Hey mcf57
There are actually quite a few possible dive locations for you to try out on your way to Minneapolis. The first one is France Park near Logans Port Indiana. This is a flooded quarry. Max. depth about 40'. Air and rentals are available on site but you need to make arrangements a head of time. Contact the Divers Den as they are running the SCUBA concessions there.
The next location is Haigh Quarry in Kankakee Illinois. Great place! Air and Rentals available on site. Great staff. Lots of interesting things to look at in the quarry. Max. depth about 85'. Average depth about 40'. If you only dive one of the locations I have written about this would be the one.
Continuing north the next location is Pearl Lake in South Beloit Illinois on the Illinois/Wisconsin line. This is north of Rockford about 25 miles. Air is supplied on site but rental gear needs to be gotten from a LDS. The closest to Pearl Lake is Loves Park Scuba in Loves Park Illinois, which is half way between Rockford and South Beloit. Dan and crew will be happy to set you up with what you need.
In Wisconsin Devils Lake in Devils Lake State Park is a nice easy dive location. Unfortunately the LDS recently closed so Air and equipment will have to be gotten in Madison, WI. Diversions Scuba or Madison Scuba are both good bets. I believe there is diving in Lake Mendota (Madison) but I don't know if it is any good or what the access is like.
Farther North in Black River Falls Wisconsin is Lake Wazee. There are two dive shops nearby who can handle air and equipment rentals. I can only remember one of them, Wazee Sports Center. Lake Wazee is a flooded iron mine and is very deep. How ever there are three areas that are appropriate for recreational depth diving. I have been diving at the East entry and really enjoy "Sherwood Forest".
All of the locations I have written about can be accessed online or you can PM me and I will do my best to clarify any questions you may have.
