Name: Lake Murray
Rating: 4.0

South Carolina

Lexington 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

Lexington

Lake Murray

The Cooper River: His nickname is the "Black River" and offers divers the unique experience of searching the bottom of the river for giant megalodon fossilized shark teeth, whale fossils, mastodon fossils and many other fossils. There is also a great opportunity here for the treasure hunters searching for Indian artifacts, Colonial artifacts, antique bottles, Revolutionary & Civil War relics. Abundant wildlife you may see include american alligators, turtles, bald eagles, osprey, herons, egrets, jumping fish, dolphins, and otters. The river winds through fresh and salt water wetlands, immense historic rice fields that are now flooded, and banks with Live Oaks, Spanish moss, magnolias and much more. In addition you will see the man made ruins left behind from the booming 1700's and 1800's river trade and commerce. From the boat you also see modern day sites of interest such as grounds of Mepkin Abbey Monastery, and Durham Creek freshwater reservoir channel.

River Condition: Visibility: This is not black water or "Braille" diving. It is like night diving, with good light you can see 1-12ft. Average is about 3 ft of visibility with a good light.

Currents: None to ripping/raging

Depth: average is 23-40 ft

Bottom: Sand, clay, gravel, logs, holes, bank cut-outs, shipwrecks, marl

Temperature: Varies with season, 45-90 ° F

The Dive Spot: Good place to find a lots of little shark teeth.



Cooper River - Moncks Corner

The Cooper River: His nickname is the "Black River" and offers divers the unique experience of searching the bottom of the river for giant megalodon fossilized shark teeth, whale fossils, mastodon fossils and many other fossils.  There is also a great opportunity here for the treasure hunters searching for Indian artifacts, Colonial artifacts, antique bottles, Revolutionary & Civil War relics. Abundant wildlife you may see include american alligators, turtles, bald eagles, osprey, herons, egrets, jumping fish, dolphins, and otters. The river winds through fresh and salt water wetlands, immense historic rice fields that are now flooded, and banks with Live Oaks, Spanish moss, magnolias and much more. In addition you will see the man made ruins left behind from the booming 1700's and 1800's river trade and commerce. From the boat you also see modern day sites of interest such as grounds of Mepkin Abbey Monastery, and Durham Creek freshwater reservoir channel.

River Condition: Visibility: This is not black water or "Braille" diving.  It is like night diving, with good light you can see 1-12ft.  Average is about 3 ft of visibility with a good light.

Currents: None to ripping/raging

Depth: average is 23-40 ft

Bottom: Sand, clay, gravel, logs, holes, bank cut-outs, shipwrecks, marl

Temperature: Varies with season, 45-90 ° F

Divespot: It is a great spot to find small, medium and larger teeth.



Cooper River - Rice Mill

The Hot Hole is a cove on Lake Keowee where hot water comes out of the nuclear power plant; temperature is somewhere between about 68°F and 80°F. Access is by boat with a cost of $40.00 per person for a 2 tank dive.



Hot Hole



The pump house is located across the lake from Lake keowee Marina in Seneca, South Carolina. Its the old town of Seneca water treatment plant before they flooded the river to create the lake.

Pumphouse is also known as Keowee Pumphouse.

Pumphouse

130-183 Bridge is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in USA, South Carolina which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

130-183 Bridge

Maximum depth 92' where a Cabin Cruiser sits. Also, a school bus several vehicles, sail boat, bass boat, sea doo, air plane cockpit and various other objects. Visibility is around 15-30 feet and the water temperature at depth is around 46 all year.

Restricted Access. Private Club membership with Piedmont diving rescue association.

Lake Norman Quarry

Lake Jocassee - The Wall 2



Follow signs for access to the day-use, non-motorized boat ramp

Lake Jocassee Boat Ramp

State designated dive area, walkin from boat ramp, 2 platforms, a skeleton family, a sunk ski boat, tree forest and airplane parts.

the lake was flooded in 1973 and a lodge and several buildings still stand at the bottom as well as a cemetery.

Devil's Fork State Park

Lake Jocassee - The Wall

See www.cla.sc.edu/sciaa/staff/amerc/CooperRiverTrail.htm -- Especially for fossil collectors. 80ft deep, 10ft viz, 40-80DegF<br><br>Comments from Ron Glock: If you have dived in the Cooper River, you need to dive the Clay Banks, as well, for 'whole' diving expedition.  If you have a tooth from a prehistoric shark, PLEASE do not sell it as many have done. There are MANY Wooly mammoth molars there, as well as  partial tusk(s).

In Charleston

Cooper River

Columbia Scuba

Kids Sea Camp

Foothills Scuba, LLC.

Sun's Up Scuba

Scuba Charlotte

Lake Norman SCUBA

Lake Jocassee Dive Shop

The Dive Shop Scuba Center

Carolina Dive Locker

MANTA

Lake Murky!  Although the entry from the Irmo Rec. Area is easy, and the first 50 feet are imported sand, beyond that it is very silty with poor viz.  Good for Rescue classes, surface skills and just getting wet, but little to see.

Lake Murray

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Lake Murray