1. Dive site name: Clear Lake
2. Site description: Clear Lake is about 142 acres in size and lies at an elevation of 3,012 feet, with a maximum depth of 180 feet. It is one of the clearest and coldest lakes in the Cascades. Clear Lake is excellent for canoeing and other non-motorized boats. Fishing is good at Clear Lake. Brook trout and cutthroat trout re­produce naturally in the lake. Rainbow trout are stocked annually.

1. Your role - be my dive buddy, communicate everything, and keep everyone safe, including yourself
2. Dive Location – Most people will dive the north end of the lake, which is shallow. Most people enter the water around the resort area and swimming north past the boat ramp. The most photographed tree in Clear Lake is very likely the one that stands in the middle of the channel between the dock and the East bank. Keep on heading up and you’ll find some more trees, a few in shallower water on the west bank and then a few more near the top of the lake.

Beyond the trees, this north pool area has some really beautiful features, including large craters where water seeps up through the rocks; some very ethereal-looking green algae; grass that makes you feel like you’re swimming in a park; and of course, the “witch’s cauldrons,” masses of mist that hover over craters. If you’re a photographer you may also want to head up to the spring. Sometimes you can find some good photo opportunities there.

South of the resort the water is much deeper, down to 180’, with one major underwater tree.

Figure 1 southernmost tree shown on the custom map should be 80-120 feet

1. Dive Profile – This is an altitude dive at 3,012 feet. Based on the altitude table below, the . Water temperature in the summer is in the low 40s, with winter temperatures just at freezing. Sealed regulators are needed; divers have reported regulator freezes when passing over cold water inputs located at the bottom of the lake.

   maximum depth will be no more than 122 feet

   

2. Entry and exit techniques – Clear Lake Resort offers a gateway to both the shallow northern cove and the deeper southern areas.

3. Dive procedures - Once we’ve reached our surface descent point, we will drop to approximately 30 feet and conduct last minute gear and bubble checks.

4. Emergency procedures - if you get separated, stay where you are for approximately one minute while moving your torch around. If you donʼt make contact, ascend to the surface while making the requisite safety stop.

5. Signal review - look at your gauge signal, air pressure signal, and okay and up

6. Roster and buddy check - pair similar dive experiences together

7. Environmental orientation - there are some fish. Trees lying in the bottom will protrude and could snag in your gear. The bottom is silty, so try and use frog kick near the bottom and minimize touch and gos

8. Directions - It lies just off Highway 126 about 21 miles east of McKenzie Bridge.

9. Further Reading

   1. Willamette National Forest - Clear Lake Area
   2. Clear Lake: Dive Map - Google My Maps
   3. Bathymetry – Clear Lake
   4. Scuba Diving Clear Lake, Oregon - Scuba Scribbles