Dive Sites in Illinois - Scuba Diving at its Best!

Diving Overview for Illinois

Illinois is located in the Northwest of the United States of America and is a hugely important transport link connecting the Port of Chicago with the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River.

Illinois has one small shoreline where you will find the Port of Chicago. The 'George Morley' shipwreck, easily accessed from Evanston Beach, is a wonderful wooden shipwreck than burnt and sank in the 1800s. 

The majority of Illinois diving opportunities are located in the many Lakes and Quarries.

Haigh Quarry is a popular destination surrounded by sheer cliffs and rock piles. The marine life inside this old quarry include sunfish, bluegill, catfish, bass and pike. The northen end of the quarry has some abandoned mining equipment and relatively shallow waters, the southern end contains the 'deep hole' reaching 85 feet.

Mermet Springs is a popular diving quarry surrounded by beautiful forests and sheer stone walls that descend 120 feet below the surface. The star attraction is the Boeing 727 that was once used in the movie 'US Marshals'.

Pearl Lake, just 1.5 hours from Chicago, is a privately owned lake ideal for diving. There are several hidden treasures including old boats, airplanes, a school bus, a submarine and the odd pieces of pipe and rail track. There are a good amount of fish and even some clams to looks at.

Diving is possible all year although more popular in summer, in some areas you may even get the opportunity to go ice-diving. 

Videos of Illinois