Best Scuba Diving Lakes in Pennsylvania
Rick Harkins Aug 18, 2026
Pennsylvania is landlocked, so if you're diving here, you're diving lakes and quarries instead of reefs. That's not a downside. Between flooded quarries, reservoirs, and even a piece of the Great Lakes, there's more to explore than most people expect. Here's where to go, and a heads up on a few popular-looking spots where diving actually isn't allowed.
Lake Hydra (Bethlehem, PA)
Formerly known as Dutch Springs, this flooded limestone quarry has been a training and exploration site for divers since 1980. It closed briefly before reopening under new ownership in 2024 as Lake Hydra (Scuba Diving Magazine). It's got submerged training platforms, sunken wrecks, walk-in entry, and an on-site fill station, and it draws dive schools from well outside PA. We run guided tours here ourselves. Read our full Lake Hydra guide for the details.
Blue Marsh Lake (Reading, PA)
A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir near Reading that permits scuba diving alongside swimming, boating, and fishing (Schuylkill River Greenways). It's a solid, accessible option if you're in the Reading/Berks County area.
Memorial Lake State Park (Grantville, PA)
Located in Lebanon County, Memorial Lake is one of the closest PA DCNR-approved dive sites to Harrisburg, making it a convenient option for a local dive day without a long drive.
Presque Isle State Park (Lake Erie)
This is as close as Pennsylvania gets to ocean-style diving. Presque Isle Bay, part of Lake Erie, gives experienced divers access to genuine shipwrecks in a Great Lake setting (PA DCNR). It's a longer drive from Central PA, but it's a genuinely different kind of dive than anything else on this list.
Lake Nockamixon (Bucks County, PA)
At 1,450 acres, Lake Nockamixon is the largest lake in Bucks County and one of the PA DCNR-approved dive sites, formed by a dam on Tohickon Creek.
Other PA DCNR-approved dive lakes
Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources maintains an official list of state park lakes where scuba diving is permitted. Besides the ones above, that list includes Lake Lackawanna (Lackawanna State Park), Locust Lake State Park, Marsh Creek Lake (Marsh Creek State Park), Tuscarora State Park, Lake Arthur (Moraine State Park), Pymatuning State Park, Raccoon Creek State Park, and Yellow Creek State Park, along with the Susquehanna River at Shikellamy State Park (PA DCNR).
Rules and permitted areas can change, so always check the current PA DCNR scuba diving page before you head out to a state park lake.
One popular spot where diving is NOT allowed
If you've seen Beltzville Lake mentioned online as a dive site, it's worth knowing that recreational scuba diving is actually prohibited there under PA DCNR rules. It's a common enough mix-up that it's worth double-checking before you plan a trip.
Diving local before you go big
Pennsylvania's lakes are a great place to log dives, practice skills, and stay sharp between trips to warmer water. If you're newer to diving, a guided lake trip is also a great way to build confidence before a liveaboard or reef trip somewhere like the Bahamas or Indonesia.
Not certified yet, or want a refresher before your next lake dive? Check out our courses or give us a call at (833) PA DIVER.
Sources: Scuba Diving Magazine, Schuylkill River Greenways, PA DCNR — Scuba Diving
