Scuba Center is Minnesota's Largest Scuba Diving School -- Two Locations offering PADI certification courses in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Eagan, Minnesota -- Shop with us online at scubacenter.com -- Find a huge selection of quality scuba diving and snorkeling equipment, underwater digital cameras, wetsuits, drysuits, dry gloves, and technical diving gear. Our Minneapolis location has the largest selection of kiteboarding and snowkiting equipment in the Minnesota. Scuba Center also features ice rescue and water rescue equipment from the best manufacturers in the business at our Eagan location. -- Now offering PADI eLearning Courses!

5015 Penn Ave South   Minneapolis, Minnesota 55419    (612) 925-4818

1571 Century Point   Eagan, Minnesota 55121   (651) 681-8434

www.scubacenter.com

 

Local Diving

This page includes links to information on many of the great diving opportunities in Minnesota and surrounding states.  We will continue to update the links as more sites become available.

Click the Dive Flag for Minnesota Dive Flag Regulations -- PDF format -- Requires Acrobat Reader
 Click the Dive Flag for Minnesota Dive Flag Regulations -- PDF format -- Requires Acrobat Reader.
Always check state or local regulations when traveling.

 
Square Lake -- Local Diving hotspot -- near Stillwater, Minnesota
Square Lake near Stillwater, Minnesota is one of the most popular diving destinations in the Twin Cities area.  Underwater attractions include abundant marine life, sunken boats and canoes, and the tail section of a plane.  Shallow depths and easy lake access from two neighboring parks help make Square Lake an active year round dive site.  Both Square Lake County Park (15450 Square Lake Trail North, Stillwater, MN) and Golden Acres RV & Picnic Area (15150 Square Lake Trail North, Stillwater, MN) offer picnic tables, restrooms, and refreshments during the "local diving season".  More information on this lake can be found on the Washington County Park website (see link below). 

We highly recommend DAN Membership & Diving Accident Insurance programs.

If you are diving from your own boat, check out our selection of Stearns PFDs, Dry Bags,... 

Bonne Terre Mine -- This unique adventure, can be your "Dive to the Center of the Earth". Bonne Terre Mine, a national historic site, is the world's largest fresh water dive resort. Water conditions remain constant with over 100 foot visibility, Sights include: mammoth architecture, guaranteed year round diving conditions. Cal falls, oar carts, scaffolding, grating, staircases, pillars, slurry pipes, the famed elevator shaft, and much more. Bonne Terre Mine is without a doubt one of the most unusual, beautiful, and relaxing full service dive resorts anywhere. -- Bonne Terre, Missouri
 Bonne Terre Mine
Missouri

Crosby Mine Lakes area -- Home of Minnesota's New Cuyuna Country State Recreational Area -- Considered one the very finest in diving adventures in the Midwest, Cuyuna country's mine lakes offer upwards of forty feet visibility. Several of the mine lakes have excellent launching facilities and one campground currently at the Portsmouth location. A Minnesota state park sticker is required to camp at the park.
 Crosby Mine Lakes
Minnesota

Devil's Lake State Park is Located in Baraboo, Wisconsin and situated along the Ice Age Trail and is visited by more than 1.2 million people per year!
Devil's Lake
Wisconsin

Lake Elmo Park Reserve is 2,165 acres in size (3 ˝ square miles) with 80 percent of its acreage set aside for preservation and protection. The boat launch is open from 6 a.m. to 1/2 hour after sunset, and it accesses Lake Elmo. The launch is closed in the winter. -- 1515 Keats Avenue North Lake Elmo, MN 55042 -- Lake Elmo Park, Washington County, Minnesota
 Lake Elmo
Minnesota

Hayward Lakes -- Hayward, Wisconsin -- The lakes offer opportunity for a variety of water activities - quiet lakes and streams for canoes, kayaks and pontoons; larger lakes for the powerful motored sports boats and jet skies.
Hayward Lakes area
(Including Round Lake)
Wisconsin

