LisaHollis and I went up to Carter Lake Reservoir, Loveland today for a practice dive. It was most awesome! Okay, well about as awesome as a dive in a muddy reservoir can be. At least it's prettier than Aurora Res.
A floating dive flag is mandatory, as is informing the ranger office before diving. No worries. $7 entry fee. Here is a map.
They have a designated dive area at The Saddle, which is marked off by a series of buoys. I don't think boats are supposed to enter that area; there was frequent boat traffic just outside the buoys but nobody came inside the area. Fishing is allowed and there was some monofilament here and there under the water. You can drive a vehicle down to the beach and park, although the sand is very soft (4x4 recommended). Near the water it's sticky mud, making the entry a bit gooey.
Water temp on the surface was 70F-ish, with a distinct thermocline at 30ft where it dropped down to 64F. The water level is low right now but it didn't take too much of a swim to hit the 30ft mark. We didn't go out as far as the buoys so I don't know how deep it gets. The first 10ft was very silty -- nearly zero vis -- probably stirred up from the wakes of powerboats. Out deeper the vis cleared up to a staggering 6ft, more or less.
Crawdads, a few fish, and the occasional rock. Not exciting, but it's still good to get in the water! I'd do it again.
A floating dive flag is mandatory, as is informing the ranger office before diving. No worries. $7 entry fee. Here is a map.
They have a designated dive area at The Saddle, which is marked off by a series of buoys. I don't think boats are supposed to enter that area; there was frequent boat traffic just outside the buoys but nobody came inside the area. Fishing is allowed and there was some monofilament here and there under the water. You can drive a vehicle down to the beach and park, although the sand is very soft (4x4 recommended). Near the water it's sticky mud, making the entry a bit gooey.
Water temp on the surface was 70F-ish, with a distinct thermocline at 30ft where it dropped down to 64F. The water level is low right now but it didn't take too much of a swim to hit the 30ft mark. We didn't go out as far as the buoys so I don't know how deep it gets. The first 10ft was very silty -- nearly zero vis -- probably stirred up from the wakes of powerboats. Out deeper the vis cleared up to a staggering 6ft, more or less.
Crawdads, a few fish, and the occasional rock. Not exciting, but it's still good to get in the water! I'd do it again.
