Arkansas

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

Depth 20 to 30 viz 3' good blackwater dive if you don't mind the gators.

Arkansas Louisiana line just north of Springhill

Lake Erling

Man made Corps of Engineers lake.  Mostly rock bottom, submerged trees, and lots of freshwater fish.  Spotted freshwater jelly fish last fall.  Dive shop and air refills at main dock.   Houseboats for rent for weekend dive trips. Http://www.bullshoalslakeboatdock.com/ Lots of places to dive - shallow and 100 ft+ walls.  Worth looking into for a weekend or week-long boat trip.

Part of the Ozarks waterways.

Bull Shoals

Lake Ouachita is a 50 year old government power pool not available for commercial or residential development and is therefore (according to the EPA) the 2nd cleanest lake in the US! It is ~ 11 miles wide by ~33 miles long. There are four major (?) resorts that skirt Lake Ouachita, and no further are planned. All are reasonable and clean, not fancy. Dive flags are respected. Literally hundreds of dive sites (pick your own!) are available. Ark. Is one of the few states where spear fishing is legal! Get a fishing license! Viz ranges from "can't see your hand in front of your fact to 20' in summer. Winter the vis has been known to open up below the thermocline to 50-60'. Three dive shops are available. Most are closed in the winter, so seek tank refills/equipment in Hot Springs. Great lake to dive lot of fauna but too much flora! Trying to get the moss under control.

From Hot Springs, AR, there are several accesses to Lake Ouachita (pronounced Wash-it-aw). Take US Hwy 270 west for all accesses including Spillway Resort (at the extreme East end of the lake), Brady Mountain Lodge & Marina, Crystal Springs Resort & Marina and Mountain Harbor Resort & Marina (at the extreme west end of the lake). From Little Rock, AR, take I-30 to US70 to Hot Springs then to US270. From I-30 south, take the first Hot Springs exit and go 35 miles on AR Hwy 7 to Hot Springs then to US 270. Lake Ouachita is accessible from Oklahoma by taking US Hwy 270 to the East.

Lake Ouachita

Featuring 28,000 acres of clear water that attracts thousands of water sports lovers, fishermen, hikers, and birdwatchers, Beaver Lake is located in the Ozark Highlands near Rogers and features forests, tall bluffs, and meadows crisscrossed by hiking trails. Beaver Lake is nationally renowned for bass fishing and has even become a destination for many fishing tournaments. Boating, scuba diving, water skiing, wakeboarding, kayaking, swimming, and picnicking are just as popular. Suit up, grab the towels and sunscreen, and get to Beaver Lake for some fun in the sun!

Beaver Lake

Lake Norfolk is a 4.2-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Arkansas, USA Mid which is accessible from shore based on 5 ratings.

Lake Norfolk

Lake Greeson is surrounded by woods with almost no development on the lake.  This is a beautiful hilly area.  Visibility can range from near none to 20 feet.  Diving is best done during the week as boat traffic can reduce visibility on weekends.  Laurel Creek is a relatively low traffic area and offers easy shore entry.  With something as simple as a sit on top kayak, other sites such as rock walls are readily available.

Lake Greeson is just north of the town of Murfreesboro, AR.  Hwy 19 from Murfreesboro will take you to the dam and parks on the west side of the lake.  The best opportunities for scuba are off Hwy 27 between Murfreesboro and Hot Springs. Signs point to park areas such as Cow Hide Creek and Laurel Creek

Lake Erling

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Lake Erling