White Star Park near Gibsonburg, Ohio offers 800 acres of lovely scenery, and features White Star Quarry, a freshwater lake perfect for a day’s diving.
Diving White Star Quarry
White Star Quarry sits within the 800-acre White Star Park near Gibsonburg, Ohio. The freshwater, manmade lake has a maximum depth of 71 to 80 feet (22 to 24 m) with average visibility between 36 and 40 feet (11 to 12 m). Water temperatures range from under 50 F (10 C) in winter up to 70 F (21 C) in summer.
The quarry is open to divers from 8 a.m. until dark between April 1 and December 31. There’s a scuba concession on weekends and scheduled weekdays between May 1 and October 31, which offers a variety of services including air and nitrox fills and equipment rentals.
Types of dives
Those who like night diving can visit on Saturday evenings during the summer, but must register and check out with the scuba concession once their dives are done. These are available through the end of September.
White Star Quarry also offers ice diving for certified ice divers on special request. Everyone in your party must be properly qualified and you must provide the quarry with plenty of advance notice and check in with the concession.
Solo diving is now permitted with the proper certification and a permit that is available on the website.
What you’ll see
There are several different attractions in White Star Quarry and you can grab a map from the scuba concession. They even offer submersible maps with point-to-point bearings to make underwater navigation easier. There are 15 underwater trails, and maps show you the routes to help you maximize your dive time and see as much as possible.
Highlights include a submerged room and building with a connecting tunnel at the northern end of the quarry, though divers may only enter the tunnel with direct, written, permission from the scuba concession staff. Obtain permits, tunnel orientations and tags before venturing out.
You can also do deep dives in one of the two ‘holes.’ One is located at the bottom of a stone crusher; while the other is by the wall near the main diving entrance.
Other than the physical structures, divers can see a variety of fish life. Watch for a variety of trout and bass as well as catfish, carp, gar, and perch. You might also spot frogs, painted turtles, rusty crayfish and bright pumpkinseed fish hidden among the rocks.
If you’re looking for a relaxing, easily accessible destination that will please divers of all levels, White Star Quarry may be just the thing.
