Scuba Center is Minnesota's Largest Scuba Diving School -- Two Locations offering PADI certification courses in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Eagan, Minnesota -- Shop with us online at scubacenter.com -- Find a huge selection of quality scuba diving and snorkeling equipment, underwater digital cameras, wetsuits, drysuits, dry gloves, and technical diving gear. Our Minneapolis location has the largest selection of kiteboarding and snowkiting equipment in the Minnesota. Scuba Center also features ice rescue and water rescue equipment from the best manufacturers in the business at our Eagan location. -- Now offering PADI eLearning Courses!

5015 Penn Ave South   Minneapolis, Minnesota 55419    (612) 925-4818

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Local Diving
Local Diving | There is nothing quite like the freedom of shore diving. There’s a certain sense of self-reliance and spontaneity when you’re equipped to go amphibian and walk directly from the land into the sea. While boat diving has its appeal, diving from any shore you fancy is its own kind of fun. Get advice from the locals. While some popular shore diving destinations have marked entry points along local beaches, others aren’t so user friendly. Ask at the local dive shop or resort for advice on the best shore diving locations and how best to dive them. | Local diving in Minnesota and Wisconsin

Local Diving USA | Not every dive site worth visiting is located a 10-hour flight from home. | Each flag on the map contains the name of a dive site and it's location. | Dive Training is diving’s education-based magazine for new divers, divers in all levels of training, their instructors and those who own and operate dive centers. | Local diving in Minnesota and Wisconsin

Provided by Dive Training magazine
Local Diving hotspot: Square Lake.
Square Lake near Stillwater, Minnesota is one of the most popular diving destinations in the Twin Cities area. Underwater attractions include abundant marine life, sunken boats and canoes, and the tail section of a plane. Shallow depths and easy lake access from two neighboring parks help make Square Lake an active year round dive site. Both Square Lake County Park (15450 Square Lake Trail North, Stillwater, MN) and Golden Acres RV & Picnic Area (15150 Square Lake Trail North, Stillwater, MN) offer picnic tables, restrooms, and refreshments during the "local diving season". More information on this lake can be found on the Washington County Park website (see link below). 

Minnesota Dive Flag Regulations | Scuba divers must display a warning flag when diving | The diver's flag must measure at least 15 inches horizontally and 12 inches vertically. Both sides must have a red-colored background bisected diagonally by a three-inch wide white stripe. There is also a blue and white diver's flag authorized under the federal rules of the road. | No more than four divers shall dive under one flag. | Divers must remain within 50 feet (measured horizontally) of the warning flag. | If a group of divers is using a contained area, the perimeter of the area must be marked. The area must be outside the normal area of navigation. These markings must consist of the official diver's flag and must be placed around the perimeter of the diving area at intervals of not more than 150 feet. | Do not place a diver's flag where it will obstruct navigation. | The diver's flag may be displayed on a watercraft or float or be anchored to the bottom. The top of the flag must be at least 30 inches above the surface, however. | Boats not involved with the diving operation must remain 150 feet away from a flag. | Persons who dive at any time from sunset to sunrise must carry a diver's light visible when above the water for a distance of 150 feet. | Scuba or skin diving while in possession of a spear is unlawful from sunset to sunrise. | Local diving in Minnesota
Click the Dive Flag for Minnesota Dive Flag Regulations
Always check state or local regulations when traveling.

This section includes links to information on many of the great diving opportunities in Minnesota and surrounding states.

