Pearl Lake, Illinois

At the Illinois/Wisconsin state line, north of Rockford, Illinois, the onetime sand and gravel pit offers 30 acres of clear water, plus swimming, camping and dining facilities, making the spot a recreation destination. New divers find the site especially friendly, with a dozen training platforms within 20-25 feet (6-7.5 m) of water. Underwater attractions include a school bus, Beechcraft twin-engine airplane, cabin cruiser, and a 33-foot yellow submarine, which is a scaled-down version of a World War II U-boat. A c-card is required.

Depths to: 85 feet (26 m)

Visibility: 10-40 feet (3-12 m)

Water temperature: Ranges from the lows 40s Fahrenheit (4-6 degrees Celsius) in the spring and fall to 70 F
(21 C) in the summer.

Marine life: Smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleye, yellow perch, bluegill, channel catfish and freshwater jellyfish.

Fees: $15 for divers which includes admission to the swimming beach when open; $7 for nondivers. Air fills cost $7.

On-site amenities: Dive center (tanks and air fills available), swimming beach, Pearl Lake Supper Club restaurant, beach bar in swimming area, and campground for tent and RV campers.

More info: Call (815) 389-1479.

Open: In October, weekends only, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to dusk on Sunday. From April through September, the site is open from 8 a.m. to dusk Sunday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Getting there: From Rockford/Chicago, take Interstate 90 north to South Beloit Exit No. 1, then west on Highway 75/51. Immediately after the intersection with Highway 251, turn left (south) on Dearborn Avenue (frontage road). The Pearl Lake entrance will be about three-fourths of a mile on the right.