Non-ocean recommendations for good viz diving in US

[DownDiver]

After a fair share of lake and quarry diving, I'm interested in finding some locations with better viz. I know I can find some ocean locations in the states with regularly decent viz, but I thought I'd see if SB members could recommend some good in-land spots for diving where viz is typically >= 20-25 ft. I would love to dive the Y-40 in Italy or Nemo 33 in Brussels; anywhere in the US have a pool like that?

 

[TMHeimer]

If you can find a stream fed lake somewhere you can get amazing viz. The only one I know of (in N.A.) personally is Clearwater Lake near The Pas, Manitoba. They say viz is 100'. Maybe do a search for a U.S. one? There is one in Switzerland (L. Lucerne?) and of course Lake Baikal in Siberia.

 

[rivers]

After a fair share of lake and quarry diving, I'm interested in finding some locations with better viz. I know I can find some ocean locations in the states with regularly decent viz, but I thought I'd see if SB members could recommend some good in-land spots for diving where viz is typically >= 20-25 ft. I would love to dive the Y-40 in Italy or Nemo 33 in Brussels; anywhere in the US have a pool like that?

I wouldn't waste your money on Nemo-33 is Brussels. It's a pool with a 33m hole. It's a bit boring actually. Although the thai restaurant on site is quite good

 

[drrich2]

While the ocean diving in the region draws the lion's share of attention, be mindful that some freshwater springs in Florida can be quite clear.

Richard.

 

[Steve_C]

Rainbow river is very clear. Drift dive in a spring fed river. Also manatee snokelilng in the area.

 

[CT-Rich]

When I was in college, I dove some spring fed rivers in Florida. The Ichetucknee River had very clear water 50+ visibility. we did a hour plus drift dive, the river was running high so it can take longer. Max depth was never more than 15'. Pretty cool dive, lots of Gar, turtles and fossilized bones laid out all along the way.

---------- Post added September 7th, 2015 at 02:02 PM ----------

unfortunately, clear water is often the result of the invasive Zebra mussels.

 

[drrich2]

If you're out for the U.S. overall, not just the southeast, and assuming we're probably not focusing on quarry diving, there's the Bon Terre mine in St. Louis, Missouri, if guided cold water diving of an old mine is your thing. Haven't done it myself, but it's a fairly well-known place.

Some people dive parts of Dale Hollow Lake, shared by Tennessee and Kentucky.

The Great Lakes are vast and they are freshwater. Some diving there falls within your viz. requirement, I believe. I've got a friend in Chicago; I've been tempted to head up there & try it, but someone deep, cold freshwater just doesn't have that strong a draw on me right now.

Richard.

 

[RJP]

Epcot:

Georgia Aquarium...

National Aquarium - Baltimore...

Florida Aquarium...

[video=youtube;ImQGhPU081g]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImQGhPU081g[/video]

And others in Colorado, Minnesota, New Jersey, Las Vegas...

 

[Nemrod]

Florida Springs and some Florida rivers.

Blue Hole NM

Table Rock Lake in Mo.

Lake Mead, Lake Tahoe

Great Lakes

Uh, that is about it. I have no use for quarries, garbage dumps, sorry, not my thing. Man made lakes, with some exceptions, again, why bother (Table Rock is an exception for example, it has stuff like wrecks and a sunken span bridge to explore and even a mythical submerged city to look for ).

That is about it. I would just about rather dive zero viz salt than freshwater. And aside from cave diving (I am forbidden from that) those Florida springs are boring and ruled over by Park Ranger Nazis more concerned with hassling visitors than providing education and service. Too much effort for too little reward. Why drive hundreds of miles to dive in a quarry when for a little more you can do Cozumel. Bang for the buck you get more in any of several Caribbean sites than any place in the US, again there are always exceptions to general rules.

In Lake Mead I was scared to death by a landslide. I noticed some pebbles going by, then some rocks and then boulders and a swoosh of mud and sand. That was a first. Probably set off by low water levels and unstable rock ledges resulting from that.

N

 

[KathyV]

Silver Springs and Crystal River in Florida often have great vis, but they can be cold. I enjoyed watching the cormorants fly through the water even more than being up close to the manatees!