For the right kind of person, scuba diving has an almost addictive quality. That was certainly true for Sarah Clark’s parents, Mike and Liz Simpson, after their first dive on a vacation in Cozumel, Mexico, in 2002. “My dad loved it,” Clark recalled. Her parents returned to Bend, went to Powder House—where classes were held at the time—and became certified.
A few years later, another dive trip, this time to Roatán, Honduras, cemented their obsession. This time, they came back and bought Powder House’s scuba division. They opened Central Oregon Diving in 2005. The dive school and retail store on Greenwood Avenue sells snorkeling and scuba gear, hosts local cleanup dives, organizes international dive trips and provides diver training, including open-water certification classes.
Scuba Diving Classes and Certification in Bend
Clark has been running the business alongside her parents since close to the start. Still, even as the shop’s first employee (and eventual co-owner), she didn’t get certified herself right away, holding off for more than a year. “You don’t want to do scuba with someone else motivating you,” she said. “You need to be motivated to do it.”
Even with no ocean or coral reef in sight, landlocked Central Oregonians seem to lean into the sport. “Every year, we’re certifying 100 people or so in the brand new beginner course,” said Jonathan Ingram, the store’s office manager and its primary dive instructor. “And that’s just people who’ve never done it before.”
How Scuba Divers Train in Central Oregon
Training begins in a shallow pool, where students can practice breathing and learn basic underwater skills before moving into open water. Then they head to Cultus Lake, which has become the shop’s preferred training spot, thanks to its gradual sandy entry and reliable visibility, even if only between 3 and 30 feet. Depending on the time of year, Central Oregon divers will also head to Clear Lake, Lake Billy Chinook or Elk Lake, according to Ingram.
Where to Scuba Dive Near Bend
The cold water and limited visibility at the lakes might not seem particularly appealing to some, but for plenty of divers, it’s hardly a deterrent. “If [the lake] is deep enough, you’ll find a diver at it,” Ingram said.
Plus, the water may not be as cold as people think. “We have students going up to the lake [in spring], and the water temp’s gonna be in the low 50s. It’s not too bad. But that same lake, come middle of July, is going to be close to 68, 70 degrees,” he explained.
Why Central Oregon Lakes Work for Scuba Training
While lake dives may have less range than ocean dives, they have become undeniably ideal for training. “At the lake, there are not as many distractions of seeing all the different fish,” Ingram said. “So you can actually focus on working on your skills.”
Stripped of the spectacle of tropical reefs, the experience of lake diving can become less about what you’re seeing and more about how you’re feeling.
“[Diving] is very rhythmic,” said Clark. “And there’s still a lot of beauty at the lake—there’s sand, there are rocks and there are crawdads. It’s the perfect unplug. You can really just focus on being there, where you are.”
Learn more about Central Oregon Diving.
Central Oregon Scuba Diving FAQ
Can you scuba dive in Central Oregon?
Yes. Divers train and dive in several Central Oregon lakes, including Cultus Lake, Clear Lake, Lake Billy Chinook and Elk Lake. Central Oregon Diving certifies about 100 new beginner divers each year, according to Ingram.
Where can you learn to scuba dive in Bend?
Central Oregon Diving offers diver training, including open-water certification classes. Training begins in a shallow pool before students move into open-water dives.
Where do scuba divers train near Bend?
Cultus Lake is Central Oregon Diving’s preferred training location because of its gradual sandy entry and reliable visibility. Depending on the season, divers also visit Clear Lake, Lake Billy Chinook and Elk Lake.
How cold is the water for scuba diving in Central Oregon?
Ingram said lake temperatures can be in the low 50s in spring. By the middle of July, the same lake can approach 68 to 70 degrees.
What is visibility like when scuba diving in Central Oregon lakes?
At Cultus Lake, visibility can range from about 3 to 30 feet. While lake diving offers fewer underwater distractions than tropical diving, Ingram said that can make it particularly useful for practicing scuba skills.
What can you see while scuba diving in Central Oregon?
Central Oregon lake diving doesn’t offer the tropical fish and coral reefs associated with many ocean dives. Clark describes a quieter underwater landscape of sand, rocks and crawdads—and an experience centered as much on the rhythm and focus of diving as what there is to see.
