Utah: Homestead Crater
700 North Homestead Drive
Midway, UT 84049
November 25th-28th, 2024
Utah, November, and scuba diving. Three things that generally don’t come to mind while sitting with some of your family, in your in the middle of southern Illinois in the middle of October. But somehow that was this year’s spontaneous and slightly irresponsible trip, knocking off another state and exploring where those early Mormon pioneers decided to settle down. After a quick, barely 10-minute conversation about if we should or not, a plane ticket was booked and a place to stay was, hopefully, squared away, for two of us at least.
The next couple weeks were spent with randomly looking at flights, and attempting to peer pressure, con, convince, harass, bully, invite the third member to join our bad decisions. Finally, the week before the trip their flight was booked and we all remembered that we hate early morning flights and started to think maybe we were dumb for doing this, yet again. However, after cramming into the world’s smallest Uber, with bags between us and riding shotgun. Thankfully, we all made it to Salt Lake City, adventure started as we left airport excited about mountains and snow.
After stopping for a quick lunch at Hidden Peak Provisions Deli we headed to the crater “with plenty of time” to check in and try not to rush once we got there. Spoilers, we did not have plenty of time and were fully rushing to assemble cameras, and unpack gear from our bulging suitcases. All while sitting in the middle of the parking lot, in the snow, due to the confined space inside the crater.
35’ for 42 minutes & 35’ for 38 minutes 92°
The crater is a small bee-hive shaped dome, roughly 55’ high, that sits in the middle of a relatively flat area surrounded by mountains. The dome was naturally formed over the past 10,000 years as snowmelt from the surrounding mountains was absorbed into the earth, heated up by the Earth’s core, and then percolated up to the surface and depositing minerals on the surface. This process still occurs maintaining a consistent water temperature between 90-95*F. The top of the crater is open to the elements letting in sunlight, rain, or snow depending on the time of day. A small walking path winds it’s way around the dome leading to the top with a bridge over the top of the dome to look into the water 55’ below. Unfortunately, it is no longer allowed to repel down into the crater with the gear, opposite of what I had mentioned to the group. With a sigh of relief from some members of our group, we entered the crater via a small tunnel has been opened on the side for easier, and probably safer access, to the water. Bare bulbs line the entrance of the tunnel providing light to the roughly cut pathway and single occupancy changing rooms are available. After chucking in with the main dive shop, and singing away our lives, we checked in once more with the main desk inside the crater and showed them our signed-away-life paperwork. Tanks and weights were hauled to the waters edge and we quickly assembled the gear and beat the clock and get the most out of our dives.
The surface of the crater is approximately 400’ wide with a large dock that serves as the staging area slightly and three large overhead lights. Being careful not to drop anything into the water we assembled our gear, and lowered it into the “pig pen”, a shallow staging area slightly below the main dock. Once we donned our gear, it was a quick swim under the safety bar and we were free to float about in the main pool.
Underwater the crater is shaped roughly like an hour glass going down to 65’. There’s a small platform with two lights sitting at 10’ against the wall outside of the pig pen. In the center of the pool six buoys mark a descent down to 15’ for safter stops for the end of the dive, that go down to a small PVC Square marking 35’. Slightly below that another PVC diamond marks 40’ the max depth allowed for diving. Due to the altitude, all dives act as if we are diving 10’ deeper than we actually are. Outside of humans there are no large living creatures in the water, however the turtle, spider, and a half-jawed crocodile attached to the wall of the crater, are all easily seen during a single dive. In the center, suspended at roughly 20’ there is an old wagon wheel that as found in the bottom of the crater. Bob sits atop of it along with a rubber chicken and all of the avengers.
The dives completed, and as hunger quickly set it, we exited the water, broke down the gear in the chilly air and threw everything into the car before leaving and trying to find dinner on the drive through the dark winding mountain roads up to Ede, UT. We traveled north for a while, being late, a Monday night and the middle of Utah there were limited options. Hoping to avoid another “murder restaurant”, (again it wasn’t their fault), we finally decided on The Post Bar and Grill in Morgan. The outside was dark, there were only a few cars in the lot and while it didn’t scream murder bar, it was on a dark back road in the middle of Utah. Fortunatly, we survived and after having some tasty food made it to our hotel as the snow continued to fall.
Eden is a small ski resort town, an hour from Salt Lake City. The remaining time was spent mostly exploring Salt Lake City. Checking out the Salt Lake City Tabernacle, outrunning Mormon recruitment agents, and the never-ending hunt for 10/$1 postcards that seem to be a thing of the past. As storms began to roll in, it was time for a quick drop off at the airport and then a slow trek back to Eden as the snow blew around us, but not without stopping first for a dirty soda. Grabbing pizza and goat wine it was time to jump in the hot tub before getting kicked out and turning in for the night.
The last full day, was another visit to Salt Lake this time including a very wet and muddy hike up to Ensign Point. When the trail isn’t wet and slick with mud it is an easy roughly 30-minute hike up around the mountain. The first ascent was completed by Brigham Young on July 26, 1847 when he and the other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints first arrived in SLC. Much like Mufasa, Brigham looked out and declared everything that the light touches would be the foundation of Salt Lake.
After sliding back down the mountain, and managing not to fall after getting a bit too cocky it was time for a well-earned beer at Saltfire Brewery, who’s logo is an anglerfish so automatically a good sign. A few beers later it was time for dinner a White Horse, an American Brasserie with a wall of whiskey, equating to a nine-page menu dedicated to their selection, another recommended place. The rest of the evening was spent packing up and complaining about our poor choices and early ass flights. Thus, concluded state number 22 and another adventure.
