South Dakota

Hughes County

Divers will travel far and wide to find the best diving. But those who live in the United States have plenty of great diving on their doorstep as well, with plentiful access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. From warm-water reefs to temperate seas, here are some of the top places to scuba dive in the United States.

United States

Handsome fast current dive.  Water is about 55 to 60 degrees in summer.  Many fish.  Talk with local dive shop they can hook you up.  If travelling past Pierre, SD I would highly recommend this dive.  Once in a lifetime.

From Boat is recomended.  Local dive shop is great.

Pierre

Oahe Dam Tail Race

In southeast South Dakota, not far from the Nebraska border, visitors come to this Midwest site for its variety of recreational opportunities. The lake, formed behind the Fort Randall Dam on the Missouri River, covers 100,000 square acres (40,000 hectares). Dive shops use the lake for open-water training, and an annual spearfishing tournament is held there as well. Many divers prefer the east side of the lake where boat ramps are plentiful and the bottom is more rocky and less muddy than on the west side. The lake is named after Francis H. Case, a Republican Congressman from South Dakota, whose main goals were to expand America’s road and waterway infrastructure.

Lake Francis Case

Ft. Randall Reservoir, Kearney is a 5.0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Nebraska, USA Mid which is accessible from shore based on 1 ratings.

Ft. Randall Reservoir, Kearney



Old Pontiac station wagon sits in 95' of water in Pactola Reservoir. You will need a flashlight and visibility is usually less than 20 feet. Access can be by boat or shore. There is a white arrow pointing down and attached to a tree on the north bank just left of a large rock formation in the water know locally as Alcatraz. No local dive shop currently so will have to bring filled tanks with you.

Pontiac Wagon

Lake McConaughy is a 5.0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Nebraska, USA Mid which is accessible from shore based on 1 ratings.

Lake McConaughy

Lake Sakakawea, Bismark is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in North Dakota, USA East which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

Lake Sakakawea, Bismark

West Lake Okoboji is the jewel of Iowa.  This 4000+ acre natural lake offers great diving for everyone.  Clarity ranges from 70+ feet in the winter months to 40+ feet in the spring and fall to 12+ feet during the summer months. Depths up to 136 feet can be reached, but most aquatic life will be seen from 10 to 40 feet.  There are several thermoclines that can be reached so a 5-4-3 wetsuit is recommended most of the year.  Dry suits are recommended for winter, early spring and late fall diving.  There are many points of interest throughout the lake.  There are 3 different pipelines that are enjoyable to tour: Pillsbury point, The Milford Tower and The Inn. In Smiths Bay you can find a truck that fell through the ice in the 1940's. There are remnants of several boats in the lake.  There are also many rocky points and drop offs. Aquatic life is abound everywhere. You will see fish species including bluegill, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskies, white bass, walleye, perch, buffalo carp, and more. Blue Water Divers, a Padi 5 star dive center, is located on the lake at Arnolds Park.  There you can get any supplies you need plus directions to favorite dive sites.



Lake Okoboji, Arnolds Park

Long Lake, Zerkel is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Minnesota, USA Mid which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

Long Lake, Zerkel

There are several items to look for and photograph in this pit with depths ranging from 20 feet to about 100 feet. Shallow sites are a fake graveyard and sunken boat not to far out from the access entry point. At about 50 ft depth there is a platform that was or is still used for training. Below about 75 feet you can find a mermaid, a pirate and sparky the plastic skeleton holding a couple wires from an old electrical panel from when they were still mining here.

From the town of Ironton take county rd 30 north 1.25 miles then turn left onto the gravel road. Follow this road (I think it is called Silkstone Dr.) for about 1.26 miles then make a left turn. There is road (I use the word road loosely for this part because they are little to no maintenance.) that goes up hill then levels out to a nice open area about .1 miles in.  The Dive Shop in Brainerd is the closest one to the Mine Pitts and they have maps of the area.

Louise Mine Pitt

No amenities. Abandoned Iron Ore Mines. Great Visibility and stocked with game fish. Gravel bottom. Some pits are more than 400 feet deep.

Shore diving and campsite.

Crosby Mine Pit is also known as Ironton Mine Pit.

Crosby Mine Pit

Many freshwater fish (trout, walleye, carp, sunfish) and crawfish inhabit this rocky bottom.  The dam area and Sandy Beach usually has the best visibility on the lake from June through August.

Alcova Lake is a short drive 30 minute drive from Casper, WY south on highway 220. Site is best accessed by boat, however access by vehicle is possible by a short walk (100ft/30M) with gear to dive location.

Oahe Dam Tail Race

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Oahe Dam Tail Race