It would be great fun to fin around with the fishes. The Laurel Fork Falls was the first waterfall we discovered on Lake Jocassee. The Max depth at this location was about 37ft at the deepest spot. Please choose a different date. No responses yet Leave a Reply Cancel reply. In addition to learning how to dive with a scuba system, the Open Water Diver instruction also prepares you for miscellaneous mishaps that could occur while diving - the regulator is kicked out of your mouth by your buddy, your mask falls off, you run out of air. I don't know what the plans are for the future). We will run with as few as 4 paying divers. We stopped in the state park at Lake Jocassee and were amazed by the crystal blue waters. 2 Helpful votes. During the first weekend of classes we learned how to enter the water from a raised platform, such as a boat or wall, equalize our ears to relieve the pressure, clear our mask underwater and establish neutral buoyancy. Lake Jocassee Waterfalls Laurel Fork Falls. Lake Jocassee, Lake Keowee and the , & the Hot Hole – We offer regular trips to Jocassee, Keowee and the Hot Hole aboard our deluxe diving built pontoon boats. For more information, call (803) 788-9166 or visit www.columbiascubasc.com. SC Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. With many separate, different, and interesting dive sites that can be reached by boat or shore, it’s easy to see why divers come from all around the southeast to dive this great lake. Instructors Nanette Stewart and Matt Slaughter had prepared us so well, it was a breeze completing the required skills. We started out breathing through the regulator on dry land. Love spending endless days at this lake. We pla, this is my second review this year of devil's fork boat ramp. There was nice water but the rangers are mean and you can not park golf carts no where I will never come back. A great swimming area. The large manmade lake was created by Duke Power in 1973. I might even try for a slam dunk! You start out training in a pool and then test your newly learned skills in some kind of open water setting like a lake, quarry or ocean. Devils Fork State Park is located on Lake Jocassee and will be most people’s entrance to the lake.And while the park does have normal campsites (that are usually always booked up well in advance), it does have 25 boat-in campsites at its Double Springs Campground.. And you’ll need to reserve these in advance as well. Telephone: 864.944.9255. We plan to return in the summer to check them out! One of the best parts of every Summer. Still, there is that inexorable lure of the last frontier, the mysterious aqua netherworld that covers three-quarters of the Earth. Lake Jocassee Dive Shop 710 Dive Buddy Lane, Salem, SC 29676. Snorkeling Lake Jocassee at Devils Fork State Park - YouTube The lake is located in northwest South Carolina, just down the mountain from Cashiers, Hendersonville, Brevard and Tuxedo in … From there, we submerged with our heads barely below the surface. The Official Website of the South Carolina Office of Tourism | © 2020 South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Okay the lowdown. Crystal clear waters, no muddy slimy shorelines here. Lake Jocassee has been called many things over the years, from the “Lake Tahoe of the East” to “South Carolina’s Little Switzerland.” But perhaps the greatest praise came in the autumn of 2012 when National Geographic named Jocassee Gorges as one of “50 of the World’s Last Great Places. well kept and clean. Required fields are marked * Comment. Lake Jocassee has crystal clear water and incredible depths. I visited the new dive ramp on Bootleg rd. Follow the history of the South Carolina port city of Charleston, which dates back more than 300 years, on a horse-drawn carriage tour. Fish for trout in a deep, clear mountain lake. Plan your Palmetto State adventure today. As much as I have enjoyed snorkeling over the years, swimming on the surface doesn't compare to dropping into the deep. Lake Jocassee is a lake in Devil's Fork State Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains, in upstate South Carolina. What Are Boat-In Campsites? The Jocassee … The cost is $50 and will be applied to the Open Water Diver course fee if you sign up within 30 days. As much as I have enjoyed snorkeling over the years, swimming on the surface doesn't compare to dropping into the deep. Local mom Kristina Hernandez shares how to visit Lake Jocassee with Kids! Lake Jocassee, South Carolina: See 74 reviews, articles, and 103 photos of Lake Jocassee, ranked No.355 on Tripadvisor among 1,581 attractions in South Carolina. Students need to have their own skin diving gear - mask, snorkel, fins - which run about $200 to $300. It is a manmade lake created by the building of a dam in 1973. We’ll run any day of the week so give us a call to set up your charter. JOCASSEE: Lake Jocassee is a man-made lake with over 7000 surface acres surrounded by the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains that extend upward from the waters edge. This rating is based on diving purposes only. The park ranger was super friendly and told us about several waterfalls that are accessible by water. For us oxygen-needy land dwellers, exploring that part of our planet requires a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, otherwise known as a scuba system. In the teak Chinese Junk I mentioned earlier, divers have generously contributed a variety of trinkets to the old sailboat's treasure chest, including Mardi Gras beads. . But "under" water - now that's a different story. As for diving, well, not much to see, in fact there is nothing underwater. The boat tours are a must.The water is awesome very private.Great place to hike with water falls all so. Lake Jocassee Devils fork state park, kayaking with los parceros good summer vibes in 2017, best lake in South Carolina video taken with my Go Pro camera Music By : … Amazing lake, you have to visit to enjoy. We are a full service dive shop located near Lake Jocassee in Salem, SC. Once we were fitted for our gear, we went to work reviewing the material in the book. Most of the testing was done on wooden platforms erected some 25 to 30 feet below the surface. Hotels near (CHS) Charleston Intl Airport, Hotels near (GSP) Greenville-Spartanburg Airport, Hotels near (AVL) Asheville Regional Airport. more, Recommended experiences