Sand Harbor, Tahoe

[Guy Alcala]

As of a couple of weeks ago, the water temperatures were still in the high 30's to low 40's, which is a fare bit colder than 50 deg. I have seen people dive wetsuits in the winter, but I don't know how. I guess it is for very short open water checkout dives.

Not using a scooter makes a big difference, Mike I've dived there in 40 degree water in a wetsuit for 45-60 minutes and didn't freeze, but I was either timing myself swimming the benchmark course (up and back) or else looking around some large site that lacked anything to hold my interest in a small area. I've actually felt warmer in my wetsuit (I'm not saying I WAS warmer) diving in mountain lakes than I have in warmer Monterey, because I never stop swimming for any length of time as there's much less to look at. But I'm not a photographer, and I don't use a scooter.

Unless your dives will be very short, I recommend a drysuit for Tahoe in the Winter.

Definitely preferable.

By summer, the shallow areas of Sand Harbor will be in the high 60's, which is very nice. If you are in a wetsuit, you may want to wait until summer.

Early fall is even warmer. I think the week or two after Labor day may have the highest temps (and the crowds disappear), but it drops quickly after that.

Guy

 

[mikemill]

Not using a scooter makes a big difference, Mike

Like heathens?

 

[mikemikethepike]

Myka, did you find what you were looking for? I was doing a scooter dive of Rubicon Wall Sunday, or I would have joined you. Let us know what you found.

 

[Myka]

hi Mike.
No, I didn't dive Sand Harbor.... the burst disk on my oxygen tank broke....
no oxygen, no dive...
I really hate this "security"....
Anyway, next time I will dive Tahoe somewhere, sand Harbor or Rubiccon wall...
See you
M