New Mexico is known as The Land of Enchantment. When you visit the state, it is easy to see why. Divers will find the waters of New Mexico to be just as enchanting, if not more, than the surface. Perch Lake and Lea Lake, the so-called “bottomless lake”, are two of New Mexico’s most popular dive sites. In addition, New Mexico also boasts one of the most popular scuba diving sites in the United States: The Blue Hole of Santa Rosa. Some of New Mexico’s diving sites may have restricted access or may require special permits, so be certain to check site-specific requirements before planning a diving excursion.
Scuba Diving Requirements in New Mexico
New Mexico law does not require divers to be scuba certified in order to go diving. However, for your own safety, it is highly recommended that you earn your scuba certification before attempting ant dive. Diving before completing the training that the certification program provides is extremely dangerous and, frankly, reckless. Ask almost any diver and they will tell you that the scuba certification program is a crucial step to becoming a safe diver.
New Mexico does have some requirements for both divers and vessel operators:
- Divers must use a red and white Diver Down flag
- If diving from a vessel, the vessel is required to display the blue and white Alpha Flag
- Boaters are required to stay at least 150 feet from dive flags, and are advised to travel at no-wake speeds when near a flag
Get Your Scuba Certification in New Mexico
New Mexico has some of the best scuba diving spots in the United States. If you are interested in diving, you should not overlook The Land of Enchantment for your next diving trip. Some companies in New Mexico will not transport divers who do not have their scuba certification to certain dive sites for safety reasons. Use our helpful directory to find a local company in New Mexico that can help you earn your scuba certification in New Mexico!