Local diving -Must do dive sites

[scubadog76]

The lakes listed above are certainly in the "tops", but there are certainly lakes much closer that can be good.  Spectacle Lake near the Princeton/Cambridge area can give you about 20-25' of vis into August.  It gets Rec. use so there can be some items to find.

Minnetonka is one of my favorites.  Some areas give you 10' or more with tons of stuff to find.  Tough to find diver-friendly access and on a sunny Sat. or Sun. afternoon, you are risking major bodily harm with the boaters.  Other days are much better.

Lake Elmo can be good, however the Park Police can be very hit and miss when it comes to divers.  I have never been harrassed, but I have heard of many who have.

Lake Phalen was great up until a year ago, viz went way down (and crime went way up)  Plenty of things to find.  Hopefully, this year will be better.

Another tip:  Look in the lake map books available at almost any sporting good stores.  I have found that the sechi disc readings don't mean much, but fish life does.  If the lake has been stocked with trout, It will be divable. 

If you stumble across any others, don't keep em' a secret- Jeff