in and around South Carolina. To celebrate the completion of the course, six of us made our first unsupervised dive in the cove next to the Devils Fork remote divers' boat ramp. Next we got into the shallow end of the pool and merely put our faces in the water. Pristine Trout Rivers feed the reservoir clear and clean water, creating one of the best dive destinations in the southeast. The real fun began when we hit the pool at Harbison Recreation Center. Not likely to happen if you follow proper procedures, but better to be prepared. Read more. We plan to return in the summer to check them out! Lake Jocassee is a magnificent jewel nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains between Western North and South Carolina.Surrounded by the Jocassee Gorges and fed by 4 wild and scenic rivers and many small tributaries, it is no wonder the lake and area were recognized in National Geographic magazine’s “50 of the World’s Last Great Places” Destinations of a Lifetime. But before you slip into your wet suit, there's some classroom work to be done. Lake Jocassee (Fishing Map : US_SC_01230532) Lake Jocassee fishing map is available as part of iBoating : USA Marine & Fishing App (now supported on multiple platforms including Android , iPhone/iPad , MacBook , and Windows(tablet and phone)/PC based chartplotter .) Must be at least 15 years old, in good health and in reasonable fitness. 4 diver minimum for Jocassee, 5 diver minimum for Keowee. Save time by seeing the main highlights of the city’s past, including those from the Civil War era, from a comfortable perch as you travel across 30 blocks of the historic district. I've watched enough Shark Week videos to be leery of what lies beneath. water temp was about 79deg. Divers clearly have a sense of humor. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The Palmetto State's culinary scene is famous for quality and originality, from unique Gullah cuisine to our thriving farm-to-table movement. Lake Jocassee Dive Shop, Salem, SC. There are wrecks, graveyards, houses, training platforms, a forest dive, and much more! Find must-see attractions and long-distance travel resources, including visa information, regional overviews and tour operator credentials. Lake Jocassee (/ dʒ ə ˈ k æ s i /, / dʒ oʊ ˈ k æ s i /) is a 7,500-acre (30 km 2), 300-foot (91 m) deep reservoir located in northwest South Carolina created by the state in partnership with Duke Power in 1973. Upgrading your browser will ensure the best possible experience on our website: Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the date(s) you selected. Lake Jocassee is commonly known for the clear, clean and cold Appalachian mountain rivers that feed the lake to keep it cool year-round. The park ranger was super friendly and told us about several waterfalls that are accessible by water. If you like swimming, fishing, jet skiing, and more, then this is the place to be. (at least not yet. Experience Lake Jocassee with its trophy-sized fish, stand at the highest point in South Carolina at Sassafras Mountain or see the rare Oconee bell flower in bloom when you visit Jocassee Gorges. $120.00 per person for all day charter on the Cooper River . Our tours will be limited to a maximum of 8 people for the foreseeable future. Name * Email * Website. Sat-Sun 8-6. There also are 40 plastic flamingos marching across the bottom of the lake, an Indian motorcycle and a basketball goal equipped with a bowling ball. Jocassee Lake Tours: Waterfall Tour - See 269 traveler reviews, 250 candid photos, and great deals for Salem, SC, at Tripadvisor. The lake’s surface reflects 75 miles of pristine shoreline steeped with jagged rock formations and dense foilage, fading into uninterrupted mountain vistas of the Blue Ridge Range. Email: Bill Download your free guide or request a copy by mail below, and start planning your one-of-a-kind South Carolina adventure today. The training is conducted in baby steps, allowing students to get their feet wet before diving into the sport. 1.8K likes. South Carolina is the perfect vacation destination for every family. Previous post Lake Jocassee. the first one we went on a Saturday and were turned away due to the parking lot being full. Lake Jocassee is located in Devils Fork State Park in northwest South Carolina. The lake is just a short drive away from a dozen charming towns such as Pickens and Easley . Mon – Fri Call for an appointment. During the two-day open water training, we also had the opportunity to practice both a boat and shore entry. Our location is the same but the street name is new. I was camping at Devils Fork State park in Salem, Sc and I went for a little snorkel. It was built in 1973 along with Lake Keowee, its sister lake, as part of the Keowee-Toxaway project. Lake Jocassee is a man-made lake covering 7,500 acres built by Duke Energy for the generation of electricity. Gather inspiration with trip ideas for planning your next South Carolina vacation. This lake is over 300 feet deep and the water is very clear. Lake Jocassee has been featured as National Geographic's "50 of the World's Last Great Places - Destinations of a Lifetime" and it's only 1.5 hours from Greenville, SC. We learned about Lake Jocassee history and the beautiful waterfalls. Lake Jocassee is a 7,565 acre man-made lake in the South Carolina mountains. The Visibility was fantastic for freshwater snorkeling and I came across this common snapping turtle. The Jocassee Gorges form their own ecosystem, and are a designated rain forest -- one of only two in the US. For the fourth year, Jocassee Lake Tours is helping organize a volunteer study program that will help scientists study the health and behavior of common loons wintering in a freshwater ecosystem. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Open Water Diver: The course costs $375 and includes study materials and the use of a scuba unit during in-water training. Thanks to Zack M. from Jocassee Lake Tour. We stopped in the state park at Lake Jocassee and were amazed by the crystal blue waters. Would and have recommended to anyone who enjoys the outdoors at all..So much to offer! We tested our navigation skills using a compass to set a heading and then return to the same location. All Rights Reserved.  Lake Jocassee is one of South Carolina's best keep diving secrets! 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