Water Sports Abound at Lake Jocassee

Lake Jocassee, nestled along Devils Fork State Park in northwest South Carolina, is a boater's paradise, and there is no shortage of things to do out on the water. Whether you feel like a quiet day of fishing or an active day of waterskiing, this place has it all.

The 7,500-acre, 300-foot-deep lake was built in 1973 and remains commercially undeveloped. In fact, there are fewer than 30 homes on the entire lake and only a handful of docks and boat ramps. If you're an avid boater, you'll know that means very few "No Wake Zones." In other words, nearly the entire lake is your playground.

If you don't have your own boating equipment, all you have to do is contact one of several local operators, such as Jocassee-Keowee Rentals, Jocassee Outdoor Center or Eclectic Sun. Located right in the day-use picnic area of the park, Eclectic Sun rents pontoons, kayaks, canoes and paddleboards for a few hours or up to a full week.

If you're a bit of a thrill seeker, Ultimate Action Sports probably has something a little more your speed. Located just 10 minutes from the park's entrance, you can rent speedboats and wave runners for fun on the open water, or you can try your hand—or rather your feet—at waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing or wake surfing.

You may be surprised to learn that not all of the fun at Lake Jocassee happens above the water. The lake's crystal-clear water and underwater oddities have given rise to an active dive community. The Lake Jocassee Dive Shop has both expert guides and diving gear to give you the best underwater expedition imaginable. You can discover everything from a sunken Chinese junk to an underwater basketball hoop. An old hilltop graveyard sits in 130 feet of water and is accessible for exploration.

No matter how you like to relax and unwind on the water, Lake Jocassee won't disappoint.