Wednesday Night Dive Site List
Ramona Park, Long Lake (Portage)
- Lake Description: Long Lake Ramona Park is a shore accessible freshwater dive site. The maximum depth is 51-60ft/16-18m. The average visibility is 5-10ft/2-3m. Old artifacts have been found at this location.
- Entrance Fee: Free until Memorial Day then increases to $10/vehicle. Park closes at 8:30pm
- Dive Site Address: 8600 S Sprinkle Rd, Portage, MI 49002
- Social Hour/Tailgate: Get to know the local divers. Stay after the dive for social hour/tailgate from 7:30-8:30pm. Feel free to bring your drink of choice and snacks.
Gull Lake's Prairieville Park (Richland)
- Lake Description: Prairieville Park is a great dive location, but it is also a very popular boat launch with lots of fishing tournaments. Because of this, we never take groups to Prairieville Park between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Even in the off season, take care not to block the boat ramps when diving. The bathhouse remains open year-round.
- Park Entrance Fee: $7/vehicle - exact cash or credit card
- Dive Site Address: 15475 M-43, Hickory Corners, MI 49060
- Social Hour/Tailgate: Get to know the local divers. Stay after the dive for social hour/tailgate from 7:30-8:30pm. Feel free to bring your drink of choice and snacks.
Hemlock Lake (Marcellus)
- Lake Description: New for 2023, Hemlock Lake in Marcellus, just west of Schoolcraft. This 63 acre lake has been stocked in recent years with rainbow trout. There are 10 parking spaces, public restrooms and no entry fees.
- Park Entrance Fee: Free
- Social Hour/Tailgate: Get to know the local divers. Stay after the dive for social hour/tailgate from 7:30-8:30pm. Feel free to bring your drink of choice and snacks.
Lime Lake (Spring Arbor)
- Event: Golf Ball Challenge - Find a lucky golf ball underwater and win a prize!
- Lake Description: Lime Lake is usually one of the best lakes for underwater visibility. It is definitely worth the road trip to Spring Arbor. The underwater topography is quite interesting with pinnacles, 'mountains' and walls. These were formed when the lake's marl was dredged from 1903 to 1929. The average depth is 20 to 30 feet, making Lime Lake an easy dive for beginning divers.
- Lake Directions: Take I-94 east to the Dearing Rd exit and head south for about 5-6 miles. Turn right (west) onto M-60 and go into Spring Arbor. At the blinking light, turn onto Teft Rd and head south. Marino Pizza and township offices are by the light. At the FIRST curve, turn into the parking lot. Careful, it is easy to overlook this parking area because the road descends down to the lot. Do not dive at North Lime Lake, which is the lake that you can easily see from the parking lot. Dive South Lime Lake. It is a significant walk to the dive entrance so we recommend suiting up at your car and walking to the site vs. carrying everything to lakeside before setting up your equipment. The best dive is to the east of the entry point. Depths are 25-32ft. Bathrooms are available at the Bike Trail entrance (outhouses) or at Lime Lake County Park which is further down the road.
- Entrance Fee: None
- Social Hour/Tailgate: Stay after the dive for social hour/tailgate from 7:30-8:30pm. Feel free to bring your drink of choice and snacks.
Ross Township Park, Gull Lake in Richland
- Lake Description: Ross Township Park is a very popular dive site. The park opens Memorial Day and closes Labor Day. Bathroom facilities are available (usually). The park closes at dusk so night dives are not allowed here.
- What makes Ross so popular? Over 55 species of fish can be found in this lake. Dive just past the swim area and you'll find an assortment of items: multiple boats, ice shanty, park bench, phone booth, a section of railroad track, motorcycle, Christmas tree forest, and a Key Largo sign. Best dive depths are 20ft-40ft. Visibility is usually better at Gull Lake than other lakes but the bottom is muck so one bad buoyancy move will destroy the clarity. Hint. Hint.
- Entrance fee: There is a $15/car entrance fee into the park; an annual pass is available for $40.
- Dive Site Directions: Take M-89 to 40th street exit and head north. Turn left onto B Drive and follow to the park. Address: 3500 E. Gull Lake Dr., Ross Township, MI, 49012
Lake 16 (Martin)
- Lake Description: Road Trip to Martin off of US131 for Lake 16. Choose to dive the underwater mapped course where it's cold and deep or dive the wall where it's warmer and shallower. If you want to dive deep, come prepared. Wear a full 7mm wetsuit or dry suit and bring a dive light. Please don't attempt the deeper section unless you're comfortable at depths of 80ft and very cold water. Both dives are from the boat launch and the bathrooms are rustic.
