Scuba Diving in Illinois, United States

4 mapped sites

Destination guide

Scuba diving in Illinois, United States

Illinois, United States has 4 public dive sites on PickADive. Use the list below to compare mapped sites by depth, access, difficulty, ratings, and reviews before opening a site page.

Open map view Check condition context

Public sites: 4; Indexed destination pages
Reviews: 0; Catalog review count
Rating: Building; Reviews are still growing
Common access: Shore; 3 dive sites

Seasonal patterns

Best months, historically in Illinois, United States

Not enough sites in Illinois, United Stateshave historical seasonal data yet to summarize typical months across the area. Open an individual site page for its own seasonal history — this fills in as more sites gain coverage.

Best dive sites in Illinois, United States

Showing 1–4 of 4

Haigh Quarry

Illinois · 4.6–25.9 m

Haigh Quarry, nicknamed the 'Caribbean of the Midwest,' is a 12-13 acre spring-fed former limestone quarry in Kankakee that has operated as a family-run dive park since the Haigh family bought it in 1978. The north side is a shallow 20-30 foot training area divided from the deeper south basin (40-60 feet, with an 85-foot hole in the southeast corner) by the beach walk-in entry. Attractions include a 33-foot cabin cruiser, a military dump truck, an amphibious LARC, a step van and the original rock crusher, with abundant fish including giant paddlefish.

IntermediateShore entry

Columbia Wreck

Illinois · Up to 4.6 m

paddle steamer excursion boat that collapsed and sunk in 1918

IntermediateBoat entry

Mermet Springs

Illinois · 4.6–36.6 m

Mermet Springs is a spring-fed former rock quarry of about 8.5 acres near Belknap in far southern Illinois, and one of the most famous inland dive sites in the country. Its signature attraction is the Boeing 727 used in the film 'U.S. Marshals,' resting with its tail at 15 feet and nose at 50 feet and open for trained divers to swim through, alongside many other sunken vehicles and training platforms. The quarry reaches about 120 feet deep and is run as a full-service commercial dive park.

AdvancedShore entry

Pearl Lake

Illinois · 3–25.9 m

Pearl Lake is a spring-fed former sand quarry in South Beloit at the Illinois-Wisconsin line, run as a campground and beach resort that has long served as the primary open-water training lake for Chicago and southern Wisconsin instructors. Average depths are 30-40 feet with a maximum around 85 feet, and sunken attractions include a 33-foot 'yellow submarine,' an airplane, boats, a bus, concrete culverts and an underwater buoyancy course. Diving runs roughly late April through October from 8am until dusk.

IntermediateShore entry

Plan a dive in Illinois, United States

Compare nearby sites

Illinois has 4 public dive sites in the PickADive catalog. Start with the map when coastline, nearby alternatives, and travel distance matter.

Explore sites on the map

Match depth and difficulty

Current public data shows 3 intermediate and 1 advanced dive sites. Listed depths range from about 3m to 37m where available. Shore is the most common listed access type. Use those signals as a starting point, then confirm the plan against training, equipment, and current local guidance.

Check conditions close to the dive

PickADive can help with research and comparison, but it does not certify that a dive is safe today. Weather, current, visibility, entry, boat traffic, and local rules can change quickly.

How condition context works

Common questions about diving in Illinois, United States

What are the best dive sites in Illinois, United States?

Use the ranked list on this page to compare 4 public dive sites in Illinois. PickADive highlights ratings, reviews, depth, access type, difficulty, and mapped location so you can move from destination research to a specific site page.

Is Illinois beginner-friendly for scuba diving?

PickADive does not yet have enough beginner-labeled public site data to summarize Illinois confidently. Review difficulty, access, depth, and recent notes on each site page before deciding.

Are there advanced dives in Illinois?

Yes. PickADive currently marks 1 dive site in Illinois as advanced or expert level. These dives deserve extra attention to depth, access, current, visibility, and local guidance.

What depths can I expect in Illinois?

Listed PickADive depth data for Illinois ranges from about 3m to 37m. Use that as a research starting point, then verify current conditions and site-specific guidance.

Can I see Illinois dive sites on a map?

Yes. Use the map link on this page to compare Illinois dive sites by location, coastline, nearby alternatives, and individual site details.