Where to Dive in Oklahoma?

[PK]

Hi Everyone,

So, I'm an active New England diver (and love it). But my brother lives in Tulsa, OK and was wondering if there is anywhere he can dive.

He's been an inactive diver since he left Cuba (military) so I'm trying to get him active again. He spends waaaaay too much time working at his job, wife and kids so it'll be good for him to get into diving again. He says he doesn't know anywhere he can dive (except his backyard pool). I'm pretty sure he's right but you guys might be able to tell us the real story.

Thanks in advance!

 

[flyinghuntster]

There is bound to be many rivers where he could practice his blind dift diving technique (I had a dive like that in Pattya Thailand once) but I am sure that you mean that he would want to Dive and actually see something.

 

[PK]

Thanks for the quick reply! Yeah, I think he needs to see something. I want him to be safe. I guess the rivers are very murky.

 

[HammerNoMore]

Hi Everyone,

So, I'm an active New England diver (and love it). But my brother lives in Tulsa, OK and was wondering if there is anywhere he can dive.

I'm not sure about Tulsa itself, but Blue Water Lake in Oronogo, MO is only a couple of hours away.

 

[diverbob]

I have also heard of a place called Tenkiller Lake. I have heard different reports about that place. I have heard the diving is good, and I have heard it is good only if you have a boat to get to the good spots. It was featured a few months ago in Dive Training magazine.

 

[DrRobb]

By far the best places to dive in OKlahoma are in Missouri or Arkansas... Oronogo is exactly 2 hrs from Tulsa and Beaver Lake is 2:45 to the Dam Site.. Tenkiller is murky on a good day from what I understand and it's at least an hour and a half... It's best just to go to Arkansas or Missouri

Robb

 

[PK]

Thank you for replying. I'll have to check these places out!

 

[Trisha]

In Oklahoma you have three sites:
1) Lake Tenkiller, down the Muskogee Turnpike to Gore. This would mean Crappie Point or the old boat ramp (check out Big Daddy's just outside the park entrance, it's good eatin' during your surface interval.) And boat trips are also an option.
Gene's AquaPro in Gore (Strayhorn Landing) is where we got our OWD and where we get air fills, drop by and say hi! Diving off his dock is a bit murky, but the perchacuda are in full force and there are some objects to explore. You can't really get into trouble at this site if you are new or returning to scuba, but the visibility is nothing to write home about.
www.genesaquapro.com

2) Elmer Thomas near Lawton is where we did some of our AOW dives. The area near the dam was crowded, so we went onto the military base (Ft. Sill) and dove a point just past the playground. Very clear until we did the search and rescue! I went elbow-deep in the mud, so try not to stir it up. Otherwise, it's okay and a nice change. Make the drive to the Meers store for their barbeque and onion rings!
http://www.meersstore.com/

3) Lake Murray near Sulphur and Davis. We haven't been there, but some people from OKC make the trip.
http://scubaadventurer.com/
http://www.scubawizard.com/usa/okla.html

Now for something really sweet -- if you have the time, try the lakes along the White River bordering Missouri and Arkansas. We did three of these last summer and only went to Tenkiller once! Very nice!

1) Beaver Lake, AR, is where our oldest daughter got her OWD. Nice shore diving in the park, ask around. I wasn't impressed with the park itself, and did not like the 45-minute drive from Lost Bridge North campground (although I would go back to the facilities just for a camping trip.)
http://www.swl.usace.army.mil/parks/beaver/index.html
http://www.lostbridgemarina.com/
http://candjsports.com/

2) Bull Shoals, AR, is where my brother-in-law and his family did a diving trip with us. He brought his boat, and it was good! We were at Bull Shoals-White River campground, and take blankets because the fog coming in from that spring-fed river is chilly. Excellent site.
http://www.bullshoals.com/boatdock/padi.html
http://www.scubaadventurer.com/bullshoals.htm

3) Table Rock Lake, MO, is my favorite. We went back twice, and did some of our AOW dives there. Lots of stuff to do during surface intervals, and you must do some night diving for the crawdads! Find out when the perch are spawning -- it was hilarious watching the crawdads chow down!
Alas, Dewey Short (the main diving site) closes down around 10 pm, as does the campground. The deep dive along the ropes was interesting, but most of our adventures were at the shallower of two very nice areas.
Our official night dive was from Indian Point off the dock. If these are crawdads, what do lobster look like! There is also a boat to explore underwater.
http://www.mostateparks.com/tablerock/camp.htm
http://www.scuba-sports.com/
http://www.boatbranson.com/diveshop.html
http://indianpointchamber.com/vp/vacation_planner.html

Well, that will get you started. Do be aware that we were using our 3/2 mil suits in the AR/MO lakes, and either 5 or 7 mils during the deep dive -- the air temps are about 10 degrees colder there! We've been hitting Tenkiller around late May through October, although others can stand the cold both in and out of the water.
Good luck!

Oh, I forgot -- our local community college does Scuba Tuesdays, which means we can get wet during the winter months. It's only 18 feet in the dive well, 12 feet in the swimming lanes, but it keeps the reflexes toned. Check around in Tulsa or Broken Bow for something similar.

 

[farfromwater]

Oh, I forgot -- our local community college does Scuba Tuesdays, which means we can get wet during the winter months.

Trisha, what's the details on scuba Tuesdays? I've heard somebody does this, but no details.. Every Tuesday? Where? Do they have tanks, or bring your own?

Thanks!
Jeff

 

[PK]

Trisha,

Thanks so much for the great suggestions. I really appreciate the time and effort you put into the information. I'll send that over to my brother, who lives in Broken Arrow.