LAKE TAHOE
General Scuba Diving Information for Lake Tahoe
(BEACH DIVES & BOAT DIVES)
(SKILL LEVEL: BEGINNER TO EXPERT)
Lake Tahoe is a Mecca for folks just trying to unwind after a hard week's work. It is both a summer and a winter paradise with activities from water-skiing to snow-boarding, and for the hiker and high altitude enthusiast the area is unbeatable. Inexpensive accommodations at some of the smaller motels are available. In the summer the camping at local state parks is a pleasant alternative to motels. Lake Tahoe has a number of dive sites which are interesting, and diving in a fresh water lake is a different experience than "ocean diving". Personally I would not make a special trip to dive Lake Tahoe; but if I happen to be in the area Scuba diving is a nice option to have.
REMEMBER, at Lake Tahoe you are at over 6,200 foot elevation, so do not dive at Lake Tahoe using the standard ocean dive tables. The maximum recommended maximum depth for diving at Lake Tahoe is 96', which is equivalent to 125 feet in the ocean (sea level). When diving in Lake Tahoe it is imperative that you DIVE WITH A FLOAT OR BUOY AND A DIVE FLAG. The boat traffic in these areas is very busy, and can be hazardous to divers.
The atmospheric pressure at Lake Tahoe (7000') is .772 ATA. If you multiply 14.7 psiA X .772 the Atmospheric pressure at Lake Tahoe is is approximately 11.35 psiA. To be conservative it is best to use a multiplier of 1.3 when diving at Lake Tahoe. Example: for an 80 foot dive 80' X 1.3 = 104'. PLEASE NOTE: THE PRECEEDING INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR AN "ALTITUDE DIVING" COURSE.
For the veteran diver - if you want to boat or kayak to the middle of the lake and just hang at 80', enjoy!! It is a very relaxing experience and the deep hues of blue are a wonderful experience. If you are not an experienced diver, stick to the areas which are accessible from the beach, such as Rubicon Point at D. L. Bliss California State Park, Meeks Bay Beach at the National Forest campground, Speedboat Beach just adjacent to the Cal-Neva Casino, Stateline Wall, Dive Cove at Sand Harbor Beach (Nevada State Park), or Cave Rock (Nevada State Park) . All of the beach areas seem to be marked by buoys for swimmers. I recommend using a dive float to mark your presence while diving to warn any boats in the area that there are divers below! On the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe using a dive float while diving is the law and is mandatory!
Safe diving and try to stay out of the casinos - divers rule of thumb - one hour in the casinos equals the purchase of one 80 AL scuba tank.
The decision to dive (or not) is your responsibility. Keep diving activities within your training and comfort level. If you feel more training or experience is needed before attempting a dive, don't dive. Know personal limits, skill levels, and abilities of yourself and your dive buddy. Dive Safely and Dive Often!
If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, contact me.
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