While the Ozarks themselves are a lot like an oasis for nature, Table Rock Lake conceals a true Oasis - a town which was submerged when the US Army Corps of Engineers flooded the valley upstream from the dam in 1958. The whole town of Oasis is still here, incredibly intact, after more than fifty years beneath 100 feet of water. Let's take an up-close look at this incredible destination.
Table Rock Lake Features
While we know Oasis isn't the lost city of Atlantis, it is nearly as fascinating. Dive along silent streets where people once went about their daily lives, and if you're qualified to penetrate wrecks, take a closer inside the church, which is the jewel of underwater main street - while there are still rumors that an entire underwater city complete with cars and signs is here, all there really is are some old foundations, for the most part.
There is also an a submerged oak forest called the Enchanted Forest. This part of the lake is dangerous and for expert divers only; there are a number of entanglement hazards, but the trees are amazing, as are the huge bass that swim among them. As the area is relatively shallow at only 25 to 40 feet of water, it is sometimes incredibly lit from above; when visibility drops though, it's not a good place to be.
In the shallows, big boulders and friendly fish offer even the newest divers a great view of the underwater world; the lake has lots of shallow spots all along its more than 800 miles of shoreline. The lake is easy to access, and there are plenty of amenities in a number of spots.
Beaches, hiking trails, campgrounds, picnic areas, and local attractions, both cultural and historic, offer opportunities for fun and relaxation, for divers and non-diving friends and family members alike. Located 35 miles south of Springfield, and forming a ring around the Ozark town of Branson, Missouri, which is renowned for its country music, Table Rock Lake is a great place to spend as little as a day, or as many weeks as you want, just diving and exploring.
There are a few motels along the lake that cater to divers, where you'll meet fellow scuba enthusiasts from all over the Midwest and even from further reaches of the United States. There are more than fifteen scuba shops that regularly conduct open water training in the lake, and there are charter trips available as well. The further reaches of the lake, which are only reachable by boat, feature fantastic outcroppings with shallow, cavern-like depressions below the waterline, and at Breezy Point, there is a wall dive.
Visibility at Table Rock Lake varies; it is usually somewhere between 8 and 20 feet, depending on the season. Water temperatures vary too; during the heat of the summer, surface temperatures can be as high as the low 80's. During spring and autumn, those temperatures drop into the low 60's, and are even lower below the thermocline.
When you dive Table Rock Lake, you'll find an incredible variety of aquatic life: longer and green sunfish, yellow perch, crappie, and largemouth bass, along with big crayfish and even tiny freshwater jellyfish. There is no need for dive reservations, and it is usually easy to get a room. The local cuisine is great, and the people are friendly. If you're looking for a getaway close to home, this is a great place to start.