Covered by grasslands and beautiful buttes, South Dakota is bisected by the Missouri River. Occupied by humans for millennia, it was once covered by a huge, shallow sea. Today, little remains of the ocean and creatures that once covered the state's plains, but there are plenty of smaller bodies of water, including several lakes and reservoirs which are suitable for diving. Here, we'll investigate three of the very best the state has to offer.
Pactola Reservoir
Covering 86 acres and part of the Black Hills National Forest, Pactola Reservoir was completed in 1956 and is the deepest reservoir in this part of the state, with maximum depth at 158 feet (48 meters). Open for diving all year, the reservoir is the site of an old town that was flooded when the dam was completed; but rumors that the town is still intact are not true. There are some artifacts and the remains of foundations here, but that's about it.
What you will find in the lake are magnificent rock formations and a number of freshwater aquatic species, including turtles and frogs, perch, rock bass, largemouth bass, Kokanee salmon, brown trout, and rainbow trout. As you might expect, the reservoir is popular with fishermen, so you will need to be cautious of overhead boat traffic and watch out for lost fishing lures and tangled line.
Visibility varies seasonally, usually landing somewhere between 5 and 30 feet, and the water is always chilly, ranging from 40-60 degrees Fahrenheit. In late spring, the thermocline is at 25 feet or so; by August, it is all the way at 50 feet. There is camping available along with a small store, a visitor's center, a swimming beach, and boat launches; there is a small per vehicle fee for access.
Lake Francis Case
This massive lake covers 100,000 square acres, and is a favorite site for spearfishing and open water training. While you can dive the whole lake, the most popular area is the rocky east side where visibility tends to be better than it is on the muddier west side; the east side also features boat ramps for easy access. Lake Francis Case is formed by a dam that harnesses the power of the Missouri River; maximum depth is 140 feet, and visibility is usually between 5 and 20 feet.
The lake is home to a number of fish, including channel catfish and walleye, bass and largemouth bass, crappies, and northern pikes. There are a number of amenities on site including camping and picnic areas, cabins, hiking, and more. The lake is open all year.
Lake Oahe
A great place to dive 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days per year, Lake Oahe is conveniently located 7 miles north of Pierre, South Dakota, on SD Highway 1804. The 4th largest man-made reservoir in the United States, Lake Oahe stretches 231 miles up the Missouri River, all the way to Bismarck, North Dakota. It boasts more shoreline than the state of California does, at 2,250 miles, and there are 51 different recreation areas to visit. Maximum depth in the lake is 205 feet, and it is home to a wealth of aquatic life, including channel catfish, largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike, white crappie and white bass, and yellow perch.
The largest dive shops in South Dakota are located in Sioux Falls and Pierre; offering air fills, rentals, equipment sales and more, they also provide guided dive trips and lessons. The state of South Dakota has plenty of other attractions to keep you busy between dives; offering a rich Native American history and much more, it is a wonderful place to visit.