Scuba Center has been selling quality scuba diving and snorkeling equipment since 1973. You will find a wide selection of scuba and snorkeling equipment at both our Eagan, Minnesota and Minneapolis, Minnesota locations. Scuba Center Eagan
1571 Century Point
Eagan, Minnesota 55121
(651) 681-8434		 Scuba Center Minneapolis
5015 Penn Ave South
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55419
(612) 925-4818

Lake Ore-Be-Gone Local Dive

Aug 2, 2025
Local Dive Adventure: Lake Ore-Be-Gone - Gilbert, Minnesota
 
Instructor / Host: Matt Olson and Mark Harper    (Click here if you have questions)
 
Located in Gilbert MN, Lake Ore-Be-Gone is spring-fed and made up of three, now inactive, open pit mines. The crystal-clear water looks almost tropical on sunny days. There are many sunken attractions for scuba divers to explore. One of the favorites is the helicopter in just 30 feet of water. Most divers think the biggest attraction is the fish life. It is not uncommon to see multiple northern pike hovering completely still in the grass hunting there unsuspecting prey.

We will meet at Lake Ore-Be-Gone at 10:00am.
Pre registration is required. Group size is limited. Fee $25
Need rental gear? No problem if you book your rental equipment early.
Lake Ore-Be-Gone:

Lake Ore-Be-Gone | Gilbert, Minnesota | Scuba Center local diving adventures.GILBERT—In the late 1800s and early 1900s, European immigrants worked the open-pit red iron ore mines at Gilbert, the village so named for a mine owner Giles Gilbert. Operations ceased in 1981 some eight decades later at the numerous mines in the Gilbert-McKinley District. Among them were the Gilbert Mine, the Schley Mine and the Pettit Mine. The massive mine pits flooded and now form Lake Ore-Be-Gone, a pun on the well-known fictional town of Lake Wobegon. Gilbert’s Ken Asselin won a $100 prize for naming it Lake Ore-Be-Gone.

Ore-Be-Gone is the fourth deepest lake in Minnesota at 433 feet, behind Sabin Lake near the former Embarrass Mine at 465 feet and Portsmouth Mine Pit in Crow Wing County at 450 feet and behind frontrunner Lake Superior at 1,333 feet. Ore-Be-Gone covers 140 acres and is 1,452 feet above sea level.

By: Linda Tyssen, Mesabi Tribune, Feb 28, 20245
Due to the distance from Minneapolis, (about 3.5-4 hours), an overnight either on the way or near Gilbert is a good idea. One option is to overnight in Duluth on Friday. It is just 61 miles from Duluth to Gilbert – an easy Saturday morning drive.

There is a campground adjacent to the Mesabi Trail and connected to the Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area by direct access trail. Sherwood Forest Campground offers full-service RV sites (electric, water, sewer) to simple, rustic tent spots.
Hotels:  
AmericInn by Wyndham Virginia  
Quality Inn & Suites Virginia
Super 8 by Wyndham Eveleth
 
Campgrounds:
Sherwood Forest Campground
 
 
 
 
 

Lake Ore-Be-Gone Local Dive | Scuba Center local dives 

Click here for directions to Lake Ore-Be-Gone.
   

Hope to see you there!