Boasting an incredible 15,000 lakes, the state of Wisconsin is a great place for divers to visit. While some lakes are off limits to divers for obvious reasons, many natural lakes and quarries can be easily enjoyed; some are open only seasonally, while others can be explored year round. Here are just three of the best lake dive sites in Wisconsin.
Perch Lake
A spring fed lake located just east of the Minneapolis - St. Paul metro area, just inside the Wisconsin state line, Perch Lake features maximum depth at 90 feet, and offers visibility at 20 to 30 feet. You'll find training platforms and a few sunken boats to explore, and the lake is home to bluegill, largemouth bass, brook trout, and, as its name suggests, Perch. A drysuit is recommended, and there is a small fee for diving. Fishing is allowed, so be on the look-out for lost tackle, and be cautious of overhead boat traffic.
The amenities here are great, even for non-divers. There are boat and canoe rentals, a swimming beach and playground, hiking trails, and cross country skiing in the winter. The lake is surrounded by steep slopes covered in pine and oak trees, along with wetlands and even an area of restored prairie. Diving is allowed between May 1st and November 1st.
Devil's Lake
Devil's Lake State Park is visited by over 1.2 million people annually. Situated along the Ice Age Trail, in Baraboo, it features incredible cliffs, hundreds of campsites, hiking and biking trails that never seem to end, plus sandy beaches and swimming areas, not to mention plenty of restrooms and other amenities.
The lake itself covers 360 acres and is fed by natural springs. Cold and clear, it is dominated by huge rock formations that shelter a number of fish species, plus there are aquatic plants growing from the sandy lakebed. While maximum depth here is 45 feet, the average depth is 20-25 feet; visibility is 20-30 feet in spring and fall. Open for diving all year round, this lake can be in the mid-70's during the summer, but during the winter, it's in the 30's. There is a per-vehicle entrance fee, and a flag and float are mandatory.
Wazee Lake
The site of the former Jackson County Iron Mine, Wazee Lake is an old quarry that produced 850,000 tons of iron-rich taconite pellets annually, with most being used in midwestern steel mills. The deepest inland lake in the state, with maximum depth at 355 feet, and featuring good visibility at 30-40 feet during the summer months, this lake has two thermoclines. The first is at a depth of about 30 feet, and the second is at a depth of about sixty feet; summer temperatures above the first thermocline tend to be about 70 degrees. After that, temperature drops to 40 degrees, and beyond the second thermocline, the temperature is a bone-chilling 34 degrees. If you plan to go deep, wear a drysuit.
The lake's underwater terrain is interesting, with circular roads that wind their way around the walls, where lots of artifacts can be found; and while all machinery was removed prior to the quarry's flooding, there are fish cribs and plenty of fish here. Commonly encountered species include bluegills, catfish, smallmouth bass, suckers, brook trout, brown trout, and beautiful rainbow trout. With these fish come fishermen; be cautious of overhead boat traffic and look out for lost fishing tackle; if you're lucky, you'll find some nice lures. There is a small fee to dive, and flags are required.
Onsite amenities include picnic areas and restrooms, a beach and a boat launch, and miles of hiking and biking trails that wind their way through a varied landscape of forest and prairie. There is also a small campground; advance reservations are recommended for those hoping to enjoy it.
This is just a small sampling of what Wisconsin's lakes have to offer. Pack your bags and whet your appetite for some great local cuisine, and get ready to enjoy some fantastic dives. While the water is cold, the diving is unique and the underwater landscapes are often spectacular.