5 places to go scuba diving in Colorado
Despite Colorado being a landlocked state, the Centennial State is said to have the most certified scuba divers per capita in the country. The closest ocean is about 1,000 driving miles from Colorado, but that doesn’t stop Coloradans from adventuring underwater. Here are five places to scuba dive in Colorado, a few of which offer scuba-certification.
Author’s Note: Freshwater scuba diving in Colorado presents different risks that relate to elevation levels of each site, as well as water temperature and visibility. Check with local agencies, such as Colorado Parks and Wildlife or the National Park Service, or with professional diving instructors for more information. Never attempt to go SCUBA diving without proper experience and without following all best practices for safety.
Downtown Aquarium (Photo) Credit Downtown Aquarium
1. A-1 Scuba & Travel Aquatics Center
A-1 Scuba & Travel Aquatics Center in Littleton features a 11,000-square-foot facility that includes a pool with an underwater sound system and an endless pool for swimming against a current. The aquatics center offers onsite classrooms, scuba classes, escorted dive vacations, and more.
Pictured Above: Shane and Kym from A-1 Scuba & Travel, Denver’s Downtown Aquarium staff, and OutThere Colorado pose for a photo at the top of the exhibits before Charles and Sophie get suited up to dive into the shark tank.
Photo Credit: Katie Rae Spell.
Downtown Aquarium (Photo) Credit Downtown Aquarium
2. Denver Aquarium
Certified divers can experience swimming with sharks in the Sunken Shipwreck exhibit at Denver’s Downtown Aquarium, hosted by A-1 Scuba instructors. Swim with sand tiger sharks, brown sharks, zebra sharks, barracudas, guitar fish, turtles, and sawfish.
Photo Credit: Downtown Aquarium.
Diving (Photo) Credit scubaluna (iStock)
3. Blue Mesa Reservoir
Colorado’s largest body of water offers divers scenes of Iola, a former town that was put underwater with the creation of Blue Mesa Reservoir. The visibility underwater is best in the winter. Ice seen from underwater is “incredibly beautiful” because of the fractured light that filters through it. The fish and other creatures underwater are somewhat sluggish due to the chill, which makes it easy to see them. Find more information about diving at this spot here.
Ice diving is especially hazardous and requires special training and equipment. Due to extreme cold, divers need to ensure that they have adequate thermal protection and must carefully monitor the span of time they are underwater.
File photo. Photo Credit: scubaluna (iStock).
Underwater Connection (Photo) Credit The Gazette
4. Underwater Connection
Underwater Connection in Colorado Springs offers a 15-foot-deep, indoor, heated pool with a real drop off. They teach scuba courses, from basic to professional levels, and host classes on snorkeling, freediving, technical diving, spearfishing, kayaking, swimming, and stand-up paddle boarding. They even offer introductory sessions at a low price for those with no experience.
Photo Credit: The Gazette.
Freshwater Scuba Diving (Photo) Credit Berenika_L (iStock)
5. Chatfield State Park
Chatfield State Park hosts several scuba diving courses, generally in a gravel pond. Fresh water diving is also frequent in Chatfield Reservoir, which has a maximum depth of 60 to 70 feet.
File Photo. Photo Credit: Berenika_L (iStock).
Freshwater Scuba Diving (Photo) Credit Berenika_L (iStock)
Know Before You Go
Colorado outdoors agencies, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and National Park Service, regulation fresh water diving activities in the state. Read Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulations here, and click here for regulations by the National Park Service.
File Photo. Photo Credit: Berenika_L (iStock).
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