Hi Nature diver,
The Hot Hole is off Hwy 183 coming from Pickens, SC (toward Hwy 130). If you take your boat into the Warpath Landing(on the right, Hwy 183) it will allow you to launch directly across from Duke Power Oconee Nuclear Station Power Plant. The trip to the site is just 3-5 minutes to cross the lake.
The water is now in the range of 82 degrees for most of the site. It is the warmest water to dive locally for the rest of the season. It is an Advanced level dive site for diving skills because of the currents there and the under water terrain. The dive itself is a blast to do since it pushes you out into the main stream of discharge water that is heated by the nuclear power plant. Understanding the currents and how to dive it the first time from another diver is a great advantage so find someone like my self or another from Greenville to dive it with you. It has a double set of currents, one clockwise and one counter-clockwise. There is a cofer dam under water and a hard blown bottom full of rock where the hot water comes across. The fish just love this spot so you will have lots of company.
The rules are that no divers do a walk in from land and that no divers come out any shallower than waist deep on the edge of the water. Climbing out will ensure that the camera trained on you will send an officer down to escort you away. With those few rules in mind, it is a great dive site by boat only.
I have been diving the site for 10 years and love to go and play there periodically for drift dives and the hot water when I choose not to wear the dry suits. In the winter be prepared to stay warm once you exit the water. Most of the time I would rather be in the water staying warm.
Currently 2 units are moving cooling water( warm water from the reactor) so it is very comfortable. When all three are running then it is much more consistant in temperatures throughout. Right now you may find cool spots and very warm spots as we did with the classes taught there over the last few weekends.
