Dive Florida - Home | Join Our eNewsletter | Electric Powered Hookah SystemsMany swimming pools these days are never completely drained. But the mammoth, historic city pool in Coral Gables – 820,000 gallons, about 40 times the size of a large home pool – is emptied and filled every night during the busy swimming season, when residents and tourists flock to the cool waters fed by the Biscayne aquifer. Lifeguards Jose Vilar and Miles Charlton can attest to that. On a Sunday night in midsummer, they take fire hose and pressure cleaner to the bottom of the Venetian Pool, the only public pool listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Carved out of a coral rock quarry, the "Venetian Casino" opened in 1924 with two waterfalls, a grotto and high diving platforms. (The high dives are no longer there.) The accompanying coral rock buildings and covered walkway bear Mediterranean features, including barrel tile roofs. It is nestled amid plants of paradise – royal poinciana, bougainvillea, coconut palms – and once served as a popular music and lecture venue.

Celebrated orator William Jennings Bryan spoke here. Paul Whiteman and his orchestra performed here. Swimming and movie stars Esther Williams (1944's Bathing Beauty) and Olympian Johnny Weissmuller (1930s Tarzan films) appeared here. So inviting during the day, the sun reflecting off the water, Venetian Pool is a fascinating canyon of concrete and coral rock when it's empty at dusk. A few curious passersby press their faces against the wrought iron fence and watch Vilar and Charlton work. "I love the place," says Vilar, 21, who grew up in nearby South Miami. "I learned to swim here." Charlton, 19, grew up in Coral Gables – and in the pool. The two begin an elaborate behind-the-scenes operation after closing. Before they can clean the pool bottom, they wait 3.5 to 4 hours for the water to drain. Injection wells rapidly push the water down through the coral rock and limestone below, which filter it as it makes its way back into the aquifer. "It's probably the best filtration that you can find," says Carolina Vester, pool supervisor.

That wasn't always the case. Until 1989, when the injection well system was installed, the water was just pumped out and wasted. Vilar and Charlton push sand, leaves and other debris to a depression near the drain. They trap and remove the large bits of debris and pump the remaining particle-laden water out of the pool so that it doesn't go out with water bound for the aquifer. When they finish, they turn on the pump, and fresh water from 50 to 75 feet underground gushes in through grates. It takes about 3.5 hours to fill. The Venetian Pool uses the least amount of chlorine that regulations allow, one part per million gallons. It's easier on the eyes, the aquifer and the city budget, Vester notes. Because of the low dose of chlorine, the pool bans children younger than 3 – potty trained or not. Parents must be able to prove their child is at least 3. Vester has been at the Venetian for eight years. She likes coming to work, she says, "because there's always something new happening every day."

Maintenance is constant in the nearly 90-year-old buildings, and to preserve the pool's character, every repair has to get approval from historical reviewers. "Everything is a process in this facility, but it is a beautiful facility, and the fact that it is historic, it kind of maintains that original look from the '20s. carpet cleaning companies pittsburgh paAnd that's nice," Vester says.what is the best steam mop to clean tile floors Looking out over the roof from her office, Vester says that the barrel tile will have to be replaced soon. what is the best way to clean dog urine from carpet"Based on the historic aspect, they have to get exactly the same-looking barrel tile."what is the best way to clean a pool cartridge filter

Of course, the barrel tile that has shielded the roof all these decades was handmade. The process would be too slow to replicate, and no doubt the "molds" would get tired. With a small laugh, Vester tells the story: "Supposedly, they would put it over a female thigh to round the tile."pool filter sand supplies The Venetian Pool is located at 2701 de Soto Boulevard in Coral Gables. pool cleaning fair oaks ca Coral Gables is also home to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens, a tropical paradise full of rare plants, flowers and more. Click here to read more.Austin is wonderful, but it’s hot as hell in summer. Everyone knows this, but often forgets. Until June, when the Texas heat starts its simmer, we begin the ritual of searching out cool water spots. Every swimmer has their Austin favorite, many of which aren’t on this list because they’re either too secret, or because, well, every Top 10 has to stop somewhere.

Regardless, this list will give you a sampling of the variety of swimming holes Central Texas has to offer. Many reasons keep Barton Springs Pool on top of every Texas Swimming Holes list. Year-round 68-degree, clear water. Both deep diving and shallow kiddie areas. Grassy hills for sunbathing. You name it, this place has it. And everyone knows it, so get there early if you want a parking spot. Open 5am-10pm. Admission: $3 for residents; Closed 9am to 7pm on Thursdays for cleaning. If you’re looking for a traditional public pool experience in the heart of Austin, Deep Eddy is it. Having been around for 100 years, it's the oldest public pool in Texas. Today, it's a super popular swimming hole operated by the City of Austin and featuring lots of fun events throughout the summer. For instance, they’ve got Splash Party Movie Nights when they show films on an inflatable screen. Check their site or call for show times. Open 8am to 9pm. Admission: $3. Many reasons keep Barton Springs Pool Like Barton Springs and other spots on this list, the water at Krause Springs is a constant 68 degrees and flows continuously from its source, even during the current Texas drought.

But this is a private park outside the city, so it is slightly less crowded and is strictly maintained as a natural oasis. In addition to swimming, you can camp overnight, bring a boat, and enjoy other activities that are more difficult right in the city. The 40-minute drive from downtown to Spicewood is well worth it. Admission: $7 for adults, $5 for kids. Because of the Comal, nearby New Braunfels is the epicenter for Texas tubing. If you’re in Austin in summer, or anywhere in Central Texas (or sadly, if you don’t even know what tubing is), tubing the Comal is something you simply must try. You can rent tubes or bring your own, and there are plenty of tube-shuttle options so you can park and enter the river on one end and get picked up on the other. You should know that this is a party place with herds of college drunkards, and recent rule changes have re-allowed everyone to bring the beverage of their choice, generally as long as it’s not in glass. Whether it’s a good microbrew or water in your travel mug, you will have a great time floating the Comal.

Float from drop-off to pick-up usually lasts 2 hours. River entrance is free, but tube rentals and shuttles are in the $15-$20 range. Tip: Get a tube with a bottom! Your butt will thank you. A 40-minute drive from town takes you to another world at Hamilton Pool . It’s a preserve, not your average “park,” so conservation of the pristine watershed here is paramount, but the waterfall and cave steal the show. The water is nice and cool for swimming, but be sure to check their website for water quality, as sometimes after-rain pollution spoils the show. Admission: $15 per vehicle. Reservations must be made in advance. Hippie Hollow is your best (and only) legal public clothing-optional option in Texas. Lots of rocky perches along the beautiful Lake Travis shoreline as well as raft parties make this place a fun spot for adults (only). Admission: $15 per vehicle Lounging with the kids by the shoreline, scuba diving, and windsurfing—especially windsurfing—all work perfectly at Windy Point .

Although it is populated in summer, it’s a big park, so there’s plenty of parking and lots of space for everyone. Admission: $10 per vehicle. If you want to try snorkeling in the middle of Texas, this would be the place. The San Marcos River , including its headwaters at Spring Lake , has a long history as one of the state’s most treasured rivers. It’s great for paddling, including some whitewater after a good rain, but when the water’s moving slower, it’s definitely a top swimming destination, with lots of holes to find. A quintessential example of Central Texas aquifer and spring formations, Jacob’s Well Natural Area gives visitors the unique opportunity to swim directly in an artesian spring. About 40 minutes from Austin, outside Wimberly, it’s close enough but far out too. The spring’s cool, clear water surrounded by rock ledges and lots of trees represent what all Texas swimming holes used to be, and should be.  Read more about it before you go to get a better appreciation of it history and beauty, and help keep it beautiful.