- Entrance Fee: None
- Dive Site Directions: Take US131 to Exit 55 (116th St/West Allegan St) and head east (rt) into the town of Martin. Turn north (lf) onto 45th Street. Turn east (rt) onto 120th Street.
- Social Hour/Tailgate: Get to know the local divers. Stay after the dive for social hour/tailgate from 7:30-8:30pm. Feel free to bring your drink of choice and snacks.
Eagle Lake Dive (Augusta at Fort Custer State Park)
- Lake Description: Eagle Lake is one of three lakes located in Fort Custer State Park. It is the largest and the best lake to dive here. Like most lakes, the preferred area to dive is by the weed bed where you'll see the most fish. There's mostly 'moonscape' in the deeper center area. There are two access points, one at the swim area and one at the boat launch. We will meet at the BEACH ACCESS where nicer bathrooms are located.
- Entrance Fee: DNR Recreation Pass
- History: This area was originally farmland. During WWI, it was acquired by the federal government and named Camp Custer. It became a military training center for the US Army. The land was then deeded to the State of Michigan under President Nixon's Legacy of Parks in 1971. Today, Fort Custer Recreation Area covers 3,033 acres. Besides the three lakes, there are hiking, biking and horse trails. A 209 site campground is a popular destination for vacationers. The swim area has a large bath house plus a snack shop where you can rent kayaks and a paddle board. Because this lake was used as a military training area, we are asked NOT TO REMOVE any objects from the lake bottom. Seriously, we found a bomb here once.
- Lake Directions: Fort Custer State Park is located just east of the railroad tracks in Augusta on M-96. There is an entrance fee unless you have a park sticker with your license plate in which case it is free.
- Social Hour/Tailgate: Stay after the dive for social hour/tailgate from 7:30-8:30pm. Feel free to bring your drink of choice and snacks.
Campbell Lake at Robert Morris Park (Kalamazoo)
- Lake Description: Campbell Lake is located in Comstock Township. The maximum depth is 50ft with visibility ranging from 5-10ft. Off the swim area, you'll find a lot of weeds so look for fish life in that area. The bottom is somewhat hard where the weeds are but becomes softer beyond the growth which works for divers who like to grub.
- Entrance Fee: $5/vehicle
- Dive Site Directions: We will dive from Robert Morris Park, located in East H Avenue between North 30th Street and North 33rd Street.
- Social Hour/Tailgate: Stay after the dive for social hour/tailgate from 7:30-8:30pm. Feel free to bring your drink of choice and snacks.
Fisher Lake in Three Rivers
- Lake Description: New for 2023, we will explore Fishers Lake. There are bathroom available.
- Entrance Fee: Boat launch area is free
- Dive Site Directions: 19502 Lakeshore Drive, Three Rivers
- Social Hour/Tailgate: Get to know the local divers. Stay after the dive for social hour/tailgate from 7:30-8:30pm. Feel free to bring your drink of choice and snacks.
Sherman Lake (Richland)
- Lake Description: Sherman Lake is south of Gull Lake and covers 153 acres. SASS will dive from the boat launch. Parking is free and there is one rustic bathroom. The weed bed starts in 5-20ft of water and usually has quite a lot of fish life, bluegill, bullhead, sunfish and crappies plus turtles. Interestingly, the water temperatures are quite comfortable at Sherman Lake. The lake association installed several aerators that help to circulate the warmer surface water throughout the depths so if you're looking for an early spring or late fall dive location, Sherman is a good choice.
- Entrance Fee: None
- Dive Site Directions: Take M-89 west if coming from Battle Creek, or east if coming from Kalamazoo. Go to 38th Street. There is a yellow flashing light, you need to go south on 38th then make a right on N Sherman Lake Drive and follow to the end.
- Social Hour/Tailgate: Get to know the local divers. Stay after the dive for social hour/tailgate from 7:30-8:30pm. Feel free to bring your drink of choice and snacks.
