Did a platform several summers back in the GoM to 315fsw, private operator. I know of no lake that would exceed 200ffw give or take a few feet, within a day's trip. Northern Arkansas has several spots were 180-210ffw are located. Your best bet is wait till warmer weather and head north to the 'Lakes' for some fresh water diving at any depth you choose and are carded for as charters will require proof. What are your interest in 300-500ft., and what is your background in those depths assuming this search is for you be it OC or CCR...you may replia via PM if you wish...?
I remember when I first hit 90 feet in travis and stopped at a ledge and just looked over it thinking, how far does it go, what's down there? then over time I found out, there was that feeling of discovery.
Interest in 300 - 500 foot depends on the location, the goal isn't necessarily 500 feet, the goal is deeper than what i've been doing here, Travis has totally lost that "I wonder whats down there just beyond where I can go" curiousity for me as I've been on the bottom several times. Not that I won't be back, when the vis returns I've gotta get some line laid and there are more things to discover for sure but it's not the same, those who know, know what I'm talking about, its hard to explain.
So goal, depends, if I've never dove there before obviously its not 500 feet, maybe its 30, maybe it has a wall at 200 feet i can look over and go HMMM whats down there?
Some of the best dives I had in travis coming back with a smile was getting deeper and discovering something new like, what is at the bottom of the dam, how deep is it, whats it like in the channel?
background in the 300 - 500 foot depth range - absolutely none, which is why I'm looking for a place that has it, today as I type this a place with that kind of depth would allow me to go beyond what i've done already and give me a place to stop and look and go hmmm whats down there just beyond my reach - for now.
OC - CCR who knows, I'm not ready to go dive 500 feet right now, maybe by the time I find a place and feel i'm ready it will be CCR - for now its beyond my reach - safely anyway.
But so long as the deepest hole I can find is travis, anything beyond 170 in TX is beyond my reach (don't feel like digging, its probably 130 with a shovel right now)
When I go to cave country the "discovery" doesnt' have anything to do with depth so i'm not out just looking for a deep hole, I go where the cave goes, but alas I can't cave dive every weekend (yea i just need to move to florida)
