Springs in Session: 2025 Eco-tour Highlights

SOS Outreach Coordinator and snorkel tour guide Lindsey Holmes reports from the field

Report from Spring Ecotours on the Greenbelt: So far, despite the increased challenges from drought and low rainfall for 2025, it has been an incredibly rewarding snorkel tour season. Even though the USGS data for Barton Creek showed the water levels slowly declining due to lack of spring rainfall, there were plenty of weeks where the water remained lovely and swimmable (for a short time, at least), specifically in the Barton Creek Wilderness Park area. A big goal I had as a SOS guide was to get an entire group of people to lay down in a Barton Creek waterfall with me (I had been crawling through these falls over winter and really embraced this practice). I am happy to say this was achieved on one of our very first events, one which was held in honor of International Women’s Day.

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Stay tuned to SOS for future snorkel tours of the Greenbelt either later this fall (fingers crossed!) or next spring.

Hello, Summer! Shifting Snorkel Focus to Barton Springs Pool

While low rainfall did cut our time on Barton Creek short, the snorkel tours at Barton Springs are really where SOS’ story–and the story of Austin– begins, ends and continues. Austin, Texas would simply not exist if it were not for Barton Springs, the only reliable water source for the fledgling capital of Waterloo, founded in 1839. 

However, the history of the springs goes back much further than that, thousands of years further. Participants on these tours find themselves in one of the best classrooms in the world for understanding deep Texas history, karst aquifer systems and hill country flora and fauna. SOS snorkel tours are designed to give participants an up close and personal view of a living, breathing hill country spring.

The Pillars of Snorkel Touring: Science, History, Culture and Wildlife

I always tell each snorkel tour group that there is more information about Barton Springs than could ever be covered in a 90 minute tour. However, storytelling at SOS begins and ends by acknowledging Indigenous presence (both past, present and future) at this sacred site. From here we trace the history of the pool from the colonial era up to the present day, covering topics such as civil rights, swim-ins and citizen activism of the environmental wars of the 1990s. 

In addition to culture and history, snorkel tour participants also get a crash course in aquifer science as it specifically relates to the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer. Of course, no SOS snorkel tour would be complete without the story of the Barton Springs Uprising: the all-night city council meeting that jump started the SOS movement and ultimately led to the passage of the SOS water protection ordinances of 1992 that are still on the books today.

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​Underwater VIPS: Fish, Salamanders and Subject Matter Experts​

A unique aspect of each snorkel tour is our partnership with subject matter experts outside of SOS that join us as a special guest guide for each tour. In the past, we’ve had hydrogeologists, wildlife biologists, salamander experts, master naturalists, water technology consultants, local authors, activists and educators join our tours as special guests. Speaking of salamanders, a common question on snorkel tours is “Will I get to see a salamander?!” Sadly, no, Barton Springs Salamanders are very small, hidden under rocks and are federally protected because they are endangered. However we have plenty of information and pictures to share with you about these amazing little creatures! 

The in-water portion of a snorkel tour is anywhere from 25-45 minutes (depending on the group and personal preferences). SOS provides snorkels, masks, and even a few spare goggles if that’s your jam, so all you have to do is show up in clothes you don’t mind getting wet. Barton Springs is a vibrant, dynamic underwater community and there are LOTS of fish (and turtles!) to see. We have high quality visual aids to help you identify fish as you see them in the water. SOS guides are also well-practiced in fish ID and are with you in the water the whole time, helping you spot and identify plants, animals and underwater features! 

Some of the amazing species of fish you are bound to encounter in Barton Springs are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and Guadalupe bass. Guadalupe bass are the state fish of Texas and they have gorgeous spotted markings alongside their body. I like to tell people this fish is just a bass who decided to wear a leopard print outfit! The markings are so striking. Guadalupe bass are confident and feisty, known to be proactive nest protectors (not too dissimilar to your average Texan). Another common fish species is Texas sunfish, which come in many variations and all colors of the rainbow. Both sunfish and bass prefer clear, flowing waters with lower turbidity (murkiness) as this allows them to mate, breed and navigate their world successfully. Another beautiful, if slightly more mysterious fish species, is the Rio Grand Cichlid or Texas Cichlid, which tends to be more of a wallflower at the bottom of the pool. However, don't sleep on our Texas cichlids! Patient and observant snorkelers are rewarded with a glimpse of the shy cichlid’s spectacular outfit: a dark background overlaid with miniature white specks, resembling a sky full of stars on a clear Texas night. All three of these fish are endemic to central Texas, however they do not always share the same waters, another reason Barton Springs is a very special place to snorkel.

My absolute favorite thing in the world about my job as a snorkel tour guide is seeing families, friends or solo tour participants find their own unique groove in the water. The post-snorkel chats are always pretty good too!  So, If you are considering signing up for a snorkel tour but are feeling hesitant, just know that many of our snorkel tour participants have zero snorkeling experience or have never snorkeled in Barton Springs Pool before. At least a few in each tour have never been to the pool before! We adapt our events to all swimming abilities and comfort levels in the water. Your first step as water steward should be one that helps forge a bond with the water as you explore and tap into your inner child, and feel the freedom that clear water affords. We want to see you at the pool with us soon, sign up today!

​Yours In Adventure,
Lindsey Holmes