Things to do / Travel Guide
In the summers, cool off with a deep-water dive in northern Utah's crystal-clear lakes. Swim amidst tropical fish and nurse sharks, dive in a beehive crater, hand-pick your crayfish, and discover “treasures” left behind or lost by other divers. Northern Utah's scuba diving sites are full of surprises; for example, you can even dive in the winter, at the region's hot springs. Equipment rentals and dive centers are available at or near each of the dive sites, save for Vernal being the closest dive center (about 40 miles away) to Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Almost all northern Utah dive spots can be tackled by anyone from beginners to experts.
Summer Lake and Reservoir Diving in Northern Utah
With crystal-clear, aquamarine waters on either side of the Utah-Idaho border, Bear Lake is often called the “Caribbean of the Rockies” for its tranquil, turquoise hue. With a depth of just over 200 feet and underwater visibility of 20-30 feet, Bear Lake is a great place to observe some underwater fish and other small lake critters. One of the more popular entry points to the lake is Cisco Beach, on the Utah side, where steep drop-offs are located close to shore. Beginners and loners take note: a buddy and certification cards are required for this dive.
Flaming Gorge Reservoir (on the Utah-Wyoming border) is widely considered Utah's best diving site, but beware: the water is a cold 60 degrees even at the peak of summer. Nonetheless, visibility of between 30-60 feet makes this dive a favorite. You can tour the unique underwater rock formations, hand-pick your crayfish dinner, and look under cliffs, where you might find shoes, shirts, watches, and other “treasures” lost by swimming summer vacationers. Three diving sites in Flaming Gorge are most popular: Visitor's Center, Mustang Ridge, and Cat Creek Bridge.
Winter Diving in Northern Utah's Hot Springs
With its 90° temperatures, Belmont Hot Springs, 90 minutes north of Salt Lake City, is comfortable and pleasant all year round. Though the visibility is only about 10 feet and the depth no more than 35 feet, divers of all levels enjoy the warm temperatures and occasional sights of small aquarium fish and cornucopia snails.
A giant dome of rough rock, Homestead Crater sits like a big beehive on the eastern slope of the Wasatch Mountain Range in Midway. Enjoy 95° temperatures year-round in this hot springs cavern as you check out the unique mineral deposits. Though the depth is about 65 feet, divers usually keep to 45 feet below the surface so as not to stir up bottom silt.
In northern Utah you won't have to cross the sea to see a world of aquatic abundance. At Bonneville Seabase, near Grantsville, divers enter an unusual tropical sea environment right smack in the middle of northern Utah. Three dive sites with depths of up to 60 feet are fed by hot springs and stocked with tropical fish. Year-round you can enjoy temperatures of up to 80° while you swim with Caribbean, Indo-Pacific, Australian, and Red Sea varieties - and keep an eye out for several nurse sharks (not to worry; they are usually harmless unless purposely provoked).
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