 Long Lake -- Bagley, Minnesota -- Long Lake Park is the door to a paradise of camping & outdoor experience - Rainbow trout fishing, scuba diving, nature trails & more. Solitude among towering pines is what you'll find when camping at Long Lake Park & Campground.
Long Lake
Minnesota

Mermet Springs -- Metropolis, Illinois -- Mermet Springs is an 8.5 acre spring fed stone quarry, located in Southern Illinois. The quarry has 100 foot walls and wooded hills encompassing nearly half of its perimeter. The sheer walls are not only on the top but can be followed to depths of 120 ft. This quarry is devoted to diving and dive training.
Mermet Springs
Illinois

Okoboji -- Iowa -- The main attractions of the Okoboji area are the glacier-carved lakes. This beautiful chain of lakes extends from the Minnesota border southwest several miles and covers about fifteen thousand acres. The Iowa Great Lakes include Iowa’s largest natural lake, Spirit Lake and five interconnected lakes: West Okoboji, East Okoboji, Upper Gar, Lower Gar and Minnewashta.
 Okoboji
Iowa

Lake Owen Resort -- Cable, Wisconsin -- Lake Owen, with Crystal-Clear water, stretches 9 miles long in Southern Bayfield County. Maximum depth is 95' deep. A large part of the lake is owned by Chequamegon National Forest giving Lake Owen a more private quiet appearance. Lake Owen Resort is located on the southern shore of the lake just four miles from Cable, Wisconsin. Swim, fish, scuba dive and boat in the crystal clear waters of this beautiful Northern Wisconsin lake.
 Lake Owen
Wisconsin

Homestead Parklands on Perch Lake -- Perch Lake is the central feature of the park. The lake reaches 90 feet deep in some areas. The land area includes steep slopes covered by oak woodlands and pine plantations. Facilities will include fishing access, including facilities designed for handicapped anglers, a swimming beach, picnic areas, canoe and boat rental facilities, scuba-diving, a playground, and trails for hiking and cross-country skiing. Education and interpretive facilities may be provided at the Visitor Center, as well as in key locations throughout the park. -- St. Croix County, Wisconsin
Perch Lake
Wisconsin

Square Lake -- Square Lake County Park (located near Stillwater, Minnesota) is designated as a Regional 'Special Recreation Feature' by the Metropolitan Council, because of Square Lake's outstanding water quality. The lake has some of the clearest waters in Minnesota, and draws scuba divers and swimmers from throughout the Metropolitan Region. -- Square Lake County Park, Washington County, Minnesota
Square Lake
Minnesota

Lake Wazee -- Jackson County, Wisconsin -- Wazee Lake is fast becoming one of the most popular diving sites in the Midwest. It's exceptionally clear, deep water combine to create a fascinating dive site for the experienced and novice diver alike. The lake was the site of the former Jackson County Iron Mine quarry until April of 1983. Today, Wazee Lake is recognized as the deepest inland lake in the State of Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 355 feet.
 Lake Wazee
Wisconsin
Local Fun Dives Schedule Lake Superior Wreck Diving
Isle Royale, Madeira, and more
 

Local diving doesn't end when the lakes freeze over... check out the Ice Diving course.
Looking to explore other areas of the world, check out our Dive Travel section.

 
Annual Events

Crystal Pierz Marine
Lake Cleanup Day
Dive Into the Past
Twin Cities Shipwreck & SCUBA Show

Lake Owen Divers Weekend
Hosted by David Shirley
Gales of November
Duluth, Minnesota

Ghost Ships Festival
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Our World Underwater
Chicago, Illinois

Minnesota DNR References

Minnesota DNR contact information

(651) 296-6157 (Metro area) or (888) MINN-DNR (elsewhere)

Email the Minnesota DNR

 Find your local DNR Office

Minnesota DNR Website

 State of Minnesota Website

Use Lake Finder on the Minnesota DNR web site to find information on many of your favorite lakes. 

Minnesota Boating Guide---(PDF)
This booklet summarizes Minnesota boating laws and Dive Flag Regulations*
*Always check state or local regulations when traveling.
To open files produced in PDF format requires Adobe Reader (a free download)
Get Adobe Reader--*Free*

 

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