Guppy Gulch, Pennsylvania

A Middle Atlantic States Dive Haven

Story and photo by Dave and Sheri Albrecht

Well over a century ago, some stonecutters and quarrymen came to the United States looking for a place to ply their trades. They settled in Delta, Pennsylvania, the home of a small but productive stone quarry. With street names like Slatesville, Green Marble and Quarry Road, it's not hard to imagine that the quarry once was a major lifeline of the community. Unfortunately, the quarry fell victim to an economic downturn in the early 1950s and was forced to close. Abandoned, the spring-fed quarry soon filled with water and was forgotten for more than 30 years until Steve Deem, an enterprising dive store owner from Baltimore, recognized its potential as a dive spot.

From Solid to Liquid

Deem purchased the 22-acre (9-hectare) property in 1988 and began the long, slow process of transforming it into one of the Middle Atlantic States' most popular dive training facilities. Guppy Gulch opened in 1995. The quarry itself is more than 14 acres (5.6 hectares) in size and its waters range in depth from 15 to 85 feet (4.5 to 26 m). Underwater visibility averages 30-50 feet (9-15 m). Water temperatures vary depending upon the time of year, but average in the mid-50 degrees Fahrenheit (mid-10 degrees Celsius).

With several large submerged platforms stationed at various depths, Guppy Gulch has become a preferred open-water training site for instructors teaching students of all experience levels. About an hour's drive from Baltimore and Philadelphia, the site attracts divers from all along the Eastern Shore. Instructors, dive centers and local colleges such as Johns Hopkins University, Goucher College and the University of Maryland often use Guppy Gulch to conduct their certification check-out dives, Advanced Open Water training and specialty courses.

Guppy Gulch features six sunken vessels, from an 18-foot (5.5-m) runabout to a 45-foot (14-m) Chris Craft as well as several small train locomotives, a truck and a motorcycle. Bluegills, bass, trout and the occasional catfish are on the list of underwater attractions. With most of the underwater sites connected by shielded cable and marked by surface buoys, it is quite easy for divers of all experience levels to safely navigate around the quarry. And with two dive entrances and more than 200 feet (61 m) of floating dock interlaced throughout the quarry, divers can literally walk on water as they make their way to the dive site of their choice.

The improvements made to Guppy Gulch were not limited to the underwater realm. Topside facilities include a full-service retail dive center with air fills and equipment rentals, a snack bar, picnic area, restrooms with showers, and heated dressing rooms.

A large pavilion doubles as an open-air classroom. Parking areas are near the shore, making it easy to gear up without having to walk far to the entry area. Certification classes are offered and overnight camping is available.

Guppy Gulch is open weekends from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 1 to November 30. Year-round diving is offered to groups of 10 or more, with reservations. Night diving is available by appointment. Daily entrance fees are $14 per diver, $10 per nondiver. Certified scuba instructors with a valid c-card are admitted free, as are nondiving kids under age 12. A camp-and-dive package is priced at $30 per diver and includes two days of diving, one night dive and a campsite.

For those who don't wish to camp, Delta's Peach Bottom Inn, (717) 456-9831, offers rooms at reasonable rates. Delta also has several modestly priced family restaurants to choose from.

Guppy Gulch staffers are trained in first aid and the Delta Volunteer Fire Department is less than 2 miles (3 km) away, should the need for emergency medical service arise.

Aquatic Adventure Camp

Every summer Guppy Gulch hosts the Aquatic Adventure Camp, a residential camp that specializes in teaching teen-agers ages 14-17 the skills to become certified divers. Eight-day and 14-day sessions are offered. Campers are not required to have any scuba experience, as the program was designed for those who have never taken a breath underwater. Instructors lead small groups of student campers through personalized, step-by-step training. At the end of the session, campers receive Open Water and Advanced Open Water certifications.

While the emphasis is on diving, the student campers have the option of participating in other watersports activities. Aquatic Adventure Camp has several qualified kayaking instructors on staff, and campers also receive kayaking lessons. Preliminary skills are taught in the calm waters of Guppy Gulch. Once basic skills are mastered, the kayakers paddle one of the many tributaries of the Susquehanna River, just a short distance from the quarry. Campers may receive certifications in Flatwater, Moving Water and Whitewater kayaking.

There also are plenty of traditional camping activities to fill the students' free time. Campers are housed in comfortable lodges with semiprivate rooms and all meals are provided. Most evenings are spent sharing stories around a campfire.

Aquatic Adventure Camp courses have received the coveted accreditation of the American Camping Association. Sessions, which are offered from mid-June to late August, have proven so popular that students from all over the United States have attended. So have campers from as far away as China, Russia and Australia.

Attractions

While Guppy Gulch is first and foremost a recreational scuba facility, throughout the year it hosts a variety of events. Summer events include weekend cookouts and in August Guppy Gulch sponsors the Breast Cancer Dive, which benefits the American Cancer Society. Fall features a Halloween dive and a Turkey Day dive. Divers can ring in the New Year at the annual New Year's Day dive.

Getting There

To reach Guppy Gulch from Interstate 95, take Exit 80 and turn north on Route 543; drive 18 miles and turn right onto 165 north; drive 2.6 miles to the first traffic light and turn right onto 136 south; drive 0.3 miles and turn left onto Main Street; drive 2.2 miles and turn right onto Pendryus Road; and then drive 0.2 miles to Guppy Gulch. For more information, phone Guppy Gulch at (717) 456-7535; e-mail: mail@aquatic-connection.com; or visit www.aquatic-connection.com.