Where do I (you) dive in Southwest Missouri? The ocean isn’t anywhere around… Ah, a question we’re asked frequently. The answer: There are numerous places to dive if you live here in the Ozarks and Southwest Missouri.
Where to dive in Southwest Missouri
First of all, we have numerous cricks (creeks for you more uppity folks), where you can find the lost treasures of the canoe people. When they inevitably tip over and dump their treasures to the bottom of the crick. You’re sure to find glasses, wallets, cell phones (and many phones still work), keys, and other personal items are just there for the diving. Be careful and don’t dive in anywhere you are not trained and skilled to dive.
BE SAFE SO YOU CAN DIVE TOMORROW!
Small ponds, preferably for recreational diving, and not one of the numerous cow ponds around.
Also, you could try the strip pits, abandoned areas used to strip mine coal, as there are dozens and dozens of them around this area.
Quarries are also another place to dive. Numerous rock quarries around this area. Please make sure to check with the property owners before diving in any quarries or pits and get their permission. They may be able to tell you about hazards or what to look for.
There are several diveable lakes in our area for a day dive trip.
Stockton Lake
just west of Lamar, MO has access and several of our group have dove in its waters. The state park has easy access to land-based divers and a good place to just “burn some air”.
Tablerock Lake
near Branson has several dive sights accessible to shore divers. My favorite, after they restricted diving at the dam, is The Zebulon Pike is an awesome boat wreck dive with access from the shore. The boat is 90 feet long and is an old double-decker excursion cruiser formerly named the Branson Belle.
The name was changed to avoid confusing the site with the Showboat Branson Belle. Boat diving gets you access the Enchanted forest, which has a site is a long rock bluff about a one-half mile north of Table Rock Dam. Descending to 65-80 feet you’ll be at the base of a grove of large submerged oak trees, some of which rise to the surface. Duck Island located near the State Park Boat Ramp has a 25 ft cruiser at a depth of 45 foot. Visibility on Tablerock is usually in the 15-30 ft range. I have seen as good as 60 foot in the late spring. Ask Google about more dive sights on Tablerock.
Lake Tenkiller
near Vian, OK has a dive area located at the State Park. This site has a submerged bus and a helicopter to dive around among other things to see underwater. There are a couple of walls there that will allow you to get some depth in your dive. Visibility will range from 10 to 35 foot, depending on depth and the time of the year.
Grand Lake
near Grove, OK……………..has water…………visibility……. The visibility can be expected to be less than 5 foot. FYI, Dive training magazine does not show any dive sites on Grand Lake. Hint hint. There is a reason I have not dove there, yet.
Beaver Lake
near Gateway and Eureka Springs, AR, has numerous area to dive. Indian Creek, where we do most of our open water classes, has several attractions beneath the surface for divers to enjoy. A very safe and fun area to dive. There are no walls to drop over and get depth, so it is an area I enjoy diving with my grandkids at. Bring hot dogs and feed the fish.
Near the dam is the Bluff site with a fantastic wall to drop over. On the wall, you will find small statues of pigs, eagles, gorillas, and other things.
Monte Ne (Google it for its history) is another shore dive located closer to Rogers at the community of Monte Ne. An amphitheater is located at this site and should be limited to more advanced divers and divers used to less visibility in the water. There are more areas to shore dive from and more areas accessible by boat.
The Foundations, a former farmhouse with just the footings left is a shallow dive and a short swim to the cliff carved by the force of the White River over many thousands of years.
Stop by the dive shop for more information on where we dive in this area.