Freshwater DivingFreshwater diving carries many of the same considerations saltwater diving has. Currents, small waves, boats, deep water, they all present obstacles when diving. Some problems that are more common in freshwater are limited visibility and thermoclines. Though some freshwater lakes are crystal clear, many have limited visual range, normally between 10-20 feet. Some lakes can have a visibility range as small as 5 feet. Thermoclines, abrupt changes in temperature, also must be considered. You can literally have one hand in 75 degree water and the other in 55 degree water. Freshwater diving locations are normally higher in altitude; therefore these sites will have much cooler water than the average saltwater dive site. Therefore you must be prepared with a thicker wetsuit. Many higher altitude locations require drysuits, which require special training to use properly. Here we have two dive location that you may can consider for your freshwater diving; Gilboa Quarry and Lake Malawi. Alicante Spain - Thrill seekers love scuba diving Lake Superior and exploring Minnesota Lake Superior shipwrecks. Its offers experiences that are hard to come by in saltwater. Although the plant and animal life of freshwater isn’t as diversified, cavern diving and shipwreck dives is plentiful. Shipwrecks in the ocean are common, but are often much too deep to get to, since a recreational diver shouldn’t dive below 60 feet, 130 with extensive training. Wrecks in freshwater are easy to explore due to the shallow depths of many freshwater bodies. The same goes for freshwater caverns. Remember, however, that a diver shouldn’t explore a wrecked ship or cavern without the proper training. Both types of diving present experiences that are unique. What you discover on a dive depends on the type and location of the water. You can dive in the tropical areas of the pacific islands or the frigid ice water of the arctic. Each is unique and will leave you yearning for more. In fact, there are more ways to dive than just sight seeing. The next section will guide you to the freshwater diving destinations.
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