Crandell Lake (Charlotte)
- Lake Description: Crandell Lake was an old, flooded gravel pit that is now owned by Eaton County. It is in the infancy of being turned into a county park. The park is 432 acres which makes it bigger than all the other parks in Eaton County combined! The lake is 160 acres with a maximum depth of 32 feet. Marine life includes largemouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, and yellow bullhead. This previous quarry has some interesting underwater structures. Check out the old roads used to drive equipment down into the gravel pit. A number of submerged standing trees still remain as well as log piles; these make great fish habitats. Currently, no bathrooms have been built at the park. There are plans to build bathrooms but the timeline is questionable. Once the bathrooms are built there will be an entrance fee.
- Dive Site Directions: I-69 exit 60 head East on M-50 for approximately 2.5 miles. Currently, the parking lot is located on M-50 at the southeast corner of the lake. Hopefully, by the time we dive here in the fall, there will be a driveway to access from Flanders road to the west of the park which will allow us to drive around the lake.
- Social Hour/Tailgate: Stay after the dive for social hour/tailgate from 7:30-8:30pm. Feel free to bring your drink of choice and snacks.
Goguac Lake (Battle Creek)
- Lake Description: Located 10 minutes from Sub-Aquatic Sports, Goguac Lake sits in the heart of Battle Creek. Boat traffic and shallow depths make this lake undesirable to dive during the summer, so we scheduled Goguac early. The dive will be at Willard Park by the newer bathhouse that sits at the lake level. Do not confuse the newer beach-side bathhouse with the original buildings that are in the grassy area. Parking space is limited by the beach-side bathhouse so you will have to park on the south side of the building or up on the hill. Willard Park has several pavilions and a playground area for kids. This is a great place to bring the whole family. Bluegills are abundant as well as a healthy population of Crappie, Pike, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Rock Bass, and Walleye. Again, boat traffic can be a problem and we cannot stress enough the importance of taking a dive flag!!
- Entrance Fee: Free until Memorial Day then increases to $5/vehicle. Park closes at 8:30pm
- Dive Site Address: Willard Park, 940 Capital Ave. SW, Willard Beach entrance is off of George B Place in Battle Creek.
- Social Hour/Tailgate: Get to know the local divers. Stay after the dive for social hour/tailgate from 7:30-8:30pm. Feel free to bring your drink of choice and snacks.
Lake Cora (Paw Paw)
- Event: Dive Lotto! To play, place a $1 bet on the average bottom time of the group. The person who guess closest to the correct time, wins the pot of money. HUGE $$, like $22:)
- Lake Description: This 197-acre lake is close to Decatur. The bottom is peat and sand with many largemouth bass. You'll probably see an impressive fish population, a sunken boat and a turtle or two. Depths reach 58ft. The parking is free and restrooms are available.
- Dive Site Directions: From I-94 Exit 56, take M-51 North 8/10 mile. Follow signs to Oak Cove Resort, the lake access is next to it. If you don't see the sign, turn left, follow Red Arrow Hwy West 1 mile. Stay left, follow Territorial Road west 3/10 mile. Turn left, follow 46th St South 2/10 mile to access site
- Entrance Fee: None
- Social Hour/Tailgate: Stay after the dive for social hour/tailgate from 7:30-8:30pm. Feel free to bring your drink of choice and snacks.
Long Lake in Cloverdale (Delton)
- Lake Description: This quiet lake is located north of Battle Creek in Delton. There is no charge to use the boat launch area. Bring your snorkel because it is a long, shallow swim to the drop off. Once at the drop off, you usually encounter long strands of pondweeds and milfoil. It's sort of like a kelp dive in Michigan. Fish like to hide out in this area.
- Dive Site Directions: From the store, go north on Helmer/M-37 for 15.7miles. Turn left onto East Cloverdale Rd and go 7.1 miles. Turn right onto M-32 and go 0.6miles. The boat launch is on the left.
- Entrance Fee: None
- Social Hour/Tailgate: Stay after the dive for social hour/tailgate from 7:30-8:30pm. Feel free to bring your drink of choice and snacks.
Lee Lake, (South of Battle Creek)
- Dive Time: 6:30pm Check-in time: 6pm
- Lake Description: Lee Lake is always a popular dive destination. The dive will take place at the public boat launch. There is no entrance fee and rustic bathrooms are available. Lee Lake is known for its bluegills but it also has some good-sized largemouth bass and northern pike. Visibility at Lee Lake is usually better than the norm. The maximum depth of 47ft is found straight out from the boat launch, however, the best fish life is found in the weed beds much shallower.
- Entrance Fee: None
- Social Hour/Tailgate: Stay after the dive for social hour/tailgate from 7:30-8:30pm. Feel free to bring your drink of choice and snacks.