Looking for places to dive in the Midwest?
We have you covered!
We may not be next to the ocean, but there are lots of dive sites in the Midwest. Below are some of the available scuba-friendly locations with a little info about each from our club members.
Dive Shop
Located in western Naperville, just off Route 59, Below H2O is a full-service dive shop offering scuba gear for rent and purchase, recreational and tec diving courses, and is where we hold our monthly meetings.
midwest Dive Sites
Kankakee, IL
(75min drive)
Popular with local dive shops for training classes on the weekends, so pretty packed between 8am and noon. Fairly empty weekdays and weekend afternoons. Visibility can get pretty low. Depths range from 20ft to 50ft, with “the hole” going down to 75ft (dark and cold). There’s a thermocline at about 35ft, under which can get pretty chilly, with temps in the 40-50s at depth much of the season. Plenty of picnic tables for groups to setup on and several underwater attractions, including construction equipment, concrete statues, and buoyancy course.
Crystal Lake, IL
(75 min drive)
A portion of the lake has been roped off for use by scuba divers, near the boating docks. Visibility is fair and there are platforms for training classes, but not much else for underwater attractions. There’s only a small area to setup with a couple of picnic tables, but there’s not often many people there.
South Beloit, IL
(90 min drive)
A former rock quarry with several underwater attractions, the average depth is 20-40 feet, with a max depth of 85 feet. They no longer require proof of health insurance or dive insurance (such as DAN). Visibility is pretty good (around 20-30 feet).
Hammond, IN
(90 min drive)
Charter fee: $130-$180
Open Spring-Oct
With morning and afternoon weekend dive charters, and the occasional mid-week dives, you have access to several ship wrecks in southern Lake Michigan, ranging from 25ft deep to 150ft. The boat can hold up to 16 divers and has a cabin with tables for the trips in and out of harbor, and a small bathroom. Water temps can get down into the 40s, so bring appropriate exposure gear.
Ottawa, OH
(5 hr drive)
Popular with local dive shops for training classes on the weekends, so pretty busy. Fairly empty weekday’s, visibility around the outside close to the students can be a little murky, but generally around 50/60 ft. Depths range from 30ft-140ft, thermocline at about 35ft, under which it can get pretty chilly, with temperatures depending on the season 59-76 . Plenty of space to set up, some great camping sites, they have little carts to transport your equipment around. It’s best to reserve a spot for your group, if your tent camping, get there on Friday to snag your spot, tent is first come first served, also pay the $10 to park in back where all the diving attractions are. Under the water you will find a buoyancy coarse , a plane, a helicopter, school bus and many other attractions. You can buy fish food and feed the fish, they also have Nemo’s garden an underwater biosphere , this is the world’s first freshwater biosphere.
Belknap, IL
(5 1/2 hr drive)
Popular with local dive shops for training classes on the weekends, so pretty busy. Fairly empty weekdays, visibility around the outside close to the students can be quite bad, but generally around 25-35ft. Depths range from 12ft-120ft, thermocline at about 35ft, under which it can get pretty chilly, with temperatures depending on the season 46-76 . Plenty of space to set up, you can reserve a spot, it’s a covered pavilion, lots of room. Underwater they have a Boeing 727 from the movie US Marshals which you can swim through, it’s an 8.5 acre spring-fed quarry, there’s an underwater bike trail. All of the underwater attractions are attached together with ropes so navigation is a breeze. They also play music underwater. You can camp here also (primitive).
Logansport, IN
(3 hr drive)
Entry fee: $20
Open weekends May-Oct
Onsite Tanks Refills
A seven-acre former quarry with a max depth of 30 feet and visibility upwards of 50 feet in the early and late season, but much worse in the summertime (closer to 10 feet). There are a few underwater attractions and lots of fish.
Baraboo, WI
(3 hr drive)
Entry fee: $TBD
See website for operating hours
Max depth of 45 feet with visibility around 20 feet, but most of the diving is around 25 feet deep. Underwater attractions are limited to natural items. A Wisconsin State Parks sticker is needed to enter the park. Surface flags required.
Canton, IL
(3 hr drive)
Entry fee: $5
Open Apr-Fall
[Description coming soon]
Black River Falls, WI
(4 hr drive)
Entry fee: $5 (+$5 parking)
See website for operating hours
[Description coming soon]
Dive flag required.
Hopkinsville, KY
(7 hr drive)
[Description coming soon]
Bonne Terre, MO
(5 hr drive)
Per-dive fee: $100 – $150
Year-round Fri-Sun.
Bonne Terre is a partially flooded mine, with open air throughout, so is considered an open water dive and available to all recreational divers. Flashlight use is restricted to dive guides, so you need to be comfortable with the dark.
Dives are guided in groups up to 20. Year-round/constant conditions: 100-foot plus visibility / 35-45 minutes duration / Depth 40′-70′. Water temp is 58 degrees – no thermoclines / Air temp 62 degrees. Reservations required.
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