West Virginia is most well known for its mountains, The Appalachians, not its scuba diving. Despite its name, The Mountain State, West Virginia offers some great dives! Summersville Lake, Tygart Lake, and Mount Storm Lake are some of West Virginia’s most popular dives. Some dive sites across the U.S. may have restricted access or special regulations governing their use, so be certain you obtain the most up-to-date information for each site you plan to use.
Scuba Diving Requirements in West Virginia
In West Virginia, you are not required to have a scuba certification in order to dive. However, most divers will tell you that it would be foolish to attempt to start diving without first going through the scuba certification course. The certification course will equip you with all of the skills and knowledge that you need to stay safe and have an effective diving career.
West Virginia does have a few regulations in place for diving activities and vessel operation near divers:
- Divers are required to use a red and white Diver Down flag
- Dive flags should be at least 10″x10″, with the top of that flag extending at least 3 feet above the water
- Divers are required to surface no more that 100 feet from their dive flag
- Boaters are required to stay at least 100 feet away from all dive flags
Get Your Scuba Certification in West Virginia
West Virginia is a great place to learn to scuba dive, precisely because it is a lesser known scuba destination. This state has plenty to offer for all divers. Some of the dive companies in West Virginia may not provide dive transport for certain areas if you do not have a scuba certification. Be sure to visit our directory to find a local company that can help you earn your scuba certification in West Virginia!