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Sand Harbor - Lake Tahoe - Incline Village NV


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Sand Harbor - Lake Tahoe is a shore accessible fresh water dive site, located at Highway 28, Incline Village, NV 89452. This dive site has an average rating of 3.83 out of 5 from 6 scuba divers. The maximum depth is over 150ft/46m. The average visibility is 31-35ft/9-11m.

GREAT DIVE SITE!!

Sandy bottom, Rock formations, great training site.

Two beaches. Swimmers beach is nice and long with lifeguard towers. Divers cove is a small walk to the north from the parking lot. Food is now available in the new visitor center.

If you dive from the Diver’s Cove at a heading of 270 degrees, you will pass the remains of a sunken barge on your right (just wooden top left), when you get to a depth of about 80’ you should see a large tree laying on the down slope. Sometimes you will see good size fish around the tree.

CAUTION: This is a great beginner site but about 100yds past the buoys the bottom goes from a level surface at 20-30’, to a 45 degree (or more) drop to around 1000’. Make sure you buoyancy is neutral before you begin to drop down the slope.

For altitude adjustable depth gauges that measure depth in terms of salt water, then a depth of 102’ will be equal to 130’ at sea level.

Lake Tahoe is at an altitude of 6250 feet (per USGS). Please check with local dive centers for high altitude diving guidelines. Remember: At the altitude the final safety stop is at 12’. Also recommended is a 1 minute stop at half your max depth. Nitrox32 is very nice at this altitude and can make all the difference to have available for a few minutes after you exit if you need it.

If you are driving from Reno you will arrive as a "B" Class on the dive tables. WARNING: Mt Rose Hwy (431) goes to 8900’, so to get to Reno after your dive you might want to go down Hwy 20 from Sand Harbor to Hwy 50, go east on 50 then north on Hwy 395. The Reno shops say it’s no problem, but I prefer to follow the rules on this one and spend a little more time to stay below 8000’ in a safer zone.

Addition: The altitude of Tahoe is 6229’. The B designation upon arrival is only with the Navy Tables (or sport modification thereof) and only when coming from Reno or Carson City. It is significantly more if using the RDP. The safety stop depth adjustment to 12’ is really a nonissue since it is just a safety stop and since safety stops should start deeper anyway with a shallow progression (www.diverssupport.com/ascending.htm). For more info on Tahoe incuding an online altitude book and Lake Tahoe altitude tables, you can visit www.scubalaketahoe.com . Free Altitude (and nitrox) conversion software can be obtained at www.diverssupport.com.

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Comments
Nitediver - 7/27/2019 6:49 PM
Rating Added: 3
Hot Air Temp 90 cold Water Temp surface 64 Depth 60
sacreole - 11/09/2015 9:07 PM
I went scuba diving here on 7/25/2015. Average viz: 21-25ft/6-8m. Water temp: 61-65°F/16-18°C.
Wore 7 mm wetsuit with hood, gloves, boots and 27 lbs of weight.
DiveBunny22 - 9/25/2015 7:08 PM
I went scuba diving here on 9/28/2013. Average viz: 26-30ft/8-9m. Water temp: 50-55°F/10-13°C.
Dive #41
DepartureDiver - 6/04/2012 9:19 AM
There is no proper response. It sounds like you did perfect. You need to know your buddies capabilities and take into consideration your situation as well as theirs. The time limits are designed for a low risk of decompression incidence with no stops. Of course the faster the ascent, the riskier it is. The faster the ascent, the longer the safety stop needs to be to get a good benefit. In one study, a direct ascent from 80’ at 30’/min had the same bubble incidence as a 60’/min ascent rate with a 5 min. safety stop. So ascending even faster would require an even longer stop, but any stop is beneficial. Also, there must also be enough of a gas load present. So if a dive had barely started, then there would be virtually no risk. So you need to consider your buddy’s condition combined with your well being and then make a judgment call. It should be noted that Diveprofessionals have a much higher rate of accidents from having to take care of situations like you described.
ScubaGuy_CA - 5/31/2012 9:16 PM
Nice relaxing dive spot, have dove it many times. They are serious about the 45 degree drop-off. My buddy lost buoyancy control and started sliding/falling down the slope from 100’ to 125’ before stopping his descent, which was immediately followed by an uncontrolled ascent passing his bubbles quickly.

I followed him up as slow as possible keeping him in site, 60’ vis, I could see that his legs were moving when he was at the surface so I knew he was conscious. I stayed at about 20’, knowing I had ascended too quickly, while keeping him in sight as he swam back toward shore.

I thought my response was a bit risky but thoughtout. The next week I read an article that matched the situation I was in. One diver with an uncontrolled ascent and two trying to follow him up. One of the two died of a heartattack during the ascent. Tough call... I would like to hear what advice others have and what their opinion of the "Proper" yet realistic response would be.