Pennsylvania

Lackawanna County

Divers will travel far and wide to find the best diving. But those who live in the United States have plenty of great diving on their doorstep as well, with plentiful access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. From warm-water reefs to temperate seas, here are some of the top places to scuba dive in the United States.

United States

Natural spring fed lake with summer boat activity.

Chapman Lake is a private lake and access is with permission only.  It is spring fed and best to dive with a dry suit.  Water temperature below 20' is usually 46 degrees F year round with surface water in the 60's to 70's during the summer.  There are sunken boats in a few areas.  Visibility is typical for fresh water but slightly better than average on most days.

Chapman Lake is also known as Chapman Lake, NEPA.

Jermyn

Chapman Lake

The lake has been around for hundreds of years as a recreational place and there are plenty of treasures to be found.  Lots of bottles, sunken boats, anchors, fishing rods/reals and more.  Some old timbers too.

PA Fish and Boat Commission public access on the southeast corner of the lake.  Mostly private docks, get permission from the owners if not diving from the public launch.

Lake Winola

Reservoir with lots of boat traffic on weekends and in summer. 



Lake Wallenpaupack

This is a spring fed lake. There is a lot of natural cover and wildlife. If you bring a boat you can get to some nice spots or swim from the boat launch. 

there is a puplic boat ramp off of county rd 4004 

Fairview lake

There have been at least two railroad accidents at this spot: the first on May 18, 1948, and the second in the evening of September 11, 1975. In the first derailment, the locomotive jumped the tracks, killing two crewmen. The cars somehow stayed on the tracks, sparing the 76 passengers. It is rumored that the locomotive is still somewhere in the river mud, but there is little evidence of this. In the second accident, two engines and thirteen cars of a freight train went into the river. The train’s crew was unhurt in a third engine. Most of the wreckage was cleaned up, but several cars remain, including a closed boxcar in 14 ft of Miller Beerwater, and nearby a flatbed car with a semi-trailer full of real Miller beer bottles In the CNJ tables of the FRA database, this wreck is listed. The specifics are: Lead unit CNJ 3068, nearest station is listed as Slateford Junction, temperature was 62 degrees, train speed was 37 mph, train number was 99 (ES-99), with 2460 tons, 17 loads, 41 empties, equipment damage was $546,840, track damage was $11,243, for a wreck total of $558,093. It also lists the time as 8:18 pm.

This information was also found about DWG:
Most of the people who have been on the train wreck will probably tell you it’s a ’one and done’ dive. From what I’ve personally seen, it’s either hit or miss. That also depends on if anyone has been on the wreck before you got there. On a good day you can almost make out the wreck from the surface. The top of the wreck starts around 7ft in the summer time, with a deep, dark hole downstream at the back bottoming out around 14ft. Getting to the wreck site is only part of the fun. There is a large parking lot across the highway from the river, however I would suggest that you park on the shoulder and unload there. Just before the road rounds the corner, and the wall starts on the train tracks is a large area to pull off on. It’s far safer unloading here. In fact, while I don’t know if it’s legal or not, we just simply parked there without problem. Playing dodge-car isn’t much fun with your arms full of expensive equipment. Even more fun will be had getting your equipment from the road to the river. The easiest way I’ve found so far to get your kit to the water, besides making your buddy carry it for you, is to assemble it by your car, put it on, and hike down the bank to the water’s edge. Securing a rope to hold onto is highly suggested here, not only for the trip down, but also for the trip back up the bank. Once you’re ready to get in, be absolutely certain you have your diver down flag, and a person on shore if at all possible. One of the first things you will notice in this area is that boaters have NO clue what a diver down flag means. Your surface support person will most likely have to wave off a boat or two. The easiest way to hit very closely, if not right on top of the wreck, is to enter the water next to the yellow painted railroad rail on your left, and the large tree on your right. With the tree directly behind you, take a bearing straight across the river, submerge, and head out approx. 20ft. This should run you into the boxcar. Most of the remaining freight car is full of river muck now, with lots of fishing hooks, and monofilament all over the area. You will definitely need a good sharp knife. Every now and then, you might find yourself face to mask with rather large pike. Search in the muck, on the side heading out to the river and you might come up with a bottle or two. The rest of the wreck is located upstream from the boxcar. Current is almost non-existent here in the summer when the water is lower, and you’ll be in a very slight back eddy. Take your time and look around. More bottles from the wreck have been found upstream in the 2002 summer season. If you decide on heading out towards the center of the river, be warned that it comes close to 50ft, it’s cold, dark, and murky. You will want a light with you, and watch out for the current. It can get very swift in the channel. From the reports of the others that dove with us the last time we were there, there’s not much to see out that far besides discarded tires, and trash.

