Lake Chautauqua - 40 to 50 Minutes from FantaSeas
A little bit deeper than Powell Avenue, a little bit clearer than Lake Pleasant, this lake is a favorite for many area divers. This lake, which, after a little bit of swimming, drops to around 30', harbors different types of aquatic life than divers usually find in other local dive spots.
If you go to Lake Chautauqua from late summer to late spring, you can access the lake through the Chautauqua Institute, and you can have an extremely unusual dive in only 4' of water! Around the turn of the century, a medical cart caught fire. Rather than start over, the owners threw it into the lake. What they didn't know was that people today would come to the lake just to search for these old bottles, which are quite often in excellent condition.
Lake Erie - 5 to 10 Minutes from FantaSeas
Lake Erie, the largest body of water, is one of the Great Lakes. Throughout the past few years, Zebra Mussels have invaded the lake, taking no prisoners. Despite the inconvenience of the mussels, they have cleaned up the lake by absorbing toxins and other man-made items in the lake. Now, thanks to the mussels, 30' visibility is fairly common on sunny days.
FantaSeas, along with many other local divers, often uses the foot of Powell Avenue for shore diving access into the lake. A few minutes of swimming and you'll be in 10-15 feet of water, with fish hiding under rocks, swimming about, and feeding. Sometimes, divers will even find objects that people have lost while swimming or boating.
If you want something a little bit deeper, there are a few boats in the area that go out to the hundreds of wrecks in the lake. There are wrecks for everyone from small wrecks in 20' of water to huge wrecks in 130' + of water. Bring your wetsuit, though--it can get chilly!
Lake Pleasant - 30 to 40 Minutes from FantaSeas
AS OF 1998, A PERMIT IS REQUIRED TO DIVE IN LAKE PLEASANT
Lake Pleasant, a glacier-formed lake, is a window into prehistoric times. Here, divers typically find net-stones, which prehistoric men used to weight down their fishing nets, in just 7' of water. Swimming out further, to where the lake deepens to about 40', divers, who like to dig in the mud, are on cloud nine. In fact, digging through the mud, FantaSeas owner and instructor George Moon discovered a complete Wooly Mammoth skeleton! Lake Pleasant also has its stories--whether it's the story of the underground cavern system or the story about the missing horse and carriage, Lake Pleasant is something every diver should experience. This area, popular with campers and people looking to relax in a secluded spot, also prohibits power boats, making it even more pleasant for divers.
Niagara River - 2+ Hours from FantaSeas
For those who don't mind a little driving to their dive site, the Niagara River is perfect. Here, divers enter right by the Peace Bridge. Quickly descending into this moderately fast river, divers can sit back, relax, and let the current take them away. Don't worry, though--it's miles from the falls. After about 40 minutes, though, you might want to get out (or find a nice and cozy barrel). Either way, the Niagara River dive is worth the drive.
The Bay - 10 to 15 Minutes from FantaSeas
In Erie, Presque Isle, one of the local parks, curves in such a way that a calm bay is formed. This area, which harbors numerous marinas, is also another great dive spot. Diving off Dobbins' Landing, divers descend into 20' of history. Here, divers can find numerous objects tossed of the street and off boats from last week to last century. There are even huge pieces of coal that sunk while being unloaded from the coal ships that used to dock in Erie. Although visibility in the bay isn't the best, the bay is still a fascinating dive.
Last Updated: July 10, 1998
Location: https://members.tripod.com/~FantaSeas/erie.htm