Diving NM

[travelpro]

I will be in Rio Rancho in July and looking for something to do.

I contacted a dive shop and they suggested division Blue Hole and Santa Rosa lake. Any input on these dive sites?

 

[boulderjohn]

Hi,

I am going to move this thread to the Rocky Mountain Oyster site. You will find a lot of divers there who dive that location.

John

 

[boulderjohn]

The Blue Hole is extremely well known. It is a sink hole in a large karst area. It is not real large, but it has decent depth (85 feet) and pretty clear water. It is popular for instruction, and it has two permanent platforms for that purpose. The water temperature is about 61° F. There is another lake nearby called Perch Lake. The biggest diving attraction in that area is another sink hole, Rock Lake, which is no private property and only accessible to a select group of people with the owner's permission. It is many times bigger and deeper than the Blue Hole.

 

[travelpro]

The Blue Hole seems that it would be full of students? So, how do I get permission to dive Rock Lake?

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

The Blue Hole seems that it would be full of students? So, how do I get permission to dive Rock Lake?

I can't answer your question about Rock Lake....

The hole is full of students on Sat/Sun only. When it gets real hot the locals use it as a swimming hole which can be a pita.

Weekdays however you can often be the only person diving there except summer.

If I have to dive a weekend, I hit the hole early (7-8AM) do 1-2 dives and then move over to Perch lake which is much less crowded. Occasionally you hit a AOW class but often you are on your own. Perch is seasonal though, by mid summer the water turns green.

 

[Tjack]

Rock Lake is limited to groups doing Tech training, with special permits from the land owners. On the other hand, Blue Hole can be a great dive, Friday evenings you can have it all to yourself. Perch Lake rarely has many people but Vis. and temps can be highly variable.

 

[boulderjohn]

The Blue Hole seems that it would be full of students? So, how do I get permission to dive Rock Lake?

You have to be part of an approved group.

Understand that it is a very pristine environment, meaning that it has had none of the "improvements" associated with sites such as the Blue Hole. It is essentially a very deep hole in the prairie. Diving there is inconvenient and very rustic. It costs more than the Blue Hole. In the point of view of its regular visitors, it is very well worth it, but for most people, the Blue Hole is a much better choice. If you have the skill and the inclination for such a dive site, it can be done. Send me a PM, and I will see what I can do.

 

[RonFrank]

Rock lake is maybe 10x the size of Blue Hole and is almost 300 feet deep. The walls are sheer and it starts getting dark around 120'. I have not been deeper. It costs $20 a day maybe more as I have not dove there for a couple years.

Your better off at BH during the week. The weekends are not horrible but can get crowded. Swimmers do not bother me but the students do. For whatever reason BH vis has been bad of late however.