.

 

The Crater Fast Facts:

  • Diameter: 65' at the surface, 50' at bottom

  • Depth: Over 60'

  • Temperature: Range 92° - 96° 

  • Visibility: 50' when undisturbed

The Crater's Address is:

700 Homestead Dr, Midway, UT 84049

Activity Center Phone Number: (435) 657-3840‬

It takes about 6-7 hours to drive from Fort Collins to the address above (on a nice day!)

 

Accommodations:

The Zermatt Resort gives our divers a discount and it is right across the street from where we dive.  All you need to do to get the discounted fare is call the number below and tell them that you are coming to dive with Colorado Scuba Diving Academy (Group Name: DIVESHOP and the Code: LBDS).  The discounted rate changes depending on the time of the year we arrive. Call This Number: 435-709-9547 to make your reservations.

 

  • Anyone who is looking for ride-sharing or room-sharing, please contact us and we will get you connected with each other.

 

Things you will need to bring:

  • The average water temperature at the Crater is 95 year-round.  Bring a T-shirt and shorts to dive with

  • Your Logbook

  • Towel

  • Drinking water

  • Sunscreen

  • Possibly a bathrobe or big towel

  • sweats and flip flops to wear/dry clothes  

We provide all the necessary dive equipment for the weekend (only when it's included in your course), you just need to pick it up prior to the weekend.  If you don't pick up your equipment from us, you will need to rent it on location for an additional cost (whatever the Crater will charge you)

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Very Important to Keep in Mind:

​The Crater is privately owned and there is an entry fee, that we all need to pay prior to our diving time.

You are also required to fill out and sign a waiver prior to entering the crater. 

  • The Activity Center, where you'll be paying and signing your waiver, closes at 6 pm.  If our meeting time is at 6 pm or later, you will need to complete all the above arrangements before it closes, . Click HERE to download, print, and fill out the waiver for The Crater to save time.

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Scuba Equipment Use Agreement Form (you don’t need it if we already got it from you during your class&pool):

Please click HERE for the "Scuba Equipment Use Agreement".  Print it out, sign it and bring it with you (one form per person). YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED ANY EXTRA FOR THE USE OF BORROWED SCUBA EQUIPMENT!!!

However, you are still responsible for the equipment you’ll be receiving and for returning it when required. In case of loss, breakage, etc. you will be responsible for the fees associated with repairs or replacement of the equipment (you will only be charged our cost and not the full retail value).

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  • We provide all the necessary dive equipment for the weekend, you just need to pick it up prior to the weekend. Gear pick-up days are usually by appointment, Thursday, and Friday the week of your certification trip.

The Schedule For The Weekend Is As Follows:

 

SATURDAY

  • Meet for orientation and dive briefing

  • Assemble gear and get ready for the dive

  • Enter the crater and do Dive 1

  • Surface Interval inside the crater

  • Perform Dive 2

  • Exit the crater and disassemble the gear

  • Go out for dinner and off for the night

 

SUNDAY

  • Meet for briefing and assembling equipment

  • Enter the crater and do Dive 3

  • Surface Interval inside the crater

  • Perform Dive 4 and Congratulations, you are certified!!!

  • Exit the crater and disassemble the gear

  • Debrief the dives, log, and sign logbooks by your instructors.

  • Hit the road back to Colorado or continue your adventure!

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