Blue Water Lake is an advanced shore dive site in Missouri, United States with depths of up to 70.1 m (230 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Largemouth bass, Bluegill, and Channel catfish. Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.
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Site hazards: SITE CLOSED
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Best: FriFavorable windowModerate window— no window
First light 6:30 · Sunrise 6:57 · Sunset 19:31
Source: Open-Meteo wind · graded 15h ago
Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.
Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.
No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.
Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.
What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.
July hastypically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.
Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.
Species noted at this site — not a promise of what you’ll encounter.
No dive shops mapped within 25 km. Know one? Add it to the map.
Data updated June 2026
A flooded lead-and-zinc mine pit in Oronogo, Missouri, minutes from Joplin, that filled with water after mining ceased in the 1950s. As 'Bluewater Lake,' its 14 acres of clear water reached depths of 200-230 ft — among the deepest inland dives in the Midwest — with training platforms, sunken attractions, flooded mine roads, and caves, run for decades by Captain John's Sports & Scuba. The site closed to diving around 2012 during EPA Superfund remediation of the surrounding mining district, with the pit used to receive lead-contaminated waste.
SITE CLOSED — former EPA Superfund repository for lead-contaminated mine waste; historically: extreme depth (200+ ft), cold dark water, overhead environments in flooded mine workings and caves, entanglement on submerged structures.
Blue Water Lake is rated as advanced difficulty, which may not suit new divers. Listed maximum depth is 70.1 metres (230 feet). Access is from shore, with the entry recorded as an easy walk-in. Consider your experience level, conditions, and local guidance before planning.
Blue Water Lake reaches a maximum depth of 70.1 metres (230 feet) — a deep dive at its limit. It is a freshwater site rated as advanced difficulty. Depths vary across the site, so plan your profile to your training and verify conditions locally.
Blue Water Lake is a shore dive — you can enter from land. The entry is recorded as an easy walk-in. The entry area is recorded as sheltered from surge. No facilities are recorded at the site, and cell service is recorded as good. Entry details and parking notes, where known, are listed in the access section of this page.
Not divable at present. Closed indefinitely (since ~2012). Conditions vary, so check the latest reports and forecasts on the dive site page before your trip.
Divers at Blue Water Lake in United States commonly report sightings of Largemouth bass, Bluegill, and Channel catfish. Largemouth bass and Bluegill are recorded as common sightings, while Channel catfish is reported only occasionally. Marine life varies by season and conditions—check the site page for recent diver observations and photos.
SITE CLOSED — former EPA Superfund repository for lead-contaminated mine waste; historically: extreme depth (200+ ft), cold dark water, overhead environments in flooded mine workings and caves, entanglement on submerged structures. Hazards and conditions change, so verify current local information before diving.
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