Crosby Mine Lakes area | Home of Minnesota's New Cuyuna Country State Recreational Area | Considered one the very finest in diving adventures in the Midwest, Cuyuna country's mine lakes offer upwards of forty feet visibility. Several of the mine lakes have excellent launching facilities and one campground currently at the Portsmouth location. A Minnesota state park sticker is required to camp at the park. | Local diving in Minnesota
 Crosby Mine Lakes
Minnesota

Lake Elmo Park Reserve is 2,165 acres in size (3 ½ square miles) with 80 percent of its acreage set aside for preservation and protection. The boat launch is open from 6 a.m. to 1/2 hour after sunset, and it accesses Lake Elmo. The launch is closed in the winter. -- 1515 Keats Avenue North Lake Elmo, MN 55042 | Lake Elmo Park, Washington County, Minnesota | Local diving in Minnesota and Wisconsin
 Lake Elmo
Minnesota

Hayward Lakes | Hayward, Wisconsin | The lakes offer opportunity for a variety of water activities - quiet lakes and streams for canoes, kayaks and pontoons; larger lakes for the powerful motored sports boats and jet skies. | Local diving in Minnesota
Hayward Lakes area
(Including Round Lake)
Wisconsin

 Long Lake | Bagley, Minnesota | Long Lake Park is the door to a paradise of camping & outdoor experience - Rainbow trout fishing, scuba diving, nature trails & more. Solitude among towering pines is what you'll find when camping at Long Lake Park & Campground. | Local diving in Minnesota
Long Lake
Minnesota

Lake Owen Resort | Cable, Wisconsin | Lake Owen, with Crystal-Clear water, stretches 9 miles long in Southern Bayfield County. Maximum depth is 95' deep. A large part of the lake is owned by Chequamegon National Forest giving Lake Owen a more private quiet appearance. Lake Owen Resort is located on the southern shore of the lake just four miles from Cable, Wisconsin. Swim, fish, scuba dive and boat in the crystal clear waters of this beautiful Northern Wisconsin lake. | Local diving in Minnesota and Wisconsin
Lake Owen
Wisconsin

Homestead Parklands on Perch Lake | Perch Lake is the central feature of the park. The lake reaches 90 feet deep in some areas. The land area includes steep slopes covered by oak woodlands and pine plantations. Facilities will include fishing access, including facilities designed for handicapped anglers, a swimming beach, picnic areas, canoe and boat rental facilities, scuba-diving, a playground, and trails for hiking and cross-country skiing. Education and interpretive facilities may be provided at the Visitor Center, as well as in key locations throughout the park. | St. Croix County, Wisconsin | Local diving Wisconsin
Perch Lake
Wisconsin

Square Lake | Square Lake County Park (located near Stillwater, Minnesota) is designated as a Regional 'Special Recreation Feature' by the Metropolitan Council, because of Square Lake's outstanding water quality. The lake has some of the clearest waters in Minnesota, and draws scuba divers and swimmers from throughout the Metropolitan Region. | Square Lake County Park, Washington County, Minnesota | Local diving in Minnesota
Square Lake
Minnesota

Lake Wazee | Jackson County, Wisconsin | Wazee Lake is fast becoming one of the most popular diving sites in the Midwest. It's exceptionally clear, deep water combine to create a fascinating dive site for the experienced and novice diver alike. The lake was the site of the former Jackson County Iron Mine quarry until April of 1983. Today, Wazee Lake is recognized as the deepest inland lake in the State of Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 355 feet. | Local diving in Wisconsin
 Lake Wazee
Wisconsin
Local Fun Dives Schedule Lake Superior Wreck Diving
Isle Royale, Madeira, and more
Annual Events
Crystal Pierz Marine
Lake Cleanup Day 		Dive Into the Past
Twin Cities Shipwreck & SCUBA Show
Lake Owen Divers Weekend
Hosted by David Shirley 		Gales of November
Duluth, Minnesota
Ghost Ships Festival
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 		Our World Underwater
Chicago, Illinois
Minnesota DNR References

Minnesota DNR contact information

(651) 296-6157 (Metro area) or (888) MINN-DNR (elsewhere)

Email the Minnesota DNR

 Find your local DNR Office

Minnesota DNR Website

 State of Minnesota Website

Use Lake Finder on the Minnesota DNR web site to find information on many of your favorite lakes. 

Minnesota Boating Guide---(PDF)
This booklet summarizes Minnesota boating laws and Dive Flag Regulations*
*Always check state or local regulations when traveling.
 

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