Places one is "allowed" to dive...

[CamG]

Greetings Richie and welcome to Scuba Board!
I think most state parks require a permit of some sort to dive from there shores.
Check the local laws and regs concerning marking floats and flags.
I would hook up with a local diving club to seek out other buddies who are wanting to dive.

I caution you on diving solo in a public lake as there are many hazards that can pop up out of no where.
I am not trying to discourage you in any way but rather see you dive safely gaining experience.

Make very sure that you are prepared for the unexpected as we have encountered many variations of dive mishaps in public waters.
Mad fisherman, landowners, crazy jet skiers, rogue ski boats, DNR agents, snakes, kids playing with our gear, etc. those are just surface issues.
In water there is always buddy separation, no vis, rogue carp attacks, trolling fisherman really hate us, and always bear in mind you may think you have direct access to the surface but if you are not coming up an anchor rope you can get ran over by another boat!
That last issue is the most serious to consider, diver + moving boat= !

Find a group who is already diving the local waters and join up!
What we have found is that their are awesome fantastic sites where you least expect them to be!
Some are busy as HXXL and dangerous to dive others are out of the way and no one around!
The key is to be safe and not push the limits if it is to crazy then wait, come back another day.
SOLO DIVING IS NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY!
You were trained with a buddy and seek more training if you are going the solo route.

CamG Keep Diving....Keep Training....Keep Learning!

 

[DivemasterDennis]

Lots of great posts here, and I agree with almost all, but not all. Not all bodies of water are safe to dive. Many have sub-surface hazards, many have high levels of bad things in them, and many are not accessible for emergency response. Also, many are private property. Forget the "apologizing is better than asking permission." Treat dive sites like hunting sites. Ask first. As to public waters, as in city, regional, state and national parks, the parks will have rules. Ask about them. They will tell you if diving is allowed, and the designated areas, if any. They will let you know their requirements (recognized agency certification, dive flag, buddy teams, shore guy, etc. Some locations are dedicated to boaters, water skiiers, and fishing, so some places have designated swimming and diving areas where those other activities aren't allowed. There are lots of places to dive. You will no doubt become familiar with all of them in your area. Join a local dive club, ask at local dive centers. It is easy to get the information you need. Be safe, have fun, and be an actvie diver!
DivemasterDennis scubasnobs.com

 

[EiderDown]

Thanks to all (almost all, I'm not moving) who answered, especially Boulderjohn. I did try the appropriate (forgive a new guy for not knowing INappropriate?) forum & unfortunately there was not much there. It's as I thought, the places that are truly near are probably not worth it, at lest for the experienced diver. Looks like closest is Seneca, the biggest finger lake, which is still about 1 1/2 hrs away & therefore too far for a test dive or practice dive.
Wish me luck. Ritchie

 

[spectrum]

Legal limits will vary but I have never heard of anything like a state regulation governing this in general. Parks will have varying policies. Private property is just that.

For off beat locations I have had good luck watching other sportsmen. Fishermen, kayaker & canoeists all have the same access needs. For one trip we found a number of cool sites working from a kayakers guide book. Also look into regional dives site guide books along with shop and dive club websites that offer guidance. Around here there are many small unmarked turnoffs that are either public land, like near bridge abutments or access is commonly allowed via "permissive trespass".

Networking with local divers will also help. Who do you buddy with?

I know Acadia National Park is unrestricted and the diving there is nice. Most (not all) Maine state parts allow scuba diving but you do need to register, so bring your C card.

Pete

 

[boulderjohn]

Thanks to all (almost all, I'm not moving) who answered, especially Boulderjohn. I did try the appropriate (forgive a new guy for not knowing INappropriate?) forum & unfortunately there was not much there. It's as I thought, the places that are truly near are probably not worth it, at lest for the experienced diver. Looks like closest is Seneca, the biggest finger lake, which is still about 1 1/2 hrs away & therefore too far for a test dive or practice dive.
Wish me luck. Ritchie

Ritchie, if it makes you feel any better, you are way better off than I am. With the exception of a couple small, cloudy reservoirs at least an hour from my house, the nearest diving of any kind is in New Mexico, 6.5 hours away.

 

[j yaeger]

i agree with rh westfall........
3 diveshops in the bingo area....
and susq. river is the dive spot available???????no way!!!

as far as lake access-if it's got a boat launch,i dive it!
don't be a pest-stay out of the boater's way-fly a flag.
just 'cause it says"no swimming",doesn't mean no diving......
nobody's going to beat you up or take away your birthday!
ponds,small lakes,rivers etc. it's all good experience!
c'mon up some weekend!
have fun
yaeg

 

[rhwestfall]

Just busting chops
9because I can). Maybe go get wet in Glimmerglass, Deruyter Lake, etc. Believe me, I know your pain. I got certified in Oneonta, lived 7 years after that is Syracuse (couldn't find buddies), but ended up along the shores of Lake Erie (Waaaaahooooo!). Went about 4 years dry. Stick it out!

 

[rhwestfall]

Just busting chops (because I can). Maybe go get wet in Glimmerglass, Deruyter Lake, etc. Believe me, I know your pain. I got certified in Oneonta, lived 7 years after that is Syracuse (couldn't find buddies), but ended up along the shores of Lake Erie (Waaaaahooooo!). Went about 4 years dry. Stick it out! Maybe we can get you out to here some time....

 

[rx7diver]

I know that my certification is by an agency, and is not a legal permit, but I'd think it would allow me to dive anywhere the public is allowed.

Finally, the question: What are the legal limits of diving, starting with national parks, state parks (NY, in my case) and local levels?

As long as you are at a public access I would not see a problem. You will probably be required to tow a Divers flag. Local property owners do not own the lake or immediate shoreline, that is public property.
As far as State parks go I would not see a problem either but call the Park number and ask.

I would think you can dive any most any public body of water unless specifically stated by a local ordinance.

ElderDown,

It never hurts to do a bit of homework. Things aren't always as they seem!

For example, although I've lived in central Missouri a number of years, until a couple of weeks ago I had never heard about a state park located barely a couple hours north of me. Thousand Hills State Park (http://mostateparks.com/park/thousand-hills-state-park) includes a large lake, Forest Lake, surrounded by a densely wooded watershed (rather than farmland), which suggested to me it might provide a good diving opportunity. Excited, I made a couple of long distance phone calls.

Turns out, although the land *surrounding* the lake is a state park, the lake itself, a reservoir for the city of Kirksville, Missouri, actually belongs to the city of Kirksville. The city has jurisdiction, and city cops actually police the lake! I eventually wound up speaking to the Kirksville police chief who didn't know off the top of his head whether diving was permitted. (He had never been asked before.) He called me back after doing some research, to tell me that diving is in fact permitted, but a city ordinance specifically details how a diver must go about doing a dive there, and that the ordinance specifies that if a diver violated these details, he would be committing a misdemeanor. The chief was also very helpful regarding boating traffic and best/safest access sites and times for scuba divers based on his experience fishing the lake.

Bottom line, if I had assumed the lake was state property and proceeded to dive without enquiring, I might have been surprised by Kirksville's finest. Moreover, if I had not spoken to the park office, I would not have been directed to the police chief, and I would not have learned about best/safest access sites and times for scuba diving (as well as Kirksville's rules for diving the lake).

A little homework never hurts.

Hope this helps.

Safe Diving,

rx7diver

 

[rx7diver]

Post deleted. (Double post.)