If you don't live near the ocean, you don't have to wait for your next tropical vacation to exercise your scuba skills. You can dive almost anywhere there is water, and this includes lakes, reservoirs, and quarries.

You should check with your local dive shop to see if any nearby fresh water bodies are suitable for diving. In recent years, several "dive parks" have opened that offer fresh water diving complete with sunken attractions such as airplanes, cars, and boats.

Lake temperatures change dramatically with the seasons. During summer months, temperatures may rival those of tropical waters, but as winter nears, the same lake may drop to a bone chilling 45° F.

Visibility in lakes varies from zero to over 60 feet. The best visibility is found in lakes or quarries with rocky bottoms, while the worst is found in lakes with muddy or silty bottoms.