Anyone dive at Bonneville Seabase in UT?

[N2DeepInAz]

Being somewhat landlocked here in AZ, I've been looking for close new dive sites. And by close, I mean about an hour flight time. Since we only have freshwater lakes, I've been trying to find saltwater destinations and marine life.

A friend of mine ran across this place while working in UT. It's a place called Bonneville Seabase, Bonneville Seabase - Utah Scuba Diving and Snorkeling Location - Inland Scuba Diving and Snorkeling

I was wondering if anyone has any opinions or experiences about the site and whether it's worth the trip or not. It looks pretty interesting and about a close to a saltwater environement as I'm going to get without heading to CA or MX. And the cost seems to be pretty inexpensive.

As always, you're input is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Mitchell]

I dove there a few years back. The owner/s seemed to be very nice.
As you drive up this place it seemed like a movie set from MASH. A military crane parked out front. It literally is in the middle of nowhere. Across and down from the Morton Salt company.

Let's start off with the first small pond. At the time the vis was about 1 foot and green. I did a giant stride off a platform and swam to a boat. I couldn't even tell it was a boat couldn't even see it. Then swam through a metal tunnel kind of sharp at the edge and landed in a covered style pond filled with tropical fish. The vis at the point seemed to open up to 1 1/2 feet.

From there walk across the parking lot and walked down a few stairs to a tube probabaly 12 feet wide and 70 feet down. The vis still wasn't great. There were some sort of protruding bars as I went down kinda of strange that they were there.

The bottom line is yes once in a lifetime maybe. Salt water and cold in September.

The other place I went to was Homestead Crater. Warm water all year. This was worth it.

 

[Scott]

If you have taken a look at their site you'll get a good idea what it's like.
There are three 'ponds' White Rocks is small and shallow (12ft?) and part of it is covered to help keep it warm for an exit.
Habitat is the largest but not deepest (25ft?) of the three and has platforms, a 'wreck' and a habitat that you can surface in and talk with your buddy. This is the primary pond for OW training.
Abyss is the deepest at 60 ft and also the warmest but is small in diameter.
While the tropical fish are a nice addition you won't have the viz to really enjoy them liek you would in the real ocean.

If I was in town at the time and had a day I would venture out to SeaBase. But if I had my choice of coming to Utah from Az or going to SoCal just to dive...hands down SoCal would win. Granted the water in SoCal right now will be cooler 50's, you will still need a
7mm at SeaBase as the water is going to be 60-65 degrees.

I talked with someone who was out there last week and vis was about 3-5 feet.
If you're planning a few days you could also try Blue Lake which is another 2 hours away from SeaBase or Homestead Crater which is an hour from SLC.
Driving? Take the 'long' route and swing by Lake Mead and then stop and dive Sand Hollow near St. George

 

[Desert_Diver]

I would agree with everything ROgue said although I think he was a little generous in his estimates of vizibility. Viz may vary a bit with season. Winter is probably better viz than summer when they tend to have algea blooms. I dove Seabase once and that was probably once too many.

I think San Diego (Wreck Alley) or Catalina is a much better dive than anywhere in Utah. I have never done the Southern Utah/Lake Mead area so I don't have an opinion. Although Catalina is a cold water dive, I give it much higher marks than anything in Utah.

Have fun. Dive safe.

Art

 

[robint]

I have spoken with a couple of divers who went there, they all said it was a waste of money. Vis was 3' at best.


If you really want clear water, come over and dive with us in NM at Santa Rosa, Blue Hole. We have 62 degree water year round, yes even in winter, and the vis is really good.
This is what it looks like: [vimeo]1432688[/vimeo]

See all my Blue Hole videos: Blue Hole, New Mexico on Vimeo

robin

 

[Ed L.]

Your only an 1 hour and 45 minutes from Reno. Come and dive Tahoe. Check out Sierra Diving Center on line. PM me if you have any questions.

 

[SteveR1952]

Seabase (Peabase) is as stated above. Green murky salty and cold. Yes it does have some fish in one of the ponds but don't expect to see them or the nurse sharks unless you happen to land on them in the murk.

I have not tried the crater yet or Blue lake but the locals I talked with who have been there said that Blue Lake is a long walk with gear and is also very murky with nothing too see. Homestead Crater is on my list for next year. It is narrow and shallow. If you get there at the wrong time (after an OW class) expect to see nothing. It is very warm so no suit is required which is an attraction all by itself.