Diving in New Orleans

[Lightning Fish]

Hello:

I will be in New Orleans at the end of April and am interested in getting a couple of dives in while there. I am certified PADI AOW with 18 dives and counting. Can anyone in New Orleans provide me with information on diving there and what my options are?

Thanks in advance.

Cheers,
Bill.

 

[jonnythan]

I'm originally from New Orleans. I moved away right before I started diving, but I still know the area.

There's nowhere to dive very close to the city. The Lake is very shallow and empty, and there's nothing to see there. The river is obviously off limits.

From what I gather, your best bet is to head a couple hours East and do some diving on the Alabama coast, or a couple hours south and do some oil rig diving.

With all the water around the city you'd think there would be some decent scuba to be done...

 

[archman]

Good heavens, do NOT dive in waters linked in any way to the Mississippi River. The fertilizers, hormones, pesticides, and other wastes of watershed drainages comprising parts of 42 U.S. states concentrates in there. You've certainly heard of the "Dead Zone" in your area, right? Lake Ponchartrain gets some of that, plus all the wastes from New Orleans as well. Spend enough time in those waters and you're liable to end up with a sex change, or worse.

 

[Natasha]

Lightning Fish:
I'm sure you accidentally posted the same thread here twice. I deleted your first one since it was reported to me.
Thanks! Welcome! And Have fun!