While many divers know South Carolina as a great destination for wreck diving, with wrecks dating back to WWII, the Civil War, and even earlier, it is also a fantastic place to enjoy some inland lake diving. If you find yourself landlocked in the Palmetto State, check out one of these lakes. Grab your gear - we're about to go on a quick tour.
Lake Jocassee
Located about 146 miles southwest of Charlotte NC, Lake Jocasee is huge; with three forks, it covers an area of 7,565 acres and boasts 75 miles of shoreline. The lake is mostly in South Carolina but extends into North Carolina. While maximum depth is 365 feet in this clear, cool lake, which was created when the Duke Power Company built a dam in 1973, average depths are much shallower depending on where you dive. One of the lake's most popular sites is called The Wall; it is the site of an old quarry, where you'll find a training platform at a depth of 25 feet, plus a motorcycle and a sunken basketball goal. You can only get to The Lake Jocassee Wall by boat. The easiest way to access it is via Devils Fork State Park, where you'll find restrooms and a store, plus boat ramps and more. Besides this site, there are several other areas suitable for diving, either from shore or from your boat.
Hot Hole
When you think of lake diving in winter, your mind might automatically fill in the gaps with pictures of ice diving; while there's rarely any ice on any of South Carolina's lakes, there is never any at Hot Hole. That's because this dive site is fed by Lake Keowee's nuclear plant's exhaust pipe, which not only provides warm temperatures year round, but which also keeps temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees all throughout the year. While there is not much to see underwater here other than freshwater fish, this is a great place to keep up on skills and socialize with other divers while you immerse yourself in warm water and dream about taking a Caribbean vacation. Local dive shops provide day and night trips to the Hot Hole all year. Maximum depth is 50 feet; average depth is closer to 20 feet.
J. Strom Thurmond Lake
Named in honor of the late Senator J. Strom Thurmond, this lake straddles the South Carolina - Georgia border. The best place to dive here is near the dam, where there is a sunken Cessna in about 35 feet of water; but the lake covers an astonishing 71,100 acres. There are interesting ledges to explore and the old riverbed is located at a depth of about 100 feet. Open all year, this lake offers plenty of topside amenities including restrooms and picnic areas, plus it is home to lots of freshwater aquatic life including fish like bluegill, bass, and catfish.
With fun for divers and non-divers alike, these wonderful lakes add a new dimension to diving in South Carolina. There are plenty of topside attractions all over the state, including historic sites, museums, and much more to keep you entertained between dives, plus there are great accommodations and restaurants of all kinds to enjoy while you're here. Best of all, there are very low day use fees at these sites, and local scuba shops offer equipment, air fills, and more. For low cost diving and plenty of fun, these lakes can't be beat.