SCUBA within Ohio State Park lakes

[diver_paula]

While trying to find a dive spot midway between a friend and myself, I started looking at the lakes within the Ohio State Parks. Attached is the response received. I'll post the list of parks permitting diving in the next post.

Do any of you have experience / comments regarding the lakes in the list?

Paula

***************************************************************

Thank you for your interest in the Ohio Department of Natural Resources,
Division of Parks and Recreation (www.ohiostateparks.org).

I am attaching a file that provides a list of the parks permitting SCUBA
diving and information on diving within Ohio State Park lakes.

If there is anything further I may be able to assist you with, please
feel free to contact me anytime. Thank you, again, for your interest in
Ohio's State Parks.

Sincerely,

Kris Weber
Customer Service Assistant
Ohio State Parks
2045 Morse Road, Bldg. C-3
Columbus, Ohio 43229-6693
kris.weber@dnr.state.oh.us

If you would be interested in receiving our e-mail newsletter "E-News
from Ohio State Parks", please send an e-mail to the following address:
Ohiostateparks.marketing@dnr.state.oh.us

 

[diver_paula]

SCUBA Diving in Ohio’s State Parks

SCUBA diving is permitted at 29 state park lakes listed below.

In Northwest Ohio:
Harrison Lake

In Northeast Ohio:
Guilford Lake
Findley Lake
Jefferson Lake
Mount Gilead Lake
Punderson Lake

In Central Ohio:
Alum Creek Lake (designated area is the no wake zone)
Madison Lake

In Southeast Ohio:
Adams Lake
Belmont Lake (Barkcamp State Park)
Burr Oak Lake (not within 1000 feet from the dam or outlet structures)
Cutler Lake (Blue Rock State Park)
Dillon Lake (north of the no wake buoys only)
Forked Run Lake
Lake Hope
Lake Logan
Lake White
Pike Lake
Caldwell Lake and Stewart Lake (Scioto Trail State Park)
Dow Lake (Strouds Run State Park)
Pine Lake (Tar Hollow State Park)
Turkey Creek Lake (Shawnee State Park)
Wolf Run Lake

In Southwest Ohio:
Acton Lake (Hueston Woods State Park—not within 1000 feet from the dam or outlet
structures)
C. J. Brown Reservoir (Buck Creek State Park—designated designated area is the no
wake zone)
Caesar Creek Lake (designated area is the no wake zone)
Kiser Lake
Stonelick Lake

SCUBA Diving--What you should know
• Come fully equipped with a face mask, foot fins, buoyancy compensation vest, submersible pressure gauge and snorkel, along with your SCUBA certification.
• Mark the diving area with an official diving flag at the water’s surface.
• Always dive with a companion; never dive alone.
• Notify the park office before your dive.

 

[Hoosier]

Thanks. It is good info.

In Indiana, we need to get a permit for each lake. I am wondering if Ohio doesn't ask any permit before being there.

 

[Randy43068]

Thanks Paula. Good info! Some (maybe most) of these lakes have viz measured from 0 to inches.

 

[diver_paula]

Thanks. It is good info.

In Indiana, we need to get a permit for each lake. I am wondering if Ohio doesn't ask any permit before being there.

You are most welcome.

As for a permit, the information sent to me from the Ohio agent is:

"• Notify the park office before your dive."

Paula

 

[wb416]

SCUBA Diving in Ohio’s State Parks

SCUBA diving is permitted at 29 state park lakes listed below.

In Northwest Ohio:
Harrison Lake

In Northeast Ohio:
Guilford Lake
Findley Lake
Jefferson Lake
Mount Gilead Lake
Punderson Lake

In Central Ohio:
Alum Creek Lake (designated area is the no wake zone)
Madison Lake

In Southeast Ohio:
Adams Lake
Belmont Lake (Barkcamp State Park)
Burr Oak Lake (not within 1000 feet from the dam or outlet structures)
Cutler Lake (Blue Rock State Park)
Dillon Lake (north of the no wake buoys only)
Forked Run Lake
Lake Hope
Lake Logan
Lake White
Pike Lake
Caldwell Lake and Stewart Lake (Scioto Trail State Park)
Dow Lake (Strouds Run State Park)
Pine Lake (Tar Hollow State Park)
Turkey Creek Lake (Shawnee State Park)
Wolf Run Lake

In Southwest Ohio:
Acton Lake (Hueston Woods State Park—not within 1000 feet from the dam or outlet
structures)
C. J. Brown Reservoir (Buck Creek State Park—designated designated area is the no
wake zone)
Caesar Creek Lake (designated area is the no wake zone)
Kiser Lake
Stonelick Lake

SCUBA Diving--What you should know
• Come fully equipped with a face mask, foot fins, buoyancy compensation vest, submersible pressure gauge and snorkel, along with your SCUBA certification.
• Mark the diving area with an official diving flag at the water’s surface.
• Always dive with a companion; never dive alone.
• Notify the park office before your dive.

Never heard of such a thing... but then I have never asked, maybe because I have quarries that are close by... only lake I've dove in from a State Park was Lake Erie and the viz didn't make it too worth while in the shallows for a repeat visit....

 

[Hoosier]

How convenient it is in Ohio!

Your post encourages me to do the same research about Indiana lakes.

Thanks again.

Hoosier

You are most welcome.

As for a permit, the information sent to me from the Ohio agent is:

"• Notify the park office before your dive."

Paula

 

[Ber Rabbit]

Caesar's Creek Lake has a lot of brush and other entanglements plus the zero to inches of visibility. It looks like the only places they allow you to dive are the no wake zones and those are generally shallow and subject to boats anchoring in them for all the reasons boats anchor. I would avoid any lake that restricts you to the no-wake zones (unless you can verify it's a deep area) because the water may not be deep enough to allow you to avoid the hulls of the boats investigating your dive flag. Any lake that is a reservoir in Ohio is probably not going to be worth the entanglement risks. Lakes that are not reservoirs are going to be your best bet but still probably have horrible or worse visibility.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[rab]

Hey Ber,
Have you dived at Caesar's Creek? I've been wondering about that since last year when I chaperoned a field trip with my daughter's class.
-Rob

 

[Ber Rabbit]

I haven't dove it I've just been on it and swam in it and you can't see squat. :biggrin:
Ber :lilbunny: