Another article about Mammoth lake
Mammoth Lake filling with water, curiosities
By Jason Smith
The Facts
Published November 30, 2006
CLUTE — A giant pink mammoth and metal people yielding spears stand to attract attention to what its backers think will become the Disneyland of diving in the United States — Mammoth Lake.
The giant sand pit where mammoth bones were discovered slowly is being turned into what might be the largest dive-specific lake in the nation.
“At 55 acres, it will be the largest that we know of next to the 47 acres at Dutch Springs in Pennsylvania,” said Mike Cryer, owner of Hydrosports Scuba.
What makes Mammoth Lake special is that the owner, Vernor Materials and Equipment, is placing all sorts of artifacts to create an underwater universe.
Giant metal sculptures of mammoths, humans and turtles, the looping starship ride and pieces of the Mayan Mindbender from Astroworld, boats of all sizes, jets and old missile parts from NASA, fire trucks and buses are just a few things being placed in the sandpit that eventually will be filled with water to create Mammoth Lake.
Even the pink mammoth eventually will be placed in the pit.
“It was painted pink to draw attention, and a giant pink mammoth is definitely an eyecatcher,” Cryer said.
The pink behemoth actually is the second mammoth sculpture created by Kelso Vernor. It will be placed in the pit near the people holding spears to look as though they are spearing it. People will be able to differentiate between the two when they dive, Mike said.
“A church steeple is being made into an underwater Christmas tree, and a submarine is being concocted from old scraps of metal to look like it was sunk on active duty,” said Michelle Cryer, Mike’s wife.
In addition to these items, the different areas of the lake will have themes.
Where the Mayan Mindbender lies will be called the Mayan Underwater; sunken boats will be placed in a rectangular shape and called the Bermuda Rectangle; the mammoth sculptures will be set where the remains of a Columbian mammoth were found and is tentatively titled Jurassic Park; the F-5 jet, other items from NASA and the looping starship will have a space theme; and the buses will be called the Bus Stop, Mike Cryer said.
“Diving in the Gulf, all you see is flat sand. Here you will get to explore the unusual,” Mike Cryer said.
A large underwater cave system also is being constructed for those who are certified cave divers.
“Texas A&M University asked for it because the nearest cave system to dive in is in Florida,” Mike Cryer said. Catfish, bass and perch will all be stocked in the lake to add marine life.
Hydrosports Scuba, which opened at the site Oct. 8, is hoping to start diving in a portion of Mammoth Lake by next spring. They offer scuba-diving classes, with open water instruction, trips, sell scuba diving equipment and when the lake is filled, will offer kayaking.
They also added a swimming pool to their new building as an aquatic simulator for teaching. The scuba shop will offer a deck with a handicap ramp extending to the water. It will be one of the few places in the nation set up for handicap diving, Mike Cryer said.
A restaurant, whose name had not been disclosed, will be built near the scuba shop, Mike Cryer said. The restaurant is scheduled to be finished by the time the lake is full.
“We are hoping to have 200 to 300 people over the weekends. This will be a real big boost to the economy in the area,” Mike Cryer said.
The lake is estimated to be completely filled by late 2007, but a portion on the far east side already is filling up naturally and is up to about 12 feet of water, Michelle Cryer said. When the lake is completely full, the deepest portion is expected to be between 60 to 80 feet deep.
“A lot of people, after they get scuba certified, quit diving because there is no place to go,” Mike Cryer said. “Mammoth Lake will give them that place and will be beyond their wildest imagination.”
Hydrosports Scuba is on Mammoth Lake at 330 N. Dixie Drive, Building A, in Clute. For information about scuba diving certification, call Hydrosports Scuba at (979) 285-0600.
