Jan | Do Dive In

One of the most important aspects of diving, whether you are sport diving or technical diving in Illinois, are effective gas management skills. Once you make a descent beneath the surface of the water, running out of gas is not a viable option! This is especially true for technical divers that frequently put themselves into more complicated underwater situations that make a direct return to the surface exceedingly difficult. This is why it is so important to have a solid understanding of gas management skills prior to setting out for the water. [Read more]

Tech Rec diving is a step above traditional sport diving due to the variety of new environments that the equipment and training allow you to explore. If the attractions of the open water that you experience while doing a traditional dive is not satisfying your deep sea curiosity, then technical diving may be the right next step for you. [Read more]

Ten Do Dive In divers escaped the cool, wet spring of Central Illinois April 2 -7 for the sun, warmth and diving of Grand Cayman.  Our home for the week was the venerable Sunset House, one of Grand Cayman’s oldest and most popular dedicated dive resort .    It didn’t take the group long to get […]

The Pennyroyal Blue Springs diving site is located in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, an easy 80 mile drive from the Mermet Springs dive here in Illinois. The quarry at Pennyroyal Blue Springs ranges from five feet to 120 feet deep, and offers over 40 underwater attractions; ensuring a level and interest for divers of all ages and skill sets. [Read more]

The Bonne Terre Mine is the world’s largest fresh water dive resort located not very far away, in Bonne Terra Missouri. This national historic site offers a dive experience unlike any other. The history of this dive site goes back to the middle of the 18th century when the French first began mining in the region. Centuries of abandoned history lay beneath the Earth at this site, promising an intriguing adventure. [Read more]

Located in Kankakee, Illinois, two hours from Peoria, Haigh Quarry is one of our favorite dive destinations in the Midwest. Haigh is an old limestone quarry with sheer rock walls, rock piles depths of up to 85 feet, and a healthy and diverse fish population that include sunfish, bass, northern pike, catfish, & spoon bill catfish. The north end of the lake is relatively shallow with depths of between 20 – 30 feet deep, and is a favorite location for northern Illinois dive stores to conduct their training dives. [Read more]

Located in southern Illinois, Mermet Springs is approximately a 5 hour drive from Peoria. An old stone quarry, Mermet Springs most prominent natural feature is its sheer rock walls which plunge to a maximum depth in excess of 120 feet in areas. [Read more]

Located in Canton Illinois, Strode Lake is one of several old coal strip mine lakes which were donated to the Canton Park District. Maximum depth is approximately 60 feet, but the best diving is between 20 & 30 feet along the weed line or on the various man-made objects which have been sunk in the lake which include a bus, coffin, two boats, a step van, and a semi tractor flat bed. [Read more]

Close to home, the Chillicothe Recreational Area actually consists of three gravel pits, one of which is open for scuba divers. Depths range from 10 feet to 26 feet. Fish life is varied, and includes sun fish, bass, crappie, cat fish & carp. If you swim slowly, you may spot turtles in the shallows or along the bank at the east end of the lake. [Read more]

Pearl Lake is one of the oldest private diving lakes in Illinois and offers fishing, swimming and diving. An old gravel pit, average depth is between 30 & 40 feet with a maximum depth of 85 feet. Many man made objects have been sunk in the lake to keep divers amused. [Read more]