Shore Diving Superior

[somedude]

Temperance River State Park is one of my favorite places in the world.

The geo-formations in the lake off the mouth of the river, ancient lava flows, are fascinating.  In the spring, the vis isn't the best, but it's a decent match for Split Rock any time of the year, and for me that ain't bad.

My favorite time of year to dive in the Temperance is in August -- fishing lures galore.  My favorite time of the year to dive in Superior off the mouth of the Temperance is late Sept - early Oct, when the pink salmon are spawning in the river.  Ridiculous number of shore fishermen trying to snag half-dead pink salmon, and one wouldn't want to dive without a decent marker and knife as there are a fair number of boats fishing out there also, but the diversity of life at the mouth of that river on top of the ancient lava flows are heaven to this diver.

By Lake Superior standards, the area around the mouth of the Temperance is pretty easy beach diving.  In my experiences there, the people are generally really courteous, if a tad abundant during the best fall times to dive.  You will be checked out by the staff, but usually by a guy or gal who volunteers to stay there from spring into fall in their later years just because it's so dang beautiful, and they like respectful scuba divers.

Scuba divers just visiting to dive can (sometimes wait patiently to) get a temporary parking spot to drop off tanks on the beach at the north end of the campground loop just south of the river mouth.  Easy drop off of equipment there on the beach, and then park on the highway.  Otherwise, the trails from the highway parking are all down hill to the beach.  During late summer and into the fall, when the highway and everything else around that area is totally jam packed, one might need to schlep tanks over the cliff before and after the dive.  It may mark you as a lunatic like me doing the equipment carry on the slope, but everyone seems to just smile, and it's a small cliff with decent trails by North Shore beach diving standards.

There is more than scuba diving by far at Temperance River, it is truly one of nature's gifts to humans.  Bring your above-surface camera and hiking boots too!

Camping at the Temperance is a pre-reserved-spot-only type of deal.  Don't expect to get there Fri-Sat and get a spot.  All the nice spots for 2007 for anything with wheels are already reserved, I'm sure.  Getting a nice camping spot in Temperance River State Park is kinda like getting a bed in an Isle Royale live-aboard scuba charter, but not so spendy.  Temperance and Tettegouche happen to be favorites amongst non-divers too, but for those unafraid of sleeping on rocks in a tent and dealing with the occasional (per second, anyway) mosquito bite, Tettegouche usually has hike-in tent spots available.  Can you spell DEET?

Sorry about going on-and-on, but someone asked about the Temperance River...