Barton Springs in Austin's premiere natural Wonder of the World. Just minutes from downtown, it's the epitome of a cool oasis. As Summer swelters past the hundred degree mark for days on end, Barton Springs - with grassy lawns, huge shade trees, and a near constants water temperature in the mid-sixties - is the place to be. Anytime, but specially Saturday, July 19, for the 4th annual Barton Springs Diving Championships.

Just as on any other hot summer day, when a long line of swimmers waits to do belly flops and cannon balls off the Barton Springs diving board, the winners of this yearly benefit for the Springs will be the best bellyfloppers, the most outstanding splashers, and the folks who are having the most fun.

"Barton Springs Diving Championships are not necessarily for professional divers," points out Craig Biddle, one of the diving championship's primary organizers. "It's strictly a fun deal Belly flops win!"

Biddle, who runs the Austin office of the San Antonio Spurs, describes the championships as an "event whose charter is to celebrate Barton Springs in a nonpolitical context." Primarily for fun, the diving championships are also a "benefit for the Education Fund, allocated to worthy community projects such as, in part, the Barton Springs scholarship fund - $2,500 for underprivileged kids to enroll in lifeguard training and learn-to-swim programs." This year, profits will also be used "to construct a model of the Edwards Aquifer for education - 'how it works through a $30,000 education facility created by modification of the existing building, with no new construction." $4,000 from the diving championships and contributions from numerous government and diverse private groups, especially generous financial support from Apple Computer, will make the new facility a reality.The Education Center will be behind the shop, in what used to be office space for Austin's Parks & Recreation Department. The shop is now managed by the Austin Nature Center, which will also help run the new Education Center. There will be no interference with current use of the changing roooms or pool in any way. The Hard Hat party for the new Education Center will be May 30, so progress should be well under way by July 19. That Saturday, July 19, warm-ups for the Barton Springs Diving Championship are 9 - 10 a.m. with preliminary diving 10 a.m. - noon. Youth diving finals are noon to 1:30 p.m., followed by University of Texas exhibition diving, and the adult finals. The day of cool, wet fun ends with an awards ceremony and live music by three of Austin's favorite bands: Ponty Bone, Toni Price, and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. Comedian Kerry Awn will MC again this year.

Compete, or just lounge poolside and cheer for your fave divers. As always, you can pack a picnic or buy refreshments such as hamburgers, hot dogs and cool drinks at the pool. Amy's Ice Cream and J.C.'s Lemonade will also have booths at Barton Springs for the diving championships. Parking is very limited at Barton Springs. Please use alternate transportation, including bikes and buses, if at all possible. For more

information, call 476-9044