In southeast South Dakota, not far from the Nebraska border, visitors come to this Midwest site for its variety of recreational opportunities. The lake, formed behind the Fort Randall Dam on the Missouri River, covers 100,000 square acres (40,000 hectares). Dive shops use the lake for open-water training, and an annual spearfishing tournament is held there as well. Many divers prefer the east side of the lake where boat ramps are plentiful and the bottom is more rocky and less muddy than on the west side. The lake is named after Francis H. Case, a Republican Congressman from South Dakota, whose main goals were to expand America’s road and waterway infrastructure.

Lake Francis Case

The best diving is on the east side of the lake. Mostly rock bed with really big rocks. Very little current, and visibility will differ from day to day and weather conditions. There are a lot of different access points to the lake on the east side, as well, with facilities and boat ramps. You will have to do some research and exploring to find them though. I have heard there is some excellent fast water diving below the dam, but I haven't tried that yet.

Ed Hoelscher's Dive Log

@ed_hoelscher

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