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Diving toward bottom at Barton Springs Pool.

Now first off, be careful. This area is a federally protected natural habitat! That’s what the lifeguard barked out. No, not to me, but might as well have been. We’ve always known the cold-water springs to be the home of a rare salamander, but even I didn’t really think about not picking stuff up, like rocks, while diving around. And yeah, there’s some cool stuff down there. But just remember to cruise around carefully and disturb as very little as possible. It only takes a few dives to realize it’s a delicate ecosystem that is playing host to hundreds of swimmers above.

There are lots of tiny snails around the main spring and a few fish taking refuge in a crevice that leads to a big hole. The hole is much deeper than the rest of the area, so I’m thinking it’s a crater from the main spring flow, years before the recent man mad dam. It’s filled with small white pebbles and lined with a beautiful limestone miniature cliff that reflects the filtered sunlight.

Fish living in Barton Springs Pool.

It’s a fun dive and enough to cause a pressure change in the ears and presses the mask harder against your face. It takes a few times to build up the tolerance, and if you rarely dive below nine feet then ease toward the bottom of the hole over the course of a couple of dives.

In the distance, a girl rises to the surface after a jump from the diving board.

After you’re used to it you will start to explore a whole new world no matter how many times you say you’ve been to Barton Springs. Just remember to treat the area with tons of respect and also yourself. Stay safe and be aware of your surroundings. Many times people are swimming right above where you’re free-diving.

Kate escapes the Texas heat with an afternoon visit to Barton Springs.

Always a hit. Unless you go on Thursday, of course. Even if it is right down the street, a trip on the one day of week they close the pool for cleaning is a heat stroking affair! It’s hot right now in Austin Texas. You gotta go to the springs…

The pool water at Barton Springs averages between 68-71 degrees Fahrenheit, year round! It’s the perfect temperature during summer and actually kinda warm for winter. The pool is pretty much huge, so it’s great for distance swimming or just lounging on an air mattress.

Floating around during a July afternoon.

The parking lot can get pretty packed because there’s a few other nearby parks.  Zilker park, Umlauf, Botanical Gardens and the hike/bike trail along the river are also very popular.  So when you pull up (unless you’re really cool and you ride your bike or walk) chances are you’ll find few places to park.  But once your in the pool area, it’s not usually too bad.

The diving board at the springs almost always has a line to it.

The diving board will probably have a line to use, but it’s well worth the chance to have an interesting dip into the chilled waters.  If you get a chance, swim around and below the ladder a bit and you’ll find the main feed of Barton Spring.  It’s the coldest part of the pool.

Near the diving board, part of the pool's natural rock offers a wading ledge.

If you are looking to do some sunbathing, there’s plenty of that on the east side of the pool.  It’s a sloping hill and works great to prop you up and point you due west into the brutal Texas-July sunshine.  It shouldn’t take long to dry off and start to turn bronze before you’ll be ready to jump in the pool again.

Parked in the shade...

If you are more the type that wants the shade, then this place has also got you covered.  The three springs that deliver chilled water from the Edwards Aquafer and make up Barton Springs Pool, are also constantly feeding the giant oak and pecan trees that line the pool.  Not many trees in Texas get the chance to grow next to spring water and these trees show the difference.

View more pics of Barton Springs located in the SPI360 Galleries.