Places to SCUBA Dive in Oklahoma

Oklahoma isn’t usually the first place people think of when they want to go SCUBA diving. However, even though the state is landlocked, many of the state’s lakes allow SCUBA diving, and there are groups interested in cave diving and exploration in the area. Some lakes in Oklahoma have clear water and, in non-rainy seasons, underwater visibility can be extensive. Many lakes have dive shops nearby, although a few do not, so check ahead before embarking on a diving expedition.

  1. Lake Diving

    • Lake Tenkiller is one of the most popular SCUBA sites in Oklahoma. In addition to normally excellent visibility, the lake offers a SCUBA park, with many underwater features, including a newly submerged helicopter. Nautical Adventures offers SCUBA training, dive travel services, equipment rentals and guides to other dive sites at the lake aside from the underwater park.

      Created by a dam, Broken Bow Lake in Hochatown State Park allows SCUBA diving in its waters. As the dam is operated by the Army Corps of Engineers, detailed information about the lake levels and water clarity can be found on the Army Corps website. Broken Bow SCUBA offers instruction, trips, equipment rental, and tank refills.

      Located halfway between Oklahoma City and Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, Lake Murray is a convenient place to practice diving. With an active marina, you easily can rent boats for short diving excursions to the more remote areas of the lake. Scuba J’s dive shop serves the area and offers tank refills and equipment rental.

      Nautical Adventures
      32320 Old Hwy. 82
      Cookson, OK? 74427
      918-457-3483?

      Army Corps of Engineers, Broken Bow Lake
      Rt. 1, Box 400
      Valliant, OK 74764
      580-933-4239
      swt.usace.army.mil

      Broken Bow SCUBA
      RR 4 Box 314
      Broken Bow, OK 74728
      580-584-3408
      brokenbowscuba.com

      Scuba J’s Dive Shop
      1142 Boat Dock Road
      Overbrook, OK 73453
      580-223-4832?

    Cave Diving

    • Oklahoma’s topography has created many cave and natural-spring formations. Some caves are filled with water, and diving is the only means of exploring these locations. Cave diving requires additional certification, which can be obtained through training courses sanctioned by the National Association for Cave Diving (NACD). In order to cave dive, many towns require that you present your cave diving certification or license before going in. There are not many officially sanctioned cave diving spots in Oklahoma, so contact either the NACD or a local chapter of the National Speleological Society (NSS).The NSS organizes expeditions, offers safety classes and promotes cave conservation.

      The National Speleological Society
      2813 Cave Ave.
      Huntsville, AL 35810
      256-852-1300
      caves.org

      The National Associate for Cave Diving
      P.O. Box 14492
      Gainesville, FL 3260
      386-497-3011
      safecavediving.com

    Other Options

    • Lake of the Arbuckles is a man-made lake in the Chickasaw National Recreational Area. While SCUBA diving is allowed in the lake, according to the National Park Service (NPS) website, there is sub-par visibility in the water, which is only 3 to 5 feet. The NPS also mentions that the nearest place to refill your SCUBA tanks is 60 miles away. However, if you are looking for a diving experience that is off the beaten path, Lake of the Arbuckles may be just the place you want.

      Chickasaw National Recreation Area
      1008 W. Second St.
      Sulphur, Oklahoma 73086
      580-622-7234
      nps.gov