GREAT FALLS — The Electric City Dive Club submerged themselves in the Giant Springs of Great Falls on Saturday for their semi-annual cleanup.
For over 20 years, the club has helped keep the springs looking fresh by removing weeds and trash that build up over several months time.
Electric City Dive Club member Tami Lukas detailed the divers’ cleanup process.
“They do this twice a year -- once in the spring and once at the end of summer, fall to keep everything ... bubbling to the surface," she said. "When it’s bubbling to the surface like that, that means that means that vent is clear, if you will. So we go in there and clean those vents for the water to come up,”
While ‘cleaning up’ might sound like a chore, Lukas, a passionate diver, said swimming in the springs has been a lifelong dream.
“To get the opportunity to come and see what the water looks like under the surface is, wow, pretty exciting,” Lukas said.
Electric City Dive Club President Jim Benner said access to the springs is by invitation only, a privilege the club has enjoyed for over two decades.
Benner said the partnership is beneficial for both Giant Springs and the Electric City Dive Club, since more people have the opportunity to learn about the dive club during the semi-annual public cleaning of Giant Springs.
“Every so often we’ll get a person that wants to join our club. So it works two ways,” Benner said.
Any certified scuba diver within the Electric City Dive Club can volunteer to help clean the springs. If you'd like to become a club member, you can reach out to the club on Facebook.
