River Diving In Canada and U.S

The Campbell River, also known as the "Salmon Capital of the World", lies in the heart of Strathcona Provincial Park with the Coastal mountain range to the east. A top cold water dive spot with strong tidal currents flowing through the Discovery Passage, divers can experience the colorful invertebrates anemone's, sponges and soft corals along the steep walls as well as - tiny, grunt sculpin to Cap'n Crunch and an eight foot long wolfeel, (Anarrhychthys ocellatus)

The Great lakes

Huron, Superior, Erie, Michigan and Ontario were all formed magically by melting ice with the retreat of continental glaciers.

strong>Lake Huron is the second largest of the Great Lakes averaging between 195 and 750 feet in depth. Diving in the lake is a pleasure compared to the ocean - your gear is are already rinsed when you are done and you can even drink the fresh water!

Lake Ontario holds a great deal of shipwrecks well preserved due to the fact that the saltwater erosion doesn't take place in this environment. Ontario is the smallest the lakes, 283 - 802 foot deep and the seasons distinguish whether you swim or walk on it. Though Ontario and Eerie are a bit warmer than Superior and Huron, there's no diving in tropical gear here.

Lake Erie is the fourth largest of the bunch averaging 62 - 210 feet depths. Marine life in the lakes include Alewife, Brook and Brown Trout, Chinook and Salmon, Freshwater Drum, Herring, Sturgeon, Trout, Rainbow Smelt an array of bass, as well as Yellow Perch.

Utah - Salt Lake

Utah's bodies of water fed by hot springs are great for diving. At Bonneville SeaBase out in Salt Lake's western desert expanse one can see and feed tropical fish. Located where the Utah and Nevada borders meet, the spot sports an eclectic collection of metal sculptures placed there by the University's divers of a praying mantis, turtle, rhino and hammerhead shark. Its 4,300 foot above sea level location requires divers take the usual altitude considerations required.

At geothermal Blue Lake, divers can explore depths up to 59 feet (18 m) with visibility between 15 and 25ft. The temperatures average 22 degrees, teaming with warm water marine life such as bass and bluegill. Another geothermal 65-foot deep crater set in the Wasatch Mountains is located at the Homestead State Park in Midway. Here water temperatures stay at 90 to 96 degrees year around and the spring and its rich minerals date 10,000 years back.

Wisconsin

Lower long Lake, Chippewa County is popular for both shore and boat dives. The maximum depth is 101 foot with numerous natural shelter areas for the marine life for diving exploration. Visibility ranges between 8 to 25 foot with a 30-50 score for the ice diving.

Silver Lake in Barron County is 91 foot deep trout bass and pan fish with a visibility of 6 - 16 foot. Big Round Lake, Sawyer County is 74 foot deep with 45ft diving depth ranges. The thermocline can be found at 38-45 foot in summer because of the huge surface area of the lake. Lake Owen, Bayfield County 96 foot with a diving depth similar to that of Big Round Lake with viz up to 45 feet.

Lake Wazee in Jackson County is man-made bearing its origins as a tactonite mine. The lake may be a whopping 365 feet deep but divers are recommended to stick to a maximum 130 feet.

The viz has a 20 to 45 ft range and water temperatures run from approximately 70 degrees surface temperatures to 40 degrees below the thermocline. The thermocline depth varies during summer, but averages about 30 feet. Divers who venture to greater depths will encounter a second thermocline at approximately 60 feet where the temperature drops to a chilly 34 degrees.

Use of a quality scuba diving dry suit (with proper training) is recommended. A series of circular haul roads wind down around the pit where divers often find artifacts including chains, pipes; taconite pellets, and iron shovel teeth. Massive boulders and shear cliff faces create challenging and interesting features for the more experienced recreational diver.

Novice divers will enjoy the gradually descending roadways which are found throughout the quarry. Marine life consists of the inhabitants of several groups of fish cribs namely rainbow, brook and brown trout, bluegills, suckers, catfish, and small mouth bass.