White Star Quarry Restricts Weekday Diving and Requires In-Person Check-In

White Star Quarry in Gibsonburg, Ohio, has changed how divers may use the site during the 2026 season. The quarry remains open, but the operator now limits weekday diving and requires an in-person check-in for all weekend diving.

Under the notice effective at the beginning of May, weekday access is limited to season-pass holders and approved industry stakeholders. Other divers must make express arrangements or plan their visits for the weekend. On Saturdays, Sundays, Memorial Day and Labor Day, the scuba concession opens with the park at 8 a.m., and every diver must check in there before entering the water.

The check-in requirement applies to recreational divers, students, instructors and divemasters. Divers should not enter first and complete paperwork later. The quarry says the staffed process is intended to ensure liability releases, fees and in-water accountability are handled before a dive begins.

Additional operational changes

White Star has installed a gate on the dive side. The operator's notice says a keypad access system is being developed for approved season-pass holders and industry stakeholders; until then, access control may rely on a padlock and the operator's approval process.

North-side entry remains available on weekends only after concession check-in. Primary registration and diving activity run through the south-side entry points. Routine night diving has been discontinued. Groups seeking a special night-diving arrangement must contact the quarry well in advance, and approval should not be assumed.

The public site lists the general scuba season as April 1 through December 31, with park hours from 8 a.m. until dark. The staffed concession is scheduled on weekends from May 1 through October 31, although divers should consult the quarry calendar before traveling. Those general hours do not override the new weekday-access restriction.

Why this matters

White Star is a major inland training and recreational site within driving distance of Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania and much of Ohio. A diver relying on older information could arrive on a weekday and discover that ordinary self-service access is no longer available. Instructors and dive shops also need to account for check-in time and confirm that their weekday status or arrangements have been approved before scheduling students.

The changes also affect dive planning. A weekend team should identify who will complete registration, arrive after the official opening time and allow time for check-in before gearing up. Anyone planning a night dive, tunnel visit or unusual training activity should obtain explicit permission in advance rather than treating a prior practice as continuing authorization.

White Star attributes the changes to incomplete releases, unpaid or late registrations, missing accountability records, unauthorized tunnel entry and damage or movement of underwater features. Cameras are now active to support compliance.

Before every visit, divers should check the official calendar and current quarry notice because staffing, access-control procedures and special permissions can change.