Delaware Water Gap (Beer Train Wreck)

It's used a lot for training and open water checkouts because there are numerous platforms submerged at 25 - 30 ft. There are also quite a few attractions including a sunken fire truck, Cessna air plane, school bus, Sikorsky helicopter, trolley car, several boats and other assorted vehicles. There are also remnants of some of the quarry equipment.



Dutch Springs

Short walk from parking lot to water along marked trail. Dress at your car or on shore. Dive along wall to you left or right. Stay out of the swimming area to the right. 

Minnewaska State Park Preserve
5281 Route 44-55
Kerhonkson, NY 12446

Diving alowed between 9AM and 4PM daily. Except when ice in on the lake.

Must check in with park office, pay $25 annual fee, have dive buddy, dive flag, and leave your certification card with office. Don't forget to pick it up as you leave. Great training area. Cold water.

Lake Minnewaska State Park

The visibility here is usually good, although the silty bottom stirs up at the slightest touch. The usual diving area has a maximum depth of about 60 ft, although in other spots the reservoir is much deeper. Entry is a short hike down a grassy slope to a pebble beach. There is an underwater training platform, and often you will find an O/W class there. Water temps get up into the high 70's later in the season, although it is chilly below the 30 ft thermocline.  The surrounding park is an exceptionally beautiful place, and many people go for swimming, fishing, picnicking, hiking and cycling.  Unfortunately, compared to the ocean, Round Valley is a relatively dull dive. Mud, rocks, snails, and a few fish can be found, as well as huge stands of water plants later in the season.  NJSCUBA.NET has very detailed info and nice photos on Round Valley.

Located by the town of Clinton, NJ in Round Valley State Park.  About a 90 minute drive from NYC.  About 40 minutes away from another popular local dive, Dutch Springs.

Round Valley Reservoir

Sunken 30' boat harbours rock bass and a few yellow perch

No Buoy: find the site by triangulating yourself using the largest building in the park (south) and the flagpole near the B&B (east); exactly 45' deep. 

Seneca lake

Sunken Cabin Cruiser is also known as Cabin crusier.

Sunken Cabin Cruiser

Seneca Lake has  constant temp of 39.2 degrees from its springs - COLD!  In lake summer, the top 15 feet or so can warm up into the upper 70's, but there's not much to see in the shallow areas due to zebra muscles. Certainly dry suit conditions for that! Max depth of the lake is 618 ft.

A collection of barges on the southwest end of the lake, near the village of Watkins Glen, is being preserved and made accessible for scuba diving by the Finger Lakes Underwater Preserve Association.

Seneca Lake: Watkins Glen Barges

Access to this site is provided by the Finger Lakes Underwater Preservation Association (FLUPA). A map of many wrecks in this area can be found at www.flupa.org. If you dive here, please log your visit on a slate at 15' depth on the mooring line.

Drop to bottom of mooring line and land on remnant of a barge at 30'(The Step Barge).  

Head 020N magnetic for 200' to find large barge in 50'-70' of water.

Head south from mooring about the same distance to find a smaller barge lying in 30'-50' of water.

The 50'-70' barge is still in excellent shape, only the stern has collapsed.  Visibility can be quite good at times thanks to the zebra mussels which cover the entire area.  If there is a strong north or south wind, there may be a moderate current.

This site is marked by a buoy maintained by FLUPA just south of the US Salt Plant, there is a mooring buoy attached.  

Seneca Lake: FLUPA buoy The Steps is also known as Seneca Lake Watkins Glen.

Chapman Lake

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Chapman Lake