White Star Quarry Ends Unarranged Weekday Diving Under 2026 Access Rules

White Star Quarry in Gibsonburg, Ohio, has replaced its former self-service access pattern with tighter controls for the 2026 dive season. The operator’s current guidance says scuba diving is available on weekends, while weekday diving requires special permission arranged in advance.

The change matters for divers who remember being able to arrive during normal park hours, complete an honor-system envelope and enter the water. Weekend divers must now check in at the scuba concession before diving. Each diver needs a daily permit, a completed liability release and the $30 daily diving fee; the tear-off permit must be displayed in the vehicle. The quarry warns that entering without completing the process can lead to enforcement action.

The 2026 instructor notice adds operational detail. It says the previous pre-issued instructor-pass system is being phased out in favor of on-site verification, and instructors planning weekday classes must coordinate directly with the operator in advance. Instructors must remain current with their training agency, carry appropriate liability insurance and ensure every student completes the required release and payment process. Divemasters leading groups of four or more may receive the teaching benefit on weekends after registering in person, subject to the site’s supervision requirements.

Water access has also been consolidated. The operator says the north-ladder entrance is restricted and that diving activity and registration are to use the south-side entry points. Night diving is no longer a walk-up option and requires express permission and advance arrangements. Ice diving remains limited to qualified divers or supervised students during specifically scheduled weekends. Solo diving and entry into the submerged tunnel likewise require separate express or written authorization; ordinary admission does not grant either privilege.

The quarry’s published season still runs from April 1 through December 31 during park hours of 8 a.m. until dark, but the staffed concession operates weekends and selected days only from early May through the last weekend of October. That difference makes advance planning important, particularly late in the year or for anyone seeking fills, rentals, an orientation, a tunnel permit or non-weekend access.

For practical planning, divers should treat a weekday trip, night dive, ice dive, solo dive or tunnel dive as permission-dependent and contact White Star Quarry before traveling. Weekend visitors should arrive while the concession is operating, complete the individual permit and release process before gearing up, use the designated south-side entry and keep the vehicle permit visible. Access details can change, so the live operator page should be checked again immediately before departure.