A ScubaBoard Staff Message...
That's a really deep lake. It's also an altitude dive. A lot of possibilities exist.
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A ScubaBoard Staff Message...
That's a really deep lake. It's also an altitude dive. A lot of possibilities exist.
I don't know what Lake Pleasant you are talking about but it's neither. Sure you can hit 230ft at the dam, but recreational diving areas are relatively shallow. Sounds like they were at Vista Point, you can hit 150ft if you swim far enough and the water is high enough.
Last time I was there on a rebreather I needed a scooter to get far enough out to get any actual depth. That site is used for open water training. Aside from crappy vis all the time, it's hardly more than a swimming pool.
As for altitude, it's 1700ish feet ASL. Nobody considers that an altitude dive....
A ScubaBoard Staff Message...
Years ago, when I lived there, I recall it being deeper than that. Has the lake level dropped significantly in the last 10 or so years? I do remember seeing rooted trees around 100' down the last time I dove it, so I have to assume that a significant variation in lake level is possible. That aside, I consider 230' to be deep by sport diving standards. I don't normally assume that every diver is a tech guy.
Also, according to the Navy manual I was using for reference at the time, I was instructed to do SLED calculations for the altitude I encountered there. Perhaps the standards that you work from are different.
Lake Pleasant Storage - % of the normal maximum operating level (1,702 ft)
Yeah, no. Most folks are coming from PHX, so they're dropping in elevation after the dive at Pleasant. Now...if I were coming from Flagstaff (7000 ASL) and diving Pleasant...and wanting to return to FLG...then yes, that would be an issue.I believe that to get in & out of Lake Pleasant, you need to drive though higher elevations. If you plan to camp at the water's edge after diving, then 1,700' may be your dive altitude. If you drive home after diving, then higher elevations may need to be considered.