Mystery Lake Scuba Park in Wendell NC (just east of Raleigh) has been open since last summer. It's a 15 acre lake in a beautiful, wooded setting. The owners are divers, so they understand our needs. I have dove there many times, and am impressed with all they have done to make it a great place to dive.
They're put in picnic tables and some very innovative gear set-up benches designed by a member of their scuba club. There's a porta-jon on site, and they have recently installed an enclosed changing room. For chilly surface intervals, there's a fire pit with firewood stacked nearby.
Along with a team of volunteers, they've also installed underwater attractions. These include a guideline that runs the entire perimeter; a couple of sunken motorboats; some giant spools for swim-throughs; several areas of statues (go see the mermaid and the Garden of Saints); an air bell; and an underwater maze to swim through. They have recently acquired a bus to sink.
During the 2017 season, the lake was accessible by giant stride from the dock or wade in/and out at South Beach, which sometimes got congested. Over the winter, they are working on building out another access area, East Woods, that's about a third of the way to the north side. East Woods has easier access to shallow water and training platforms, and is well-shaded for those hot days, so it will be super popular this summer.
Go check it out. Mystery Lake is close enough to Fantasy that you can easily dive both the same day. They are a different experience. We're blessed to have two great dive quarries this close to Raleigh.
Don't know about you, but I'm getting a season pass to Mystery Lake this year.
