Offical Minneapolis Park Policy On Diving

[WeatherPaparazzi]

Earlier this week the Minneapolis Police Motorcycle cops were all over us for diving in Lake Calhoun.  Said I needed a permit from the city and that they could take all my gear for breaking the law.

Well, I talked to a few people and the cops were wrong.  Acording to the Minneapolis PARK POLICE, the Minneapolis Police do not have jurisdiction in the lakes, that is for the Park Police. 

Park police said they don't care as long as you don't take anything but I should check with the Minneapolis Park Board.

The following email is from the MSP Park Board regarding permits for scuba diving.  Shane Stenzel is with the guy that covers the lakes and permits. 

----- Original Message -----
From: Stenzel, Shane M.
To: Douglas Kiesling
Sent: Friday, June 23, 2006 1:13 PM
Subject: RE: Scuba Diving


Yes you can scuba dive in the Minneapolis Lakes. We no longer require a permit for diving however all state laws apply. We do not allow gas power motors on boats to be operated on the city lakes. Any artifacts or debris taken from the lake with a value of $25.00 or more must be turned in the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.



-----Original Message-----
From: Douglas Kiesling [mailto:doug@ removed from spammers  .com]
Sent: Friday, June 23, 2006 1:07 PM
To: Stenzel, Shane M.
Subject: Scuba Diving

Is is ok to scuba dive in the Minneapolis chain of lakes without a permit. 

[DiverQueen]

But the real question is....Who determines if an "artifact" taken from the lake has a value of over $25.00?  "Well, it looks like an interesting piece of junk to me but I want to put it in my yard anyway!!"  Isn't that why BC's and drysuits have large pockets??  Afterall, the Park Police can't see below the water surface even with polarized sunglasses!!!  And they can't check our stuff without a search warrant!

[DiveCaptDean]

just keep in mind..it seems like the police dont know this law..theyare still going to do what they dol, and one would be well advised not to challenge them at any time..they can get nasty if they feel challenged or threatened..i guess that why they call them bears...it may be a good idea to carry a copy of the email or the bylaw with you  and politely present it to them when the visit

[DiverQueen]

Already downloaded and printed my copy to laminate asap!  Hope to go diving there soon!  Never heard any comments when I was there on Fun Dive with Smith Diving.  Do you suppose there is a safety in numbers thing there?
LW

[LKunze]

Guys, check out this thread from a couple years ago regarding this issue.

[DiverQueen]

Yup, downloaded the copy of the "Get out of Jail Free" letter from the Legal Help thread.  Will laminate and carry when diving Mpls. lakes!  Can't wait to get wet soon....Despite it's bad rep, Calhoun can be interesting lake to dive.

[sagacity]

Where did you d/l it from?

[DiverQueen]

Under the "Need Legal Help" thread, go down several postings...Find the E-mail from Don S. to Brad Johnson.  Dated May 4, 2004.....Make a copy of that, laminate it and keep it with your dive gear.  Sooner or later all the MPD officers will get on the same page, or we'll just sign up to be reserve officers so we can help them learn about law changes!

[scubadog76]

        I was in Calhoun this evening and seemed to be getting the "stink eye >" from a couple of officers as I was exiting the lake.  They were unable to stop because of traffic behind them, but it felt like it was coming.  I keep my laminated copy of  the "get out of jail free" card and also provide my buddies with one in case they drive.  The Minneapolis Park Board has really only allowed diving without a permit for the last 4 years or so and I capitolize on it quite a bit.  It's so unfortunate that all it takes is one uninformed person to cause such a headache for those who are doing nothing wrong.  Every time something goes wrong, it's a stir on the switchboard at the Park Board office, which I imagine is wearing thin, and may ultimately effect our ability to dive there.  Something that may help is to prove what a positive role scuba divers play in local lakes.  Be it cleaning up trash, reporting milfoil and zebra mussels or finding historic artifacts like the sunken Minnehaha on lake Minnetonka.  One thing I'll throw out there is to set a weekend date this summer to show up and do a clean up dive.  We can ask the Park Board to provide a dumpster and we'll haul out a ton of trash.  They'll get positive PR which will bounce around to us hopfully.  If anyone is interested, throw out a date.  It would be a great opportunity to try a different lake or to keep the lake as an option for those who already dive it.  I can contact the Park board with our plans if we get enough interest.  Just remember, dive at your own risk.  Jeff-L.L.D (limited liability diver)

[WeatherPaparazzi]

Also if the cops do give you "The Look"  Here is Shane's email with the Minneapolis Park Board.   

sstenzel  (at for the spam bots)  minneapolisparks.org from the email above.

Also, I just contacted the Minneapolis Police and Mayors office and forwarded the email to them to inform all of the officers regarding the fact the scuba diving in the Minneapolis lakes is not a crime but seeing all that trash that  people throw into the lake should be a crime.