Diving Oklahoma's Lake Tenkiller

Oklahoma is landlocked, but that doesn’t equal a lack of dive opportunities: Freshwater diving spots abound, and a unique local community has formed around shared love for the sport.

Diving a Landlocked State

Mike Cody, PADI Master Instructor, and Zach Cody, PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, along with instructors Allen Zachery and Stevie Armstrong, call themselves the “core four” at ScubaBros in Oklahoma City.

“We have been working and teaching together for the past 13 years, training thousands of divers in the OKC area,” Mike and Zach recently shared in an email. “Oklahoma lakes can have their good days or good seasons, but otherwise you have to be OK with poor visibility and cold water.”

Lake Tenkiller was formed in 1953 after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dammed the Illinois River, and today it’s one of the sites drawing operators like ScubaBros and divers from around the state. Also called Tenkiller Ferry Lake, it was named after a Cherokee family, and the site of the dam once served as a major crossing point.

Olivia, the creator behind the Fully Submerged YouTube channel, is a PADI IDC Staff Instructor and PADI AmbassaDiver. The hidden gems of diving are a particular area of interest for her. “I started making content because I lived in a landlocked area where my access to diving was limited, particularly in the winter,” she explains. “Making content online kept me active in the dive community when I couldn’t physically dive.”

Related Reading: 5 Crystal-Clear Freshwater Dive Sites to Visit

“I had a work trip in Oklahoma,” she says. “So I took the opportunity to schedule a couple of extra days to see what the local dive community had going on, and I was not disappointed.”

It takes a little more than two hours to reach Lake Tenkiller from Oklahoma City. Fisherman’s Point, on the east side of the lake, near Pine Cove Marina, is a starting point for those keen to check out the underwater dive park.

Olivia ended up doing two dives with a local dive shop, giving her the chance to see it during the day and at dusk.

“Like a lot of dive sites, Lake Tenkiller has an array of different sunken structures to explore, like a bus and a helicopter, but the thing that surprised me the most was the hundreds of trinkets placed along the ledges of the lake. It’s dark down there, so it was really neat—yet kind of spooky—to uncover all these different figurines in only the light of your flashlight as you swam along the perimeter.”

Strayhorn Landing, on the opposite side, is another entry point where the John’s Jack-O-Lantern Challenge annually tests underwater pumpkin-carving skills. Other sites are accessible by boat.

What You Need to Know Before Diving in Oklahoma

When it comes to diving anywhere in Oklahoma, a few key tools and techniques come in handy.

“Navigation and compass work are critical. Otherwise, you will spend the entire time looking for your buddy,” the Cody brothers advise. “Thermal protection is mission-critical as well. Most local lakes here have several big thermoclines, and the wetsuit of choice is dictated by the dive-plan depth. Even in the middle of the summer, if you plan on diving down to 80 to 100 feet, you will be in 40-degree water. So full body coverage is required, unless you are only planning on something very shallow.”

Related Reading: Flying High as a PADI Helicopter Diver

Oklahoma Community Dive Vibes

The Cody brothers caught the scuba bug early, having grown up around the dive shop owned and operated by their parents. They were working as dive instructors while attending college when their dad unexpectedly closed his shop in 2010, leading them to open ScubaBros about six months later.

“We were both very young at ages 20 (Zach) and 23 (Mike). Business started off slow, and we spent many days in the showroom watching Into the Blue on repeat,” they explain. “This was a time before the internet was really utilized to grow business; word of mouth was the primary advertisement, as we couldn’t afford a yellow pages ad. The dive community since then has evolved into a much bigger and ‘youthful’ group.”

One way ScubaBros fosters community is by hosting Dive Nights at their pool, for divers to meet up with buddies and strengthen skills.

“This event has grown over the years, and will even include a live band occasionally,” the brothers add. In addition to growing the dive community at home, the shop facilitates international adventures that maintain the same high-energy feel. “While Mike is in the back keeping everyone’s regulators working, Zach is always on the hunt for the next great trip.”

“Oklahoma divers mostly don’t dive locally for the view,” Mike and Zach continue. “They mostly go on dive outings for the camaraderie and fun day that diving provides.”

Related Reading: Women’s Dive Day Has Expanded the Sport, But There’s Still Room to Grow

Conditions

Chilly, clear water and depths within recreational limits.

Certification

Stay more comfortable during cold-water dives by taking the PADI Full Face Mask Diver course.

Plan Your Visit

Connect with a local dive shop to show you the insider tips and find a buddy.

What to Bring

Compass, flashlight and a full-length wetsuit.

Local PADI Shop

ScubaBros scubabrosshop.com

Site Spotlight: Western Mosquitofish

Western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) are among the nearly 200 species of fish that call the Sooner State home. This species only grows to be 2 inches long. Mosquitofish live in fresh water throughout Oklahoma and eat many mosquito larvae as a part of their diet. They have been stocked in other states in an attempt to control mosquito populations around bodies of fresh water—a tactic that doesn’t always prove to be successful and has threatened frogs and other species that mosquitofish eat. Their most notable characteristic is giving birth to live young. They are the only fish from the family with this quality native to Oklahoma. Mosquitofish live for about three years, and females can give birth to several broods per year during their relatively short lives. Their population is currently stable throughout the state.