The top 11 dive and snorkel sites in Illinois, ranked by diver reviews, with maps and photos. Read the Illinois guide
Mermet Springs is a scuba diving location in Vienna, Illinois. The spring is a former limestone quarry that has been filled with water. The quarry is 120 feet deep and has a variety of fish and other aquatic life.
Haigh Quarry, Bradley is a 4.6-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Illinois, USA Mid which is accessible from shore based on 5 ratings.
Pearl Lake, South Beloit is a 4.0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Illinois, USA Mid which is accessible from shore based on 1 ratings.
Brandon Quarry, Joliet is a 4.0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Illinois, USA Mid which is accessible from shore based on 1 ratings.
Located just North of Rockford, IL (the state's second largest city). Pearl Lake is one of the oldest private diving lakes in Illinois and offers fishing, swimming and diving. An old gravel pit, average depth is between 30 & 40 feet with a maximum depth of 85 feet. Many man made objects have been sunk in the lake to keep divers amused. Attractions include a bus (of course), boats, an airplane, concrete pipes, railroad tracks, and a two man submarine. The fish are friendly and abundant. A popular training lake for Chicago area instructors, the lake can get crowded on the weekends. Amenities include a camp ground, restaurant, bar, rest rooms, showers & changing rooms. Air fills and equipment rentals are available on site. Nitrox fills are also available. C card required. Daily entrance fee is $25. Dive season: April to October, 8AM - dusk (night diving is permitted on Sat/Sun) Pearl Lake is host to a variety of plant & animal life including bluegills, small- and largemouth bass, yellow perch, white suckers, catfish, turtles, craysish, and an assortment of mollusks. This dive destination offers many underwater attractions (see map) and is great for novice and experienced divers.
Dive site has an abundance of sunfish and catfish. Great visibility most of the year and used frequently for open water training. Equipment rental and airfills available on site. Interstate 57 exit 315. Take Route 50 south to North Street. Turn left onto North Street and travel east for approximatley 1 1/2 miles. Sign for Haigh Quarry will be on the right side of the roadway.
Mermet Springs offers submerged training platforms, easy entry docks, dives from 15 to 120 feet in depth and numerous sunken treasures to explore. Treasures include trucks, school bus, boats, Boeing 727 from the movie U.S. Marshalls, train car, ambulance, fire truck, one man sub, and a helicopter cockpit. From the main diving dock, you'll see schools of large bluegill, giant albino channel catfish and further down Spoonbills! The water visibility at Mermet Springs is can range from 15 feet to over 60 feet. Water temperature varies with the Midwest seasons and ranges to the low 40s at depth during winter, and to the mid 80s above the thermocline in the summer. Mermet, Southeast of Saint Louis
Wood schooner lost in a storm on Sep. 7, 1860. St. Mary is also known as St. Marys.
Based on Zentacle reviews, the top-rated sites in Illinois are Mermet Springs, Vienna (4.5 from 10 reviews), Haigh Quarry, Bradley (4.6 from 5 reviews) and Pearl Lake, South Beloit (4.0 from 1 review).
Mermet Springs, Vienna, Haigh Quarry, Bradley, Pearl Lake, South Beloit and Brandon Quarry, Joliet are the top-rated sites you can enter from shore.
Zentacle lists 19 dive shops in Illinois. The top-rated are Underwater Safaris (4.9 from 73 reviews) and Sea Level Diving (4.9 from 51 reviews).
