SCUBA diving in Tennessee? In Winter? Are you crazy?
Yes, yes, and maybe . . . Lots of people have New Year’s Day traditions. Some people eat black-eyed peas and cornbread for good luck. Others make New Year’s resolutions to exercise more and be more productive. And a few brave souls (admittedly some might substitute “brave” for “fanatical”) choose to celebrate the New Year by going SCUBA diving.
I began teaching SCUBA diving in Murfreesboro in 1987. Since that time it has become a tradition of many of the local divers to take the plunge into the underwater world on New Year’s Day, no matter the temperature or the weather.
Since becoming an instructor, I have answered thousands of questions about SCUBA diving, and many of the same questions crop up over and over again. Here are probably the most commonly asked questions about SCUBA diving in Tennessee.
Jeff’s Scuba Top Ten FAQ:
1. Where do you go scuba diving in Tennessee
People go diving anywhere there is water. Many of our Tennessee lakes are manmade and are the result of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) using water as a source of electricity. These TVA lakes like Center Hill, Dale Hollow and Nickajack offer exciting diving opportunities. Tennessee rivers are not very clear, but diving for artifacts even in low visibility waters can satisfy a treasure seeker’s aspirations. Tennessee has an abundance of abandoned rock quarries that have filled up with water and these offer the clearest water in Tennessee with visibility exceeding 35 feet. Don’t forget, that on a commercial jet you can travel from Nashville to Fort Lauderdale in 1 hour and 15 minutes.
2. What do you see when you go SCUBA diving?
In our local waters, divers often see large fish populations; bass, catfish, carp and blue-gill are all very common. Turtles, freshwater eels, alligator gar and even fresh water jellyfish are not uncommon. Our underwater environment also has a lot of underwater plant life and rock formations that are beautiful in their own way. Of course there are also stolen cars and historic trash from years gone by, frozen in time where people have disposed of them never to be seen again.
3. What about sharks?
Tennessee has no sharks except in aquariums, but if you are lucky enough to dive in a place that has sharks, bring along your camera. Take pictures. Brag about it later like it was something really brave to dive with sharks! (They really won’t bother you.)
Whether snow is on the ground, or it's the middle of summer, the underwater temperature stays relatively constant.
4. How cold is the water?
Tennessee water on the surface fluctuates from 32–80+ degrees F. As the seasons change so does the surface water. But at depth, the water in our lakes and quarries stays a near constant temperature—usually around 50 degrees F. Yes, that is cold. Yes, in order to enjoy water that temperature you have to be dress in a wetsuit or drysuit.
5. How old do you have to be to take SCUBA lessons?
We can now certify divers as young as 10 years old. There is no upper age limit. All PADI SCUBA courses are also approved by the American Council on Education—this means they are good for college credit—even if you are only 10 years old!
6. How much does it cost to learn to SCUBA dive? The short answer to this question is $500. This can vary up or down depending on some variables the student chooses, but the entire process of learning to dive, including classroom work, pool training sessions, text books, dive tables, certification fees, and open water checkout dives typically costs $500 or less.
7. Do you have to purchase all of the equipment?
Most student learning to SCUBA dive purchase their own mask, fins and snorkel. Most instructors provide tanks, weights, regulators, dive computers, buoyancy control devices and other accessories.
8. How often do you have to get re-certified?
Once you complete a diving course your certification is good for life (with strong recommendations to dive at least once a year to keep your skills current).
9. How long does a tank of Oxygen last?
SCUBA tanks are filled with dry, filtered compressed air just like the air we breathe except the moisture and dust has been filtered out. So it is not just Oxygen, but an O2/Nitrogen mix. Breathing times vary according to your physical condition, your level of exertion and your depth. Because of increased pressure and density it takes more air to breath as you go deeper. As an example, it takes 4 times as much air to fill your lungs at 99 feet of depth than it does at the surface.
10. How deep do you go SCUBA diving?
Sport divers are encouraged to not dive deeper than 130 feet, with novice divers being advised to dive no deeper than 60 feet. Usually there is more to see at shallower depths.
SCUBA diving is not for everyone, but it is not difficult and not dangerous. It is a fun and exciting sport that can bring families together and turn any vacation into an educational adventure. So if this year you want to bring some enjoyment and adventure into your life, try SCUBA diving. Maybe next New Year’s Day you can sit around the bonfire with fellow divers after a polar bear plunge in our local rock quarry and share things only a few lucky divers get to see. Happy New Year!
