Atlanta is the capital of Georgia, a U.S. state bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean. This means that Atlanta scuba diving often involves a trip from Atlanta to the eastern part of Georgia. This is however a 4-6 hour long drive. If you prefer to stay closer to Atlanta you can instead enjoy some freshwater Atlanta scuba diving in one of the many lakes and quarries. Examples of local Atlanta scuba diving options are Lake Lanier, Dive Land Quarrie, Lake Jocassee and Blue Water Quarie. Lake Lanier is only 45 minutes away from Atlanta, while travelling to Dive Land Quarrie will take at least 2 hours. If you plan to go to Lake Jocassee or Blue Water Quarie for your Atlanta scuba diving trip, you should plan for at least 2.5 hours of driving. The local diving near Atlanta can not really measure up to the diving environments found on the Atlantic coast, but the lakes and quarries are still popular since they make it possible for Atlanta scuba diving enthusiast to keep their skills up to date.
Atlanta scuba diving lesson
It is common for the first outdoor Atlanta scuba diving lesson to take place in Lake Lanier, since this lake is located no more than 45 minutes from Atlanta, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Lake Lanier covers 38,000 acres (154 square kilometres) and has a shoreline of approximately 540 miles (870 kilometres). The first outdoor Atlanta scuba diving lesson can be quite a dramatic experience for those who have only trained in pools before, since the visibility can be very limited. During a good day, the underwater visibility in Lake Lanier may exceed 25 feet (7.6 meters), but you should prepare for a visibility limited to 5-10 feet (1.5 - 3 meters). Lake Lanier is a great place for an Atlanta scuba diving lesson focused on rescue or recovery, since a diver used to this type of limited visibility will be well prepared even when the visibility drops significantly at a marine dive spot. Some scuba divers go on treasure hunts in Lake Lanier, but before you start salvaging items and brining back artefacts you should always check the current local and federal regulations to avoid getting in trouble.
Atlanta scuba diving tip – Lake Jocassee
Lake Jocassee is located in an amazing environment at the foot of the impressing Appalachian Mountains. There are several waterfalls here, including the Laurel Creek Falls and the Whitewater Falls. An Atlanta scuba diving trip to Lake Jocassee is fun for novices as well as more experienced scuba divers. If you want to do a deep dive, you can for instance visit The Wall. The Wall was formed during excavation work for the dam and reaches down more than 400 feet (122 meters). You can see a warning buoy at 100 feet (30 meters) and a guide line at 130 feet (40 meters). Another fascinating spot in Lake Jocassee that you can enjoy during Atlanta scuba diving is The Cemetery. The Cemetery is equipped with a permanent descent line that takes you down to an area filled with open gravesites and tombstones. The best visibility in Lake Jocassee is found below 80 feet, where it is excellent 12 months a year. Bringing a good dive light is recommended for this Atlanta scuba diving trip. During the warm season, the water temperature typically stays around 75-78 degrees F (24-25.5 degrees C) as long as you go no deeper than 70 feet (21 meters). For comparatively shallow dives, a 3 mm wetsuit is therefore usually enough. If you want to go further down, a 6 mm wetsuit or even a dry suit is recommended since the temperature drops down to 50-55 degrees F (10-13 degrees C).
