Specialties
We are a scuba diving resort in Athens, TN that is based around a ten acre quarry lake. Our crystal clear waters are home to the ancient and extraordinary paddlefish, among other aquatic wildlife.
History
Established in 1996.
The story of Loch Low‑Minn began when McMinn County, TN leased farmland to quarry limestone for road construction. The quarry was eventually closed, but the land was purchased in 1996 by the Low family to create the scuba diving resort that carries their name to this very day. In 2006, a joint project between Loch Low-Minn, the Tennessee Aquarium, and the Choo Choo Diving and Aquatic Center gave the loch a new and unique attraction - the ancient and extraordinary paddlefish. In 2014, the Lows sold the land and the accompanying resort to Alexandre Smirnov. Although a mechanical engineer by trade, Alex had an interest in scuba diving since childhood. He quickly familiarized himself with all things scuba and, with the help of an awesome staff and a growing number of local dive schools, took Loch Low-Minn to new heights. Since the new ownership, there have been numerous updates and improvements to the resort and its various amenities, and there's no sign of them slowing down any time soon!
Meet the Business Owner: Alexandre S.
Having had an interest in scuba diving since childhood, Alex finally fulfilled his lifelong dream of getting certified in 2012. Since then, he has dived in various places in Tennessee, the Bahamas, and Mexico. He plans to expand that list, as well as earn more advanced certifications, as soon as time allows.
As his day job, Alex works as a mechanical engineer, subcontracting for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). He purchased the Loch Low‑Minn Scuba Diving Resort during the 2014 season, and since then he has been spending every spare moment updating the facilities and planning for the future.
