About Who's Been Here Photos Dive Log Revisions Lea Lake/Bottomless Lake Roswell, NM More Info Max Depth: 91-100ft/28-30m Average Viz: 5-10ft/2-3m Entry Type: Shore Bottom Composition: Sand Aquatic Life: Might See Something Rating: 2.67 by 3 divers JohnRTexas 6/22/2021 JohnRTexas: Avg Viz: Under 5ft/2m. Water Temp: 66-70°F/19-21°C. 6/22/2021 5/09/2012 11:48 AM

Lea Lake/Bottomless Lake is a shore accessible fresh water dive site, located in Roswell, NM. This dive site has an average rating of 2.67 out of 5 from 3 scuba divers. The maximum depth is 91-100ft/28-30m. The average visibility is 5-10ft/2-3m.

The lakes’ greenish-blue color creates the illusion that the lakes are bottomless. Cowboys added to the lake’s mystique when they failed to find the bottom of the lakes by tying their saddle ropes together. In fact, they range in depth from 17 ft. to 90 ft. Lea Lake at the Bottomless Lakes State Park near Roswell, New Mexico. The Sand Divers local dive club participates in an annual lake cleanup day, hosting a picnic and free air fills for participants and families. The conditions at the lake are cold water altitude diving to a maximum depth of about 90 feet. Visibility can be low to middling (5-20 ft.) Entry is by shore (There is no boating - it is quite a small lake) but there are camp awnings with tables close to the water for gearing up and picnics and such. There are a couple of canoes, a car, and various and sundry life forms to be found.

Comments

JohnRTexas - 7/01/2021 10:23 AM I went scuba diving here on 6/22/2021. Average viz: Under 5ft/2m. Water temp: 66-70°F/19-21°C. Dove on June 22, 2021 with my daughter, Caitlyn. We didn’t expect the salty water, not sure if it was only a top layer or throughout, but definitely plan on weighting closer to seawater. Thankfully I had extra weight with me as there are no dive shops within 150 miles. Probably because there isn’t decent diving in that distance! The water upon entry felt about 70-72, my Leonardo 2 read 68 the whole dive so I know it isn’t very accurate. There was a distinct thermocline at 25-30 ft and our 3mm full suits weren’t enough to stand it more than a minute or two. We leveled out at that depth and cruised the edges. It was interesting, almost a wall dive where we were, but covered in vegetation. We didn’t see any other aquatic life to speak of, just a handful of tiny minnows. The visibility was pretty poor. About 5’. The color of the water is misleading, a pretty blue/green, suggesting great visibility, which is not the case. If this is the only option you have for a dive, go for it. Be prepared to haul your gear salty because there aren’t many options to rinse your gear at the park. We weren’t ready for that either! Improvise, adapt, and overcome, as they say. If I dive New Mexico again it will definitely be Blue Hole, Perch Lake, or maybe Elephant Butte if that lake fills up some. I got a New Mexico desert dive off list, so I’m pleased with that!

DamonWest - 8/23/2012 9:57 AM Rating Added: 3 Visabilty was low for the most part. I saw a turtle, a few carp, and some perch. Deepest I dove